Results from a tasting of Piedmont Nebbiolo with friends who are casual wine drinkers and not geeks. Brown bagged. I think the La Spinetta was predictably one of the favorites. Ioppa and Carema showed well according to the crowd. I liked the Lessona best. We did not decant the Vajra which might have helped but curiously poor showing, maybe it is shutting down. Roagna too was not in a party mood.

Roagna, Alfredo e Luca
Piedmont, Italy
Langhe
Nebbiolo
2011
$33.99
13.5%
Crystal clear rust red color, only slightly washed out at the rims with a subtle orange hue. Not the most expressive nose and on the whole blunted but you still get portions of potpourri, incense, cedar, pressed rose petals and leather with ripe cherry fruit scents. Medium-bodied, tight and tannic. At first you register white grapefruit, licorice and rose petals. However, quickly it's the leather, earth and tar which are most prevalent. The candied cherry to strawberry fruit crests early and then tapers off. Rustic with cedar and cement notes, lively aftertaste. Not sure it will unclench with additional aging.
88 points

Ioppa, Azienda Agricola
Piedmont, Italy
Ghemme
Nebbiolo
2011
$34.99
13.5%
Transparent scarlet red to orange hue, more diminished orange around the rims. Polished nose of leather, pressed flowers, sandalwood, orange peel, the cherry to blackberry fruit fully woven into the other elements, has a middle aged feel. Medium-bodied, more acidic than tannic, this brightens the candied sweetness of the strawberry, cherry fruit and brings heightened presence to the semi-sour grapefruit, orange citrus component. Small pinches of cocoa, flowers and incense add breadth. The overall dry texture slows down movement towards the finish while it keeps its weight fully. 85% Nebbiolo, 15% Vespolina.
89 points

Vajra, G.D.
Piedmont, Italy
Barolo
Albe
Nebbiolo
2013
$38.99
14.0%
Clean reddish purple core with fresh brick red rims, good brightness. Round and plush feel to the nose, mixing together licorice, rose petals, baking spices, damp earth and ripe plum, cherry fruit scents, maybe too dense to express the various elements with clarity. Medium-bodied, strong tannic punch at the start, subsides a little as it progresses across the palate. Takes awhile for the strawberry, blackberry, cherry fruit to get assertive. Same basic array of licorice, baking spices, lemon peel, drier earth with slight twiggy notes. Feels like it is not giving its all and the finish is on the weak side.
87 points

Produttori di Nebbiolo di Carema, Cantina
Piedmont, Italy
Carema
Riserva
Nebbiolo
2013
$28.99
13.0%
Dilute and fully transparent, brick red to orange rust water in hue, good surface shine though and sparkles well in the glass. There's some wet herbaceous matter in the nose that can verge on vegetal, has a sandy sort of earthiness to it, the tart white citrus notes outscore the red cherry, blackberry fruit scents, light mountain pine breeziness to it too. Medium-bodied, slick and smooth mouth feel which still has grip. The acidity tightens things up but even now seems gregarious. Sweet maraschino cherry opens the door for strawberry, green apple to green grape fruit flavors as well as licorice. More pure stone and poor dirt nuances here and loses most of its grassiness. The white grapefruit led citrus more noticeable through the finish. Very pure today, however, shows some promise for medium term aging.
89 points

Spinetta, Azienda Agricola La
Piedmont, Italy
Langhe
Nebbiolo
2013
$19.99
14.0%
Light purple at the core switching to crimson before orange rust at the outer rims. Abundant ripeness from the start in the nose, black cherry, blackberry fruit with noticeable white grapefruit notes along with fresh leather, tea leaf, cedar, big most perfume to it. Full-bodied, caramel, creamed coffee accents and close to smoky at times. Sweet boysenberry, cherry, blackberry fruit that slathers over any tannin, moments of brighter green apple too. Cedar, nutmeg eventually weave in. The thickness persists to the finish but the texture gets clumpy. Close to "over the top" and shows some alcoholic heat. Sure to make fans quickly among those who aren't into traditional winemaking per se.
88 points

Colombera (Colombera & Garella), Azienda Agricola Carlo
Piedmont, Italy
Lessona
Pizzaguerra
Nebbiolo
2014
$38.99
12.5%
Brick red core, more orange further out, squeaky clean, strong rims and nicely hued throughout. Very good lift to the nose with generous portions of licorice, rose petals, fresh leather, tea leaf, matted straw and hard candy-like red cherry, raspberry fruit scents. Light to medium-bodied, strong acidity and tannin give it much more pronounced presence. Stony earth, meadow grasses, sour mixed citrus, rose petals form its core. More angular here and loses the sweetness the nose hinted at. Blossoms with air time, retains an old school character while letting the cranberry, cherry, strawberry fruit shine unimpeded. 95% Nebbiolo, 5% Vespolina.
90 points