Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is One of Italy’s most important red wine varieties. It is the grape behind the Barolo and Barbaresco wines and is hardly ever seen outside the confines of Piedmont. It takes its name from Italian word "nebbia" meaning fog, or perhaps nobile, meaning noble. Nebbiolo flowers early and ripens late, so a long hang time, producing high levels of sugar, acidity and tannins. 

Nebbiolo produces lightly-colored red wines which can be highly tannic and acidic in youth with scents of tar and roses with fruity flavors of cherry and raspberries. In cooler years, Nebbiolo gets a bit herbaceous with more sour cranberry fruit. As they age, the wines evolve to display aromas and flavors such as violets, tar, truffles, tobacco, and prunes. 

The best Barolos and Barbarescos are perfumed with aromas of tar, rose, mint, chocolate, liquorice and truffles. They age brilliantly and the very best need ten years to show at their best.