Nervi, Gattinara Valferana

Nervi, Gattinara ValferanaThe 2013 Gattinara Valferana is super expressive today. It is lifted and vertical in feel, with the energy and tension that is typical of the Nebbiolos of Gattinara. An explosion of mountain flowers, herbs and bright red stone fruits, along with beams of fine tannin, give the wine its feel. Bright, saline notes extend the nuanced, crystalline finish. Its classic style notwithstanding, the 2013 has enough mid palate generosity to drink well with

Somewhat unusually the mouth feel of the medium-bodied and powerful flavors is almost as sleek as those of the Combottes while delivering excellent length on the overtly stony

full and highly energetic flavors that tighten up considerably on the detailed

the lieux-dits include Platières and Murots)

This is a good time to start popping corks on this beauty

The 1996 Branaire-Ducru is a delightful vintage and represents the pinnacle of that decade

The current release is the 1997 Gran Reserva 904

There is a highly seductive mouthfeel to the round

(88-91)/2020+

Here strong reduction renders the nose completely unreadable

Here too the mouth feel is quite fine as the supporting tannins shaping the middle weight flavors are also very fine-grained

The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins

and I particularly like the purity of expression