Wine
Nebbiolo
A powerful high-acid, high-tannin varietal that often needs many years of aging to begin displaying its charms. This is grown almost exclusively in Italy’s Piedmont region where it produces the wines known as Barolo and Barbaresco.
Flavor Descriptors
Food Pairings
Traditional
Beef roasts, venison, wild boar, wild mushroom gravy.
Modern
Steak au poivre, leg of lamb with tomatoes and garlic, pasta Bolognese.Buying, Storing, & Serving
Nebbiolo should be served at room temperature and will benefit greatly from being poured into a decanter and allowed to breathe for up to two hours before serving.
Most Nebbiolo is not released until several years from vintage date. Wines produced in the modern style are meant to be drunk within four to eight years from vintage. Traditonal styles require more patience, generally a decade or more.
Buying (and drinking) an older bottle will typically reward you with a mellower softer wine with a wealth of secondary flavors including dried fruits, forest floor aromatics, and a chocolaty spiciness. A younger wine will be higher in tannin and acidity with leaner fruit and more fresh floral notes.
Store bottles in a cool, dark place. While it is now common for wine makers to use plastic corks or screw-top closures which may be stored vertically or horizontally, those with the traditional corks should be laid on their sides to keep them moist.