The 2016 Nebbiolo is a lovely ripe true to style Hilltops Nebbiolo. These vines are meticulously looked after throughout the growing season. It is interesting to consider when the winemaking begins for such a great wine - Is it when the grapes reach Bryan at the winery or perhaps when "Windows" prunes the vines in Winter, or is it when the vines were planted by Mark, John, and Michael and there families. Or did this wine have its beginning when the soil was taking formation, obviously all the above and much more was involved in the final wine, so please enjoy, respect and linger over all that goes into each bottle as we have.

A wonderful Barolo from Maretti showcasing great value for the region. The colour is dark garnet with ruby highlights. It has a clear-cut, intense nose with overtones of roses, spices, earthy undertones with nuanced vanilla notes. The taste is dry, but soft, full-bodied, velvety and well balanced, and is very long-lasting. Classic Barolo like this works well with rich braised meat dishes or a mushroom risotto.

While the establishment date of Arrivo is 1998, when Peter Godden and partner Sally McGill established a nursery block of 35 vines of nebbiolo, the inspiration goes back to 1995 and '96, when Peter spent much time in Barolo, Italy, working the '96 vintage at leading producer Vietti.Now with plantings of around 1 hectare of nebbiolo, Peter uses a unique trellis and training system derived from Barolo, but with an Australian twist. Not only is the trellis complicated and unique, but so are the amazingly complicated fermentation techniques being used.The resulting wines are a benchmark for Australian nebbiolo.

Nebbiolo d'Alba comes from a vineyard located in Roddi, a short distance from Verduno, at an altitude of 270 m. Old vineyard, facing south-southeast, with different biopypes, including the rose'. The grapes are harvested only when they are sensorially ready ; the vinification does not follow rules but is interpreted from year to year adapting to the grape. The refinement, given the reduced volumes, takes place in barrels of 500 liters and bottling the summer following the harvest. Soils of Langa, rich in limestone make it a very aromatic and structured wine.

Balanced and tasty with good tannins, with a delicate acid note. Initially floral, it develops notes of leather and licorice. The wine then stays for about 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels of medium capacity (30-50hl), after the natural clarification. It stays at least another 24 months in bottle, in order to overcome the “bottle shock”. The wine is neither filtered nor stabilized.