I would never have picked this as a 2019 Vintage wine as many/most have more fruit weight plus the 12% a/v is perplexing as it’s suggests the grapes were picked early (to manage the drought conditions) but there are no hints of green in this wine. So well done to the team at Ballandean Estate and Dylan Rhymer for producing an enjoyable and quite elegant Nebbi under the conditions.
Radiant reds and glowing lustrous maroons in the glass, only small glints of purple. The bouquet carries fragrant spice, liquorice, a little leather and some cherries.
The palate is delicate exhibiting an elegant balanced harmony of red plums and cherries, with ripe raspberries, these fruits lick and lap at leather and gently recede to a little clove and spiking cinnamon. The acid adds a little lift, just a slight refreshment and the tannins are very fine, almost pencilly and building slowly to some noticeable drying effect accompanied by some mineral flavours.
This is a quite lovely Granite Belt Nebbiolo, it doesn’t have the power of the 2018, it is unashamedly different, immensely enjoyable and totally at ease in it’s own company. Ballandean Estate now has a new wine maker and it will be interesting to see what he does with the Nebbiolo fruit from this vineyard which has lately been producing grapes that challenge the best Nebbi’s in Aus. I predict you will hear this a lot but the 2023 vintage on The Granite Belt is likely to produce some of the best fruit in decades and including for varieties that often struggle locally. If you can pre-order 2023 Ballandean Estate Nebbiolo I’d get on board!
This wine excelled in the company of an organic lamb roast from Boss Meats in Stanthorpe.
Tasted: Saturday 18th February, 2023 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: ProCork
Price: $42
Suggested Drinking Window: now to 2029
Winemaker: Dylan Rhymer
Fruit Source: Estate
Visit Website
