SOUMAH Mezzaluna Reserve Nebbiolo 2022

The team at Soumah have noticed that the changing climate has meant that the Yarra Valley is now starting to mirror the climate of northern Italy. If they can replicate the great Barolos from Piedmont, then we are in for some exciting times. They have been offering a single vineyard Nebbiolo from the Hexham Vineyard in the Yarra since 2015. This wine is evidence of the evolution of the style and a large step along the journey. Experience now leads them to leaving the fruit on skins for more than 100 days and for maturation to take place in older 500-litre puncheons. They have been keen to release a Reserve Nebbiolo and 2022 finally provided the conditions to encourage that. This is that wine. When making it, they extended time in the puncheons by an extra twelve months. The colour is a pale garnet, while the nose weaves through aromas of red fruits, warm earth, charcuterie, raspberries, bay leaves, coffee grinds, aniseed, florals and dried herbs. The wine is focused and has real direction. The level of elegance exhibited here is a little unexpected, but most welcome. A sleek texture leads to fine tannins on an impressively long finish and a line of fine acidity runs the full journey. Enjoy this over the next ten to twelve years.