The French influence on our local wine is immeasurable. From reputation-building takes on Pinot Noir to quaffable bottlings of lesser-known varietals like Trousseau, it can be said that Oregon is France's home away from home. Italy on the other hand, has arrived fashionably late. Though there have been great examples of Italian varietals produced here in the past, time + experience have played a huge role in improving the quality of these wines. Thanks to this generation of winemakers, Oregon is beginning to find its Italian voice.
While there are several varietals and producers we could've selected, we thought we'd focus on Nebbiolo from 2 young estates.
Borgogno e Carbone's Langhe Nebbiolo is essentially the house wine from Piemonte's finest restaurant: More e Macine in La Morra. Along with their affiliation with the Oddero-Monlia label, this is a project that began in 2019. This Nebbiolo was crafted under the guidance of Gianluca Colombo of Segni di Langa - who is quietly revolutionizing Piemontese wine.
Redolent wines were founded in 2015 by friends (and neighbors) Jon Larson and Boyd Pearson. While their story began and continues with Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, they also produce Chardonnay and are advocates for domestic Nebbiolo, which in addition to this bottling, they also craft a Nebbiolo Rosato and a Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo co-ferment. This Waving Tree Vineyard bottling is sourced from the Columbia Valley AVA, which is a viticultural area shared between Oregon and Washington.
This specially priced 2 pack offers a wonderful snapshot of young winemakers amplifying Nebbiolo's voice from opposite sides of the world. Each is best enjoyed with a tomato-based pasta dish and a 45 minute decanting.
2020 Borgogno e Carbone Langhe Nebbiolo - Piemonte, Italy
Impressions: The fruit is focused here with polished notes of red cherries, and underripe strawberries hovering over earthier tones of rose petal, black truffles and dried thyme. A juicy-silky texture is easily swayed by a vibrant, fresh acid profile that descends over firm velvet tannins. The finish is fruity, floral and slighlty smoky.
2018 Redolent 'Waving Tree Vineyard' Nebbiolo - Columbia Valley,
Impressions: Earthy tones lead the way here with aromas of tobacco, cigar box, dried roses and iron intertwining with fruitier shades of dark plums, cherry piths and raspberry tea. A lively acidity introduces a mineral-forward juicy texture that introduces a velvet-like tannic structure. The finish is earthy and slighlty peppery with exit notes of mushrooms, iron, and tar.