Au Bon Climat 2012 Nebbiolo Riseva Punta Exclamitiva 750ml

Medium garnet, the 2011 Nebbiolo Punta Exclamitiva has a very "Nebbiolo" nose of dried red and black cherries, old leather, tobacco and chocolate box nuances with notes of sage, scrubby earth and dried cranberry. It's medium to full-bodied with lovely layers of dried fruits and amaro-like spices in the mouth, framed by firm, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing very long and very savory. Yes! Jim Clendenen says, "I would blame most New World failed efforts of Nebbiolo on poor clonal material." His Nebbiolo spent more than five years in barrel, "the way I believe a riserva wine should be."

Score: 91 points -- Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate, 2019