Freeman Vineyards Altura Vineyard Nebbiolo 2016

Brian Freeman has been banging away on the Hilltops Nebbiolo drum for years now – actually it is over twenty years since he planted his first vines of Italian grape varieties. But Nebbiolo can be a bugger to get right – many people try and never even get close. Brian has been on the job, and with a background in teaching Wine Science you’d have to back him.

I’ve been tasting the Freeman Nebbiolos for a decade I reckon and never have I enjoyed a wine as much as this Altura Vineyard 2016. Rumour has it that Brian spent a bit of time in Piedmont at the renowned house of Vietti and it has hugely paid off.

This wine has real Italian personality from the get go with potpourri, tea, wild cherry and dried herb fruits, as all good Nebbiolo should. It is then dry, mid-weight and fleshy but has a firm line of tannins underneath that are well balanced and drive a long finish. It is not Barolo but it is a fine Australian example. What I like most is the trajectory from recent vintages and the direction this wine is going. The wine is delicious now and has plenty in the tank for the cellar.

Purchase the wine here.