Grand Cru Tasting Group (Perth) January 21, 2026 – Nebbiolo
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2026 11:12 pm
G’day
The usual suspects gathered at Lulu’s Little Bistro (again, a usual) for the first Grand Cru tasting of 2026. This time, the theme was Nebbiolo, from any vintage and anywhere in the world. Naturally, Piemonte, the home of Nebbiolo, was well represented, and a range of vintages were also offered.
Mamete Provostini ‘Botomero’ Nebbiolo 2023 (Alpi Retiche, Lombardia,13.5%): A pale garnet colour. A youthful wine in appearance as well as vintage, with the nose showing red and black cherry, raspberry jubes, some balsamic vinegar and cloves. The palate showed a touch of orange peel, cola / sarsaparilla, sour cherry and cranberry. Acid is high and slightly tingly on the tongue, and tannins are similarly high and grippy. Medium length and well regarded by the group.
Rizieri Nebbiolo D’Alba 2023 (Piemonte, 14%). Pale garnet. Some similarities with the previous wine, with black cherries, balsamic and cloves. There’s also the first signs of leather. The palate shows similar sour cherry and cola. Acid is slightly softer (but still high) and high fine tannins. Medium to long finish. Just slightly less fresh and intense than the previous wine.
Gioso Langhe Nebbiolo 2021(Piemonte, 14%). Garnet colour. A fresh nose with bright red cherries, marzipan and a little furniture polish. A light and bright palate, with some cranberry and umami. Tannins are fine and a little less intense than surrounding wines. Medium to high acid, a medium / long and slightly sour finish.
Chionetti ‘La Chiusa’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2021(Piemonte, 14%). Deeper garnet colour. An expressive nose with meaty, charcuterie notes. There’s dark cherry fruits in the background, with some earthiness, star anise and some tasters noted terracotta or claypot. The charcuterie extends through the palate, with sour cherry and orange peel. There’s high acid and high but fine tannins, and a long finish. Altogether a bigger wine, and well regarded by the group.
Varney Weines Nebbiolo 2020 (Adelaide Hills, 14%). Deep garnet. A shy, muted nose, with furniture polish and sauerkraut identified by some tasters. There’s cherry cola and cranberry on the palate, along with some leather. Prickly acid and ‘black tea’ tannins led to a medium finish. A little disjointed and unbalanced.
Michele Chiaro ‘Faset’ Barbaresco 2017 (Piemonte, 14%). Ruby colour. An expressive nose with rose petals, red and dark cherries, menthol and a touch of leather. The palate is soft and plush (compared to some other wines in this tasting) with clean red fruits, cranberry and orange peel. Tannins are high and showing signs of integration. The medium to long finish is almost gentle, and the wine is balanced. Well regarded by the group.
Carpe Diem Nebbiolo 2016 (Margaret River 14.1%). We saw two bottles of this wine, from two of the tasters (wines are served blind). Deep ruby colour. Earthiness and leather polish dominated the nose initially. Maraschino cherry comes through quite powerfully and there’s some rose petal as well. The palate is somewhat medicinal, with liquorice and orange peel being prominent. Tannins are high and fine, and acid is medium to high, all leading to a long finish. Some signs of age / development and highly regarded by the group.
Michele Chiaro ‘Il Principe’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2015 (Piemonte 13.5%). Ruby colour. A less powerful nose than the previous wine, with leather and savoury notes, with cherry fruit in the background. The palate shows sour dark cherries, orange peel, iodine, iron filings and rosemary. The fine tannins are grippy on the back palate, and acid is high. Medium to long finish and in the shadow of the Barbaresco.
Wine of the night was the Carpe Diem Nebbiolo 2016. The group then considered whether this was a function of our location and more usual tipples (i.e. being somewhat Western Australian focused). Personally, I much preferred the Italian wine, and especially the Barbaresco.
My thanks as always to Mark and the team at Lulu’s Little Bistro, for superb food and service (as usual).
Cheers
Allan
The usual suspects gathered at Lulu’s Little Bistro (again, a usual) for the first Grand Cru tasting of 2026. This time, the theme was Nebbiolo, from any vintage and anywhere in the world. Naturally, Piemonte, the home of Nebbiolo, was well represented, and a range of vintages were also offered.
Mamete Provostini ‘Botomero’ Nebbiolo 2023 (Alpi Retiche, Lombardia,13.5%): A pale garnet colour. A youthful wine in appearance as well as vintage, with the nose showing red and black cherry, raspberry jubes, some balsamic vinegar and cloves. The palate showed a touch of orange peel, cola / sarsaparilla, sour cherry and cranberry. Acid is high and slightly tingly on the tongue, and tannins are similarly high and grippy. Medium length and well regarded by the group.
Rizieri Nebbiolo D’Alba 2023 (Piemonte, 14%). Pale garnet. Some similarities with the previous wine, with black cherries, balsamic and cloves. There’s also the first signs of leather. The palate shows similar sour cherry and cola. Acid is slightly softer (but still high) and high fine tannins. Medium to long finish. Just slightly less fresh and intense than the previous wine.
Gioso Langhe Nebbiolo 2021(Piemonte, 14%). Garnet colour. A fresh nose with bright red cherries, marzipan and a little furniture polish. A light and bright palate, with some cranberry and umami. Tannins are fine and a little less intense than surrounding wines. Medium to high acid, a medium / long and slightly sour finish.
Chionetti ‘La Chiusa’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2021(Piemonte, 14%). Deeper garnet colour. An expressive nose with meaty, charcuterie notes. There’s dark cherry fruits in the background, with some earthiness, star anise and some tasters noted terracotta or claypot. The charcuterie extends through the palate, with sour cherry and orange peel. There’s high acid and high but fine tannins, and a long finish. Altogether a bigger wine, and well regarded by the group.
Varney Weines Nebbiolo 2020 (Adelaide Hills, 14%). Deep garnet. A shy, muted nose, with furniture polish and sauerkraut identified by some tasters. There’s cherry cola and cranberry on the palate, along with some leather. Prickly acid and ‘black tea’ tannins led to a medium finish. A little disjointed and unbalanced.
Michele Chiaro ‘Faset’ Barbaresco 2017 (Piemonte, 14%). Ruby colour. An expressive nose with rose petals, red and dark cherries, menthol and a touch of leather. The palate is soft and plush (compared to some other wines in this tasting) with clean red fruits, cranberry and orange peel. Tannins are high and showing signs of integration. The medium to long finish is almost gentle, and the wine is balanced. Well regarded by the group.
Carpe Diem Nebbiolo 2016 (Margaret River 14.1%). We saw two bottles of this wine, from two of the tasters (wines are served blind). Deep ruby colour. Earthiness and leather polish dominated the nose initially. Maraschino cherry comes through quite powerfully and there’s some rose petal as well. The palate is somewhat medicinal, with liquorice and orange peel being prominent. Tannins are high and fine, and acid is medium to high, all leading to a long finish. Some signs of age / development and highly regarded by the group.
Michele Chiaro ‘Il Principe’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2015 (Piemonte 13.5%). Ruby colour. A less powerful nose than the previous wine, with leather and savoury notes, with cherry fruit in the background. The palate shows sour dark cherries, orange peel, iodine, iron filings and rosemary. The fine tannins are grippy on the back palate, and acid is high. Medium to long finish and in the shadow of the Barbaresco.
Wine of the night was the Carpe Diem Nebbiolo 2016. The group then considered whether this was a function of our location and more usual tipples (i.e. being somewhat Western Australian focused). Personally, I much preferred the Italian wine, and especially the Barbaresco.
My thanks as always to Mark and the team at Lulu’s Little Bistro, for superb food and service (as usual).
Cheers
Allan