Score: 89+/100
Azienda Agricola Marziano Abbona is a famous wine producer of the Langhe region located around the town of Dogliani.
They produce a wide range of wines, from the Dolcetto signature grape of the Dogliani village to prestigious single vineyard Barolos, through Barbera d’Alba also.
Made from the same grapes but a different terroir as the famous Barolo wines from the same producer, the Bricco Barone Nebbiolo tasted here comes from a zone on the hills of Monforte d’Alba in Rinaldi. It is therefore is labeled under the more generic Nebbiolo d’Alba appellation.
Vines on the vineyard average a respectable 36 years of age.
After fermentation the wine was aged for 12 months in oak wine barrels.
Tasting Notes
The wine comes in a color of medium-to-light intensity for a red wine. It’s red, with brownish hues which is not so expected out of a 2015 wine where one would expect purple ones instead. Clues of some evolution in the wine already?
The nose is one of an introvert wine, yet stuffed with goodness reminding of freshly-baked pudding: plum, Christmas pudding spices, date and prune, plum, dried banana, and confit cherry.
Some black pepper aromas lift the whole thing up. Not very demonstrative at this stage (it is a very young wine) but quite complex and salivating.
The palate is medium-bodied for a Nebbiolo, with a relatively light mid-palate. Loads of roasted nuts flavors, dark chocolate, and fruity tones provide by cherry liqueur notes. Finish is quite warm, but more important marked by drying rough tannins, like roasted grape seed ones. Some bitterness too.
Oak is perceptible (vanilla, some sweetness to the mouthfeel, and clear spicy clove notes) but discrete and very well integrated.
Overall
A wine that appears quite shy on the nose, perhaps due its young age, but then affirms a powerful and characterful personality on the palate. Loads of sweet spices, ripe fruits and toasted nuts characters.
The finish suggests it needs some time and would benefit from some aging to round up the rough edges.
Wine & Food Pairings
It will be most-enjoyed with tasty food dishes like grilled meats, Italian-style stews, and Italian cheese.
See some more detailed suggestions with our Infographic about Italian Wine & Cheese Pairing
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