SubRosa 2016 Pyrenees Nebbiolo – SOLD OUT

Mike Bennie

From the notable Malakoff vineyard, plundered regularly by nebbiolo-enthused winemakers around the traps. Winemaker Adam Louder is his own man, but is now in charge of Mount Langi, but that’s by-the-by as this, his family project, is distinct, and, distinguished in its own right. Style-wise it reminds me a bit of Olek Bondonio’s wines of Barbaresco.

It’s a vibrant, pure-feeling expression, loaded with perfume, lashed with savoury, iron-filing and graphite-tannins, bright in fruit flavour, dusted with attractive spice. There’s also a distinct vibrancy here, a cheery, cherry-kissed feel that’s easy for earlier access, despite there being cool, amaro-like acidity and a sheath of building tannin. It drives assertively then lingers with sappy fruit and minerally feel. It’s such a pleasure. It’s great.

Rated : 94 Points
Alcohol : 13.7%
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2018 – 2030

Reviewed: 21 December, 2018

James Halliday

Light, clear colour; perfumed violets and spices, all is calm on the tannin front, a lingering assembly of scents, silky texture.