Social box - Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo-ish

This box is an homage to the Nebbiolo grape (known as Nebbiolo, Spanna, Picoutener, and Chiavennasca, depending on where you are.) Nebbiolo wines are translucent, almost like Pinot, and have a delicate smell, but when you taste them… well,

Imagine getting kicked in the face by a ballerina.

Nebbiolo has this exact same kind of elegant brutality, you are greeted with robust tannin and high acidity. If you like a bold wine, you’re going to love this box.

There are four wines in this social box. Two are Barolos, one is a Barbaresco and one is a wild card, which isn't the Nebbiolo grape at all!

Since three of these wines are the Nebbiolo grape, the main differences are the soil in which the grape vines grow.

One Barolo is from the winery Marcarini in La Morra, which is the north easterly part of Barolo. Here the soil is limestone-based. The lime adds a higher pH (more alkaline) which, interestingly enough, makes the vines produce Nebbiolo grapes with a lower pH (ie more acidic). So to counter that they decided to take the skins out after 18 days to keep the tannins down (very controversial to the old school Barolo vineyards!) The result is a wine with an almost silky texture, distinctively elegant and gentle, that has a floral smell and a long intense finish.

The other Barolo sits in an oak barrel for two years, which also increases the tannins. The result is a full bodied red that is said to have notes of red fruits, sweet spices balanced by earthiness and a brooding hint of smoke.

Barbaresco is a town to the north east of Barolo. The soil here has more nutrients and, because of this, wines don’t exude as much tannin as Barolo. I guess the ballerina doesn't kick quite as hard. It boasts flavours of dark cherries and leather with earthy hints, and a rose perfume, with the classic Nebbiolo long finish.

Then there's that wild card thrown in the mix. It’s a grape called Xinomavro - which is often referred to as the Barolo of Greece. This one comes from a winery on the edge of the village of Trilofos Imathia, at the foot of Mount Vermio in the North of Greece. It’s medium-bodied and complex, with notes of red and black fruit, a vibrant acidity and, you guessed it, a long finish. 

Once you have sampled them all, place your decision discs under your glasses in the wine flight board to lock in your answers. Then simply peel back the covers to reveal the labels.... Good luck!

Whats in the box:

• four anonymised bottles of red wine,
• four wine flight paddles to keep track of your glasses
• tasting notes and information on the wines to help you decide which wine you think matches the description.
• decision discs to put under your glasses to lock in your answer