Poderi Colla 2019 Nebbiolo D'Alba 750ml

This magical estate, though established just 30 years ago, has a noble and pioneering history in Piedmont, dating back to the early 1700s. Legendary Beppe Colla (1930-2019), whose ancestors farmed the land believed deeply in the importance of single vineyards, becoming the first to vinify separately and bottle individual site selections in 1961, at a time when regional blending was the norm. Piedmont is just like Burgundy, with complex and highly varied limestone-based terroir, and Bebbi recognized that site expression was an essential step in the evolution and expression of famed villages like Barolo and Barbaresco. He was also one of the founding fathers of the Alba DOC, where this nebbiolo hails from. Unlike the more typical appellation of Langhe Nebbiolo which comes from a large geographic area and demands only 85% nebbiolo in the wines, this is entirely different. The soils are limey-clays and wines must be 100% nebbiolo. The Colla family treat their grapes gently for this wine, completely destemming before a two-week skin maceration and a year in oak. Textbook nebbiolo fragrance of violets, wild red berries, with a whiff of tar and licorice greet the senses; the palate is similarly classic with vivid acidity, tenacious tannins, and dark briary fruit flavours. The Colla touch is evident in the impeccable harmony and poise of our Alba wine; everything is simply in the right place. Baked gnocchi with ragù, buttered noodles with a drizzle of truffle oil, or some creamy, decadent Gorgonzola Dolce cheese.

-- DJ Kearney