Pizzini Coronamento Nebbiolo 2005 (King Valley, Vic)
14.4%, Cork, $135
Source: Sample
www.pizzini.com.au

February is birthday month for me, which typically means an excuse to raid the cellar/sample pile for interesting goodies to drink. The problem, of course, is that I then tend to drink said wines without actually ever writing anything about them.

Given such a selfish oversight I’m thus going to spend this week exclusively writing about super-premium wines, which basically means a week talking about the sort of wines that I wish I could afford to buy, but can’t manage to on a lowly wine scribes wage.

Kicking off proceedings is this wonderful, utterly authentic Nebbiolo from Pizzini. Whilst I don’t think I got a truly great bottle (the cork was protruding a fraction for one, suggesting it had seen some heat) there is no questioning that we’re talking about one very very good Australian Nebbiolo. Perhaps the best Nebbiolo in the country actually.

Lovely treacly mahogany colour to this too. Proper Nebbiolo colour. Smells it too, with a fully evolved, tarry and secondary nose of wooden tables, bacon hock, fresh leather and roast lamb. The rather evolved palate looks much older than eight years of age, yet is unquestionably sophisticated – the tannins and acidity driving the palate forward with a hint of caremelised super ripe fruit. Achingly dry but also with a certain sweetened softness and warmth thanks to the alcohol.

A quite regal red, what I like most about this Pizzini Nebbiolo is simply how uncompromisingly winey it is, with nary a sweet fruit of any shape or form to be found. It is perhaps a bit too forward yet should still get better with further bottle age. Likey.

Drink: 2013-2020
Score: 18/20 93/100
Would I buy it? The price is steep, but good Nebbiolo rarely is. I’d be tempted by a good bottle perhaps.