2003 Paitin Nebbiolo d'Alba Ca Veja

[VouvrayHead]

$18 13.5% abv
While a bit lighter and less complex than the few Barolo/Barbaresco I've had, this wine provides a lot for the money.
The nose starts out as a beguiling sweet cherry and tar blast, which fades into dried flowers and smoke after a while in the glass. Light to Middle-weight body, but fully flavored with red cherries and deep dark smokey chocolate.
Bright acidity, lots of fine-grained tannin. The tannin and acid structure makes me think it will age a while longer, but I'm not sure how flavors will hold up. The way it's drinking now though, I'm not planning on finding out with my other bottle!

[hotwine]

Interesting datapoint. I've not had any Nebbiolo (Nebbioli?) from '03, only sangio- based wines. But suspect this one might have quite a few years ahead of it. Wouldn't be in any hurry to pop that second bottle.

[VouvrayHead]

Thanks for the input!
It certainly has the acid structures, but I worry about the fruit dropping off and the tar taking over entirely.
That said, I have so little experience with this stuff. I think I'll buy a half case of these guys and try to do one a year until gone. It would be educational, and isn't education good?!

Anyone else have experience with aging junior piemontese?

[This message has been edited by VouvrayHead (edited 07-19-2009).]

[hotwine]

Would lean more toward a full case, and sample at six-month intervals. All in the interest of research, of course.

[VouvrayHead]

That seems like sage advice!

[TheEngineer]

I would suggest that he ensure that this was a double blind experiment and purchase one case for each of us and we can support his "findings".

[VouvrayHead]

That makes a lot of sense, Engineer You all are so wise!

[Thomas]

VV,

In my experience, the juniors don't age nearly as well as the big guys.

I was under the impression that 2003 was an extremely hot vintage in Europe--that would likely make the aromatics and the acidity levels problematic.

What gives?

[VouvrayHead]

I don't have enough experience with the region to say much about how this stacks up compared to other vintages of this wine or other wines from the same rather crummy year. I can only say this wine managed to make it out in good shape.

I actually tasted it blind at the wine store and was really impressed. My initial positive reaction to it was supported by having it over two nights with dinner. For $18, it has plenty of aromatics, and lack of acidity is not a problem at this age.

Now I think you may be right about it aging much longer, but it is in a good place now.

[VouvrayHead]

Just had another. Nice enough on the nose, but none too exciting beyond that. Is it going downhill? Is it an off bottle? I don't know!!!
hmm....
Only one thing to do... Open my last bottle soon.