Description
Name: Idlewild Nebbiolo Fox Hill
Country: United States
Region: California
Sub-Region: Mendocino County
Producer: Idlewild Wines
Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2012
Varietal: Nebbiolo
The first indication of the varietal is the appropriateness of the color: garnet with brick edges. The nose is expressive with loads of layers including dried cherry, rose water, anise, macerated roses, soft potpourri like spices, forest leaves, and tar like earth. Perhaps the aspect of the wine I love the most is the structure. It is light, pure, and graceful and then slowly transitions into very tight and persistent yet soft tannin and acidity.
Vinous Review: 89 points
Crushed flowers, tobacco, licorice, orange peel, mint and spices wrap around a core of expressive fruit in the 2012 Nebbiolo Fox Hill Vineyard. The Nebbiolo is quite tasty, deep and powerful even if this variety appears to be a bit less successful than some of the others in the range. Then again, Nebbiolo just takes more time to figure out. My sense is that future vintages are likely to be stronger. The 2012 is delicious but also points to a work in progress. Still, the 2012 suggests there is quite a bit of untapped potential here.
-- Antonio Galloni
