Lou Kessler wrote:My experience with CA Nebbiolo has been a disappointment. I don't know if it's the clones or the area where they have been planted but I've yet to taste one that reminded me of Piedmont. To be totally candid I haven't tasted one I would buy either for myself or our store. Somebody is going to find out why?
And therein lies the problem, Lou. If you insist that Nebbiolo taste like Langhe Nebbiolo, than you should not drink anything else but Piedmont.
If you insist PinotNoir taste like RedBurg, then you should only drink Burgundy and avoid RRV Pinots. If you insist that Syrah
tastes like Cote-Rotie, then you should only drink Rhone and avoid Steve's stuff. Makes life a whole lot simpler.
At our NEB3 event last year, DarrellCorti forcefully made the point that Calif should not try to replicate Langhe Nebb (or Alto Piedmont or
Valtelline Nebb), but should make the best Calif Nebbiolo that they possibly could, and let it speak in its own voice.
We tasted two of BrianHarrington's Nebbs last night. Definitely not Piedmont. But some of the best elegant/Pinotish-like PasoRobles
reds I can recall that sorta whispered Nebbiolo in a voice that most people never hear. But it was definitely Nebbiolo if you listened closely.
Tom