Sottimano Langhe Nebbiolo 2010

Bright medium-deep red. Clean aromas of floral red berries and botanical herbs, with a somewhat intrusive cedar nuance emerging with aeration. Nicely concentrated flavors of red cherry, raspberry and licorice are supported by good acids but the building mouthcoating tannins are slightly astringent. A very serious wine that needs time, but I wonder if the fruit will outlive the tannins. Made from 15-year-old vines, this could well be a Barbaresco for many other less quality-oriented producers.

Thereandrsquo;s a nice dusty edge to the tannins in this red, surrounding flavors of cherry, raspberry and tobacco. Vibrant and long on the finish. Drink now through 2016.

The 2007 Langhe Nebbiolo is a rich, textured offering laced with dark fruit. Sottimanorsquo;s Langhe Nebbiolo is made from young vines in the Basarin vineyard in Barbaresco and spends 14 months in French oak. It is a Barbaresco in everything but name and is one of the few Langhe Nebbiolos that could use another year or two in bottle to help soften the tannins. This is a very serious bottle of wine for $25. The powerful finish is long, sweet and harmonious. I re-tasted this wine among several 2005 Barolos and 2006 Barbarescos and it compared exceptionally well, letrsquo;s leave it at that. For now, the 2007 Langhe Nebbiolo is very indicative of what is shaping up to be a fantastic vintage at Sottimano. Anticipated maturity: 2011ndash;2017.

The 2008 Langhe Nebbiolo offers up tobacco, plums, spices and licorice. This is a fascinating wine, as it appears somewhat tired and faded upon opening, but then freshens up very nicely with air. Classic Nebbiolo dried roses, flowers, spices, licorice and tar emerge over time. Piedmont fans know Sottimanoandrsquo;s Langhe Nebbiolo comes from young vines in the Basarin vineyard in Neive, and that technically it could be issued as a Barbaresco. Readers will want to keep that in mind, as in 2008 the Langhe Nebbiolo is far from the easy going wine its appellation and price suggest. It needs to be opened at least an hour in advance, and will benefit from at least another year or two in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2012andndash;2018. Itandrsquo;s hard to go wrong with anything that emerges from this tiny, family-run winery in Neive.