This is the wine that comes in an odd shaped bottle that almost looks like it melted and was disfigured. Made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, this is the Riserva version which means the best parcels are harvested from Travaglini’s oldest vineyards (35-60 years). The wine is aged for 4 years: 3 years in Slavonian oak casks of different sizes. The wine then rests in bottle for 12 months. The resulting wine is a sort of rustic version of a Barolo although these days most wines from Piedmont are far more polished than say 30 years ago. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries, spice, char and slight floral (rose?) notes. Medium bodied but with firm tannins. On the palate, this is still young but showing lots of cherries with some underlying char. Good acidity. Plenty of depth. Long finish. A pretty wine but is it worth the premium to get the Riserva? Probably not unless you plan on giving this at least ten years in a good cellar. Still, it is very nice right now but like most Italian wines, this begs for food. Pasta with truffles of mushrooms would be great. Drink over the next twenty years.
