Boca Nebbiolo Blend

Adjacent profile wise to Northern Rhone: gamey, mineral & earthiness to it’s core; it’s the decaying rose petals, & hibiscus edges (& lighter shades) that point to its true, Nebbiolo soul. I’ve heard some wine folks mourn the loss of the original Valana, & that the younger family upstarts can’t come close to the originals. I don’t know, but for about 25$ this is is dang-it good Alpine red.

Breaking out the 2016 alpine catnip as the weather warms-shared with friends outside at sunset. Raspberry color with orange hue, on palate rose hips, hibiscus, violets- some sour patch candy; all high toned but we were in outside temp.. I imagine with decanting & drinking in more moderate weather the baritone notes will come out more.

Very well made leaner “food” style Nebbiolo. Light color and light intensity nose has tart macerated cherry, old barrel scents, spice, and warm gravel. A bit on the austere side, with a touch of astringency at the end, but that’s going nicely with pappardelle in a rich meat sauce. Nice acids and noticeable but not overbearing tannins.

Slow ox 24 hours and the grippy astringent menthol becomes silky smooth cherry fruit punch.

Fantastic. Nose is elemental at this point with cherries, violets, perfume, and minerals, but still closed. Palate is packed with young Nebbiolo greatness. Red-fruited concentration, acidity, prickly tannins. No doubt this is a 30 year wine. 9.2++

Very close to my idea of a desert island wine. At 13% it has more smooth edges but that lovely thread of acidity common to its more expensive & jagged Vallana cousins. Dark red fruits, violets, tree bark. Juicy too, the tannins are pretty integrated. Skurnik importer.

Herbs, light red fruit, mineral, light tar

Vallana just killed it with this bottling! Tart red fruit, liquid rocks, Alpine herb and mineral. For me, one of the best $30 bottles out there!

I thought a bit tired & closed. Perhaps needed a decent decant

Very tight with a tar, herbal and black and Bing cherry - quite good.