Longview Saturnus Nebbiolo 2020
- 93
- $50
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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Always one of this country’s most popular Nebbs, the fruit is carefully selected from estate vineyards. Clones 230 and Mudgee (love that we have an Aussie town as the name for a Nebb clone), and a little of 1-11 (which enhances the fragrance). The vineyards are nearly 30 years old now, impressive for a local Nebb vineyard. Hand sorting, traditional vinification, around five weeks on skins and maturation in a 1,500 litre Slovenian botti (very large old cask). The colour here is a pale garnet. The nose offers pleasing, and rather classic notes of red fruits, florals, warm earth and tar topped by raspberries, animal skins, cloves and leather. There is good acidity here and firm tannins, providing some serious grip. With impressive length, this is a fresh, youthful, attractive Nebb; juicy and enjoyable now, but which will cellar very well for at least six to ten years in a good cellar. One of the better Nebbs found outside Piedmont and perfect with beef cheeks.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
