A friend of mine was caught driving in Tel Aviv during the recent torrential downpours. Rather than fight his way through traffic, he pulled over at the first wine store he found and decided to pass the time more enjoyably. As he weaved through the aisles, he came across a few that he had not tried before and sent me some pics to ask what I thought….

I have tasted a number of wines from Avidan before – usually at wine festivals. Some have been OK, some not for me. None have been bad. So when I saw the 2015 Avidan Nebbiolo among the pictures, I asked him to pick me up a bottle as there are precious few kosher Nebbiolos to sample.

In fact, the only current Nebbiolos I am aware of are the excellent top of the line 2010 Tenuta Monchiero Barolo recently sampled at RCC Israel #19,  the 2014 Hajdu Nebbiolo which I enjoy thoroughly, and the almost annual releases of Golan Heights Winery’s Gamla Hashmura Nebbiolo which are almost always nice for the price (NIS 65 or so) and in some years provide exceptional QPR. There is also apparently a lower end 2015 Nebbiolo available in the US from a winery called Luzzatto Vineyards that goes for $11 – but I haven’t tasted it.

This wine was a real  surprise!  As noted above, I have precious little to compare it to – but from all I can tell, this seems to be a very nice expression of Nebbiolo, varietaly true and tasty – clocking in at 14% ABV after spending 12 months in oak.  On top of that it straddles the New World-Old World divide(given time).

On first pour, the nose is floral and shows New World with bright red fruit.  The nose is duplicated in the mouth with bright red cherry, with some leather and earth in in the background. The acid is medium-high and the tannin is firm but not overbearing at all. The wine is ready to drink . With time, the earth and leather came more into the core and overall it was nice. On day 2 the nose had developed some dried fruit – and in the mouth it presented totally Old World with earth, leather and pencil taking center-stage  with a little of the dried fruit and the more mellow cherry in the background with a bit of pepper on the end.  I enjoyed it very much.!

Bottom Line:

• Price: NIS 75
• For Aging: I would guess no, but traditionally Nebbiolo ages well – then again, the 2015 vintage wasn’t the best (though this wine is yummy) – so Maybe?
• Would I Buy Again: Yes
• QPR Rating: Average
• Taste/Depth/Quality: Average +
• Overall Rating  (1-5): 3.5