World Wine – "A rich, fleshy nebbiolo with a mix of classic tar-and-roses character together with savoury 'forest floor' flavours and spicy oak. A delicious wine with power and further potential."
96 pts - Bob Campbell MW
James Suckling – Vivid aromas of strawberries, oranges and peach skins with some cherries and cedar. Medium body, tight and firm with a fresh and vivid finish. Needs time to soften.
Wine Enthusiast – Capturing the freshness and finesse of the vintage, this has classic varietal aromas of rose petal, forest berry, camphor and underbrush. Reflecting the nose, the vibrant, focused palate delivers ripe red cherry, crushed raspberry, wild mint and star anise set against taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced. While you won't have to wait years before enjoying this, it will also age at least another decade or more. Best 2024–2033.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – The Cavallotto 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis (a certified organic wine) is a lovely expression with fruit from one of the most beautiful sites in Castiglione Falletto, measuring 7.3 hectares. The wine is streamlined and tight with forest berry, blackcurrant and spice. It is taut and silky, showing fruit that has been shaped by cool nights and warm days. Bricco Boschis always delivers a special sense of sharpness and focus. Best After 2024 - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
James Suckling – This shows notes of spiced cherries, dried strawberry bush, chocolate, ground cloves and moist earth. Full-bodied, compact and steady with chocolaty texture and a firm grip of finely polished tannins. Lingering finish with earthy undertones. Better after 2025.
Wine Enthusiast – “Inviting aromas of sandalwood, blue flower, resin and mocha come to the forefront. The aromas follow through to the savory, rounded palate along with dried cherry, anisette and ground clove. It's polished and accessible, with fine-grained tannins. It closes on the warmth of alcohol. Drink through 2028” - Kerin O’ Keefe, Wine Enthusiast
The Wine Front – “Cherry, red fruit, a little almond, light spice, a touch floral with some aniseed. Medium-bodied, fresh red fruits, understated, lively, a little new leather, and a bright finish of good length, with some chalky grip following. Charming. A little bit frisky. Good drinking.” - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Wine Enthusiast – Outer quote mark Floral aromas of rose and violet align with Morello cherry and aromatic herb on this fragrant red. Precise and savory, the palate is still youthfully tense, delivering red cherry, pomegranate and licorice alongside tightly wound, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Give it time to fully develop. (KO) Inner quote mark (9/2022)
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Outer quote mark The Albino Rocca 2019 Barbaresco Ronchi is concise and tight with precise aromas of blackcurrant, aniseed, crushed stone and blue flower. Ronchi fruit often shows this more angular and linear quality, and these traits come through with special sharpness in this vintage. Additionally, there is an earthy, crushed limestone quality that also seems specific to this expression. The tannins are hard and firm, setting this wine up for a longer drinking window. Production is 8,200 bottles. (ML) 94+ Inner quote mark (6/2022
James Suckling – An attractive nose, with dense floral notes to color the ripe red berries and cherries. Hints of white nuts and apricot skins add to the appeal. The same enticing fruit mix on the palate, too, with an easy bed of fine but loosely knit tannin that adds a luxurious note to the mouth-feel. All in all, this is quite an extravagant Barolo with loads to like now, but should age gracefully.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – With fruit from Roddi, the 2018 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio is open-knit and broad, and its aromas focus on dark fruit, ripe cherry and plum. This vintage does not have the extreme aromatic definition that we saw in past vintages, but it delivers a long and polished mouthfeel nonetheless. Best After 2024 - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Nebbiolo's name is believed to be derived from the Italian word "nebbia", which means fog. This is fitting, as the Piedmont region, where it primarily grows, is often blanketed in a thick mist during the harvest season. The grape has a long history in Italy, with written records mentioning Nebbiolo dating back to the 13th century.
The grape is known for its distinct tannins and high acidity, characteristics that give Nebbiolo wines their structure and longevity. The wine's unique aroma profile often encompasses rose petals, tar, cherries, and dried herbs. These nuances can vary depending on the exact location of the vineyard and the winemaking techniques employed.
Though primarily associated with Piedmont, some winemakers in other parts of the world have taken on the challenge of growing Nebbiolo, intrigued by its unique profile and winemaking potential. However, its true home remains the rolling hills of Piedmont, where it expresses its character most authentically.
Nebbiolo is one of the most illustrious Italian red grapes. Although Nebbiolo can produce attractive everyday wines, it is better known for the masterpieces created with it — wines coveted by wine lovers and collectors alike and worthy of any cellar. Nebbiolo is native to Piedmont, in Northern Italy, and it shares the spotlight with a few other red grapes, Barbera and Dolcetto. Still, for structured and age-worthy red wines, Nebbiolo is everyone’s grape of choice. Let’s talk about Nebbiolo and the wines made from it. Nebbiolo might just be one of the most exciting grapes on the planet.
Although grape growers tend Nebbiolo vines worldwide, the vast majority are in Piedmont, specifically around the town of Asti and Alba along the Tanaro River. The most popular Nebbiolo wines are, without a doubt, Barolo and Barbaresco, two DOCG-level wines made exclusively with the grape — authentic collector’s items. Other popular wines made with Nebbiolo include those labelled as Langhe or Roero. The grape also goes by different names in neighbouring regions, where it’s known as Spanna, Picoutener and Chiavennasca. Since Italian winemakers rarely mention the grape varieties to their labels, knowing the essential appellations for Nebbiolo pays off.
Nebbiolo is an exciting varietal that produces pale-coloured red wines with high alcoholic warmth, acidity and plenty of gritty tannins. The wines are full-bodied, bold and age worthy. There aren’t many types of wine made with Nebbiolo, but each appellation using the grape has its classification. Barolo, for example, if aged for thirty-eight months, is labelled as Barolo, but if aged for stunning 62 months, it becomes a Barolo Riserva. We could also classify the types of Nebbiolo depending on their provenance. Although most wine made with the Grape is Piedmontese, there are exciting expressions of the grape made elsewhere, mainly in Australia.
Nebbiolo is a finicky grape that only ripens where the conditions are right. That’s why it is not the most planted despite being the most popular grape in Piedmont. This means Nebbiolo wines are somewhat rare, and with rarity comes a higher price. The reputation of appellations such as Barolo and Barbaresco and the fame of the producers also increases the wine’s price. The best Nebbiolo is expensive, but you can still find affordable expressions of the grape. Expect to pay a premium for memorable, age-worthy wines, but you’ll find adequately priced wines suitable for everyday enjoyment.
For authentic Piedmontese Nebbiolo and other exciting specialties, such as Australian Nebbiolo and even a couple of pink wines made with the grape, browse our selection at World Wine. Your source of fine wine in Australia. The best Nebbiolo wines can be pricey, but there’s immense pleasure in more affordable examples. With Nebbiolo, the more expensive the wine, the more age-worthy. Still, not all wines are meant to age for decades — some are ready to be enjoyed today. That’s Nebbiolo’s magic. The grape is exceptional whether young or well-aged.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Delivery Times
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Quality Guarantee
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
Sending a Gift
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.