2020 Nebbiolo Langhe Perbacco

This is a fresh and fruit-forward nebbiolo with notes of raspberries and cherries, orange peel and chocolate. Some dried flowers, too. Medium- to full-bodied, firm and racy with ripe but taut, compact tannins that run the whole length of the wine. Well-crafted. Long and even. Vegan. Drink or hold.

A translucent medium ruby, the 2020 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco is fresh with floral spice, rose petal, raspberry ripe, and wet stone. Medium-bodied, it has ultra-fine tannins, approachable fruit, and an elegant mouthfeel. Graceful and easy-drinking, this would be an outstanding wine to introduce Pinot Noir drinkers to Nebbiolo. It will drink well now or over the next 5-7 years. Vietti was founded by Carlo Vietti in the late 1800s and is based in Castiglione Falletto. After marrying Luciana Vietti in the late 1950s, Alfredo Currado joined the operations of the winery and later was largely regarded as responsible for the resurrection of the Arneis grape. Until this year, the estate had been helmed by fifth generation winemaker Luca Currado Vietti and his wife Elena, who have been the longtime champions of their family’s winery. In 2016, the estate was purchased by Krause Holdings, which had enabled Luca and Elena to continue their roles while simultaneously supporting significant growth, gaining sought-after site acquisitions for production such as Monvigliero in Barolo. Though the winery is in solid control in terms of the winemaking, the recent departure of Luca and Elena is certain to leave a spiritual hole impossible to fill any time soon.

The 2020 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco is another terrific entry-level wine from Vietti. In this vintage, the Perbacco is especially fine. Sweet dried cherry, herbs, mint, crushed flowers, anise and orange peel grace this striking, alluring Nebbiolo. There's tons of depth and sheer pedigree, things that have not always been present in recent editions. For years, Perbacco was a very serious wine - some might say almost too serious - for its peer group. Then Vietti pivoted to a simpler style. With the 2020, Perbacco seems to once again be a wine that overdelivers, big time. Quite frankly, the 2020 Perbacco is more satisfying than many Barbarescos and Barolos I tasted this year.