Red wine varietals that tend to benefit from a good bit of oak include: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Chianti, Zinfandel, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo and Syrah. Oak is utilized somewhat like a “seasoning” to add flavor and palate appeal to a wine. Which Wines are Typically Oaked? Why Oak Wine? Where is the barrel from? MORE >>

2006 Arrivo Lunga Macerazione Nebbiolo, Adelaide Hills. 2007 Luke Lambert Wines Nebbiolo, Yarra Valley. 1998 Pizzini Nebbiolo, King Valley. 2002 Domaine de la Romanée Conti Romanée St Vivant Pinot Noir, Vosne Romanée, Burgundy. I’m back from the fantastic Landmark Australia Tutorial. Day One. Australia’s Fine Wine. MORE >>

We drank three mature white Burgundy wines, one from Meursault, one from Puligny, and one Corton-Charlemagne. Another fellow disagreed, saying that the wine didn't have the mouth feel of Nebbiolo, that this was more Burgundy. Or any of the Burgundy wines did. This was not a business lunch. The wines were very special. MORE >>

Were these wines made purely of Nebbiolo? I've long thought that those old Vallanas aren't 100% nebbiolo (or spanna), although it doesn't bother me one bit. Levi agreed that the wines are likely not to be pure Nebbiolo, and as Peter said, this doesn't bother him a bit. don't taste Aglianico in those wines, I taste Nebbiolo. MORE >>

So when the Aussies regain their senses and start using corks again- warts and all, and I am no great fan of TCA-tainted wines- not to mention all of the premature oxidation issues with recent vintages of my beloved white Burgundies, which in my opinion may well be cork-related- then I will start tasting Australian rieslings again in-depth. MORE >>