SOUMAH Hexham Vineyard Nebbiolo 2022

The intoxicating perfume of Nebbiolo is unmistakable here, carried in swoon-worthy wafts that echo dreams of Piemonte. Rosella, pepperberry, and bleeding pomegranate seeds unfold alongside dried clay and tomatillos. A whisper of sage leaf, thyme, and white gum bark adds savoury nuance. Acidity leads the charge, supported by a sap of grainy tannins that leaves the palate craving more rather than feeling parched. With 100 days on skins and two years in seasoned puncheons, the grapes have had time to mingle, socialise, and engage in deep conversations. The result is a wine that feels confident and self-assured. It has fully assimilated, emerging as a wine of true beauty—in sight, aroma, taste, and the lingering echoes of flavour and texture. Over time, this will continue to blossom, expanding in width and depth over the next 8–15 years, though it is already drinking beautifully now. I’d pair it with aged Carnaroli rice, wood ear or Morello mushrooms, and, if possible, the indulgence of truffles.