Enotria Nebbiola, 1998

Enotria Nebbiola, 1998

The Graziano Family of Wines, from Mendicino, California, produce some Italian varietals with very nice success. In Italy, Nebbiolo is called the “misty one” because of the whitish blush on its dark purple skin. This is the king of red wines producing the exalted wines of Barolo. Located in the eastern foothills overlooking the Ukiah Valley, their Nebbiolo grapes are grown in the Fox Mountain Vineyard owned by Lowell Stone. Thirteen percent of this blend is Dolcetto which also was grown by Lowell Stone.
The grapes were hand-harvested at an average of 25 degrees brix, crushed into open top fermentors and kept cold for 3 days before inoculation and fermentation. The must was pumped over and punched down for sixteen days before being pressed and racked into 25% new French oak Vosge heavily toasted burgundy barrels. The wine then received extended barrel aging for 30 months, racked off its lees and egg white fined. The wine was rough filtered and bottled on August 30, 2001. This magnificent wine has medium dark garnet hues with enticing aromatic aromas and flavors of cherries, lavender and smoky vanilla that are supported by just the right balance of acidity and smooth tannins. Much like Pinot Noir (which Winemaker Greg Graziano calls Nebbio­lo’s twin brother from a different mother); this wine has been described as a thinking person’s wine because its character is very seductive and elusive all at the same time. We had first enjoyed this wine about 3 years ago after purchasing it at Larry's Market in Bellevue. We were happy to fine this wine was being sold at Whole Foods in Bellevue this Autumn. For the $14 price you get a well made mini-Americo-Barolo!