Agricola Brandini, Langhe Nebbiolo “Filari Corti”

All I could think about when I tasted today’s Nebbiolo from Brandini is what a standout it would be in a comparative tasting of similarly priced wines from around the world.I may be a little biased in favor of Italian wines, but so be it: Put this in a lineup with similarly priced reds from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Spain, California, wherever…it’s very likely to come out on top. It won’t be the biggest wine, nor will it be the ripest, but it’ll be the one that stays with you the longest. It’ll be the one with the most beguilingly complex aromatics, the longest finish, and the most aristocratic, “serious” feel to it. Nebbiolo is a “noble” grape that way, but it is usually rather shy and a little rustic in its youth; we have the exceptional 2015 vintage to thank for the sublime completeness of this bottling, a Langhe Nebbiolo called “Filari Corti.” Sourced from Agricola Brandini’s vineyards in the Barolo commune of La Morra, this wine expertly conveys the classic character of this village’s w