2017 Alpha Box & Dice F is for Fog

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 90 points

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  2/12/2024 - Irish_Wine Likes this wine: 88 Points

  Rather developed colour with a fair amount of browning, even for Nebbiolo. Core of cherry fruit. Tar, rose, earth and medicinal notes. Some heat but not too obtrusive. Some weight on the palate with pleasant tannic grip. Seemingly less structured than its Piedmontese cousins. Enjoyable, savoury finish but lacking a little persistence.
  
  Interesting to try an expression of Nebbiolo from Adelaide Hills. The consensus seems to be that it's hard to make decent Nebbiolo outside of Piedmonte but Alpha Box are challenging this!
  
  Not convinced this will make it to the 2037 drink by date CT is showing but no immediate rush.

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  11/15/2022 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 92 Points

  It took me a while to come round to the idea of Alpha Box & Dice- specialising in Italian varietals in South Australia, it felt like a bit of a gimmick - but so many reviewers and discerning retailers gave them the seal of approval that I couldn’t help but give them a go.
  
  This is their Nebbiolo - and I’m working on the assumption that if you can get Nebbiolo to work outside Piemonte, you know what you’re doing. This far exceeded expectations - on the border of garnet and ruby, the nose is something special. There’s strawberry and rose, but pumped up a notch - the Turkish Delight comparison is a good one. It’s multi-layered and comes in waves of fruit and spice. Wow.
  
  On the palate it’s got a velvety texture, burly acidity and full but well resolved tannins. Sweet plum, cedar, cherry cola, and a longish finish. Overall this is a totally compelling wine - it’s delicious but it rewards meditation and attention. It’s Nebbiolo you can drink with pleasure but it feels special- an occasion wine for around £20.
  
  10% whole bunch. Wild fermentation until dry, then the fermenter was sealed up to remain on skins for a total of six weeks total maceration on skins, 12 months in new (5%) and old barrique on lees. Racked to cask and puncheon for 18 months, racked back to old puncheon for six months. Blended for bottling and aged for three months in bottle.

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  10/22/2022 - R J Lewis wrote:

  Clear pale garnet colour.
  
  N: M+ aromatics. Definite Nebbiolo typicity here. Rose, well-defined ripe red cherry, some old wolrd-style dusty character too, touch of herbal. Some sense of warmth, but it's subtle.
  P: Tannins don't have the edge of even Langhe Nebbiolo, but they are there, I'd say medium + and sandy texture. Acidity is fresh, not searing. There is a notable bitterness - personal tolerance will dictate how one interprets this. Though at first it's quite pronounced, the fruit catches up and it balances out. Some savouriness here too - smokey bacon. Ends refreshing, with some sweet fruit, maybe a hint of sweetness. The producer says raw cacao and I can see this.
  
  A great effort for Aussie Nebbiolo. More elegant and expressive than other examples I've tried.

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  11/17/2021 - MC_vin? wrote: flawed

  Bitter

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