2007 Nebbiolo - Cheese and Wine - The Other Italy

THE CHEESE Bra Duro di Alpeggio

THE WINE 2007 Coriole Nebbiolo

"Coriole was one of the pioneers of Italian varieties in Australia, and has been producing sangiovese from its McLaren Vale vineyards for more than 20 years. This nebbiolo a recent addition to the range was sourced from the cooler Adelaide Hills, and reflects its provenance well: dusty, herbal aromas lead on to a mouthful of lean and savoury tannins.

The salty, floral intensity of the cheese tackles those tannins head on and releases a new spectrum of sweet red fruit in the wine. A great match."

Max Allen and Will Studd

2007 Nebbiolo - four and a half stars

"When nebbiolo is good it's one of the most impressive wines in the world. Coriole's is up there with the best examples from Australia. With its classic ruby-red hues and perfumed aromas of wood smoke and forest berries, the Coriole nebbiolo is instantly seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with typical firm tannins to finish. Delicious."

Fergus McGhie

2007 Nebbiolo - Viva Italia

Coriole is renowned for producing Sangiovese, but this Nebbiolo is right on the money too. With floral lift and berry fruit on the nose, this lighter style red has a surprisingly tannic finish. It's a perfect match with richer game dishes like rabbit or even venison.

David Bone

2005 Nebbiolo - five stars

"While Coriole is one of McLaren Vale's specialists when it comes to Sangiovese, its Nebbiolo is also right on the money. At first a little too austere and firm on the finish, it comes into its own with food. Cherry and red-current fruit, spices like anise and pepper, along with Nebbiolo's trademark firm tannins, make this the best Australian Nebbiolo I've tried this year."

Fergus McGhie

2005 Nebbiolo - four stars

"Complex, earthy, leathery nose with underlying spicy fruit. Very nice licoricey palate; savoury and intense with huge tannin structure. Needs time to shine."

2002 Nebbiolo - sensuous

"This noble Italian grape is a moody variety, often proving harsh and tannic in its youth, turning brackish brown in colour. Yet when the vintage is kind and the winemaking assured, it's a superb food wine. This is why Coriole's Mark Lloyd has enthused over this variety for many years, aspiring to emulate the great Barolo wines of Piedmont in Italy. The muted brick red colour and soft aromas of raspberry confectionery in the 2002 vintage don't prepare you for the power of a long, dry palate, with its seamless meld of deep, dark savoury fruit flavours and a sensuous, leathery complexity. Cork."

David Sly

2002 Nebbiolo - four stars

2002 Nebbiolo - perfect for drinkers who love to eat

"Nebbiolo is an Italian variety and Coriole, in McLaren Vale, is one of the few Australian wineries making it. Italian wines tend to be built for food - this is no exception. Deceptively light in colour, the wine is medium bodied, complex and long-finishing. Perfect for drinkers who love to eat."

Robin Powell, Food and Wine Editor

2001 Nebbiolo - East End Cellars, The Big Red Book, Winter 2003

"Nebbiolo can be a difficult variety for the consumer to get their head around. Firstly the colour has little relation to the strength and power of the wine, many being quite light but amazingly intense, and secondly the high levels of acid and tannin can be a little intimidating for the uninitiated. All that and however, once you try a good one you'll never look back. And this one from Coriole is a good one indeed. Medium bodied, dry, savory and very complex with hints of old leather, mint, orange peel, and some sweet red berries. It's balanced and very rewarding to drink, particularly with food. As a famous beverage manufacturer once said, reward your curiosity."

2001 Nebbiolo - 88 points

"Smells tangy and vanilla-like, with box hedge and loganberry pips; really intriguing this. On the palate there's blackberry pips and fruit vanilla aplenty, with a fine layer of brick dust. And a bone dry, long, grippy tannined finish. Not for sweet tooths, this. Deceptively oomphy red."

Tim White