Piedmont 2015 - Part I

Soon, very soon, the first 2015 Baroli will be released. How is the 2015 vintage then? I will get back to that, The Barolo Boys have during the trips of 2018 and 2017 tasted a few..., from cask and from bottles.

But a really good way to get a glimpse of the upcoming vintage is to taste the Nebbiolo´s, which have been on the market for some time now.

I will the coming days - a perfect companion to the fat Christmas food - taste a bunch of Nebbiolo´s from 2015. Lets start with these two bottles!

2015 Nebbiolo d´Alba Baluma, Diego Conterno
This opens a bit funky and with the aroma of the particuliar chicken farmyard that I have some problems with, but it recedes in the background after some time in the glass and leaves room for notes of spicy strawberries, forest floor, dry biscuits and hot gravel. Good in a all over the place kind of way.
The taste is seedy, cool and "natural" with notes of moist earth, sweet/sour raspberries, asphalt and beetroot. A fine warmth. A very good acidity. Except for the chicken farm notes, a very good wine.
87p   (tasted 2018/12)

2005 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, Bruno Giacosa
Right out of the gate this is a charmer, with notes of cranberries, hard cherry candy, some balsamic scents and fresh herbs. Very, very good. A fine depth and a laid back elegance.
The taste is initially silky but soon the polished tannins take over, alongside fine notes of ripe lingonberries, earth, herbs and chrushed rocks. Has a high drinkability factor.
91p   (tasted 2018/12)