Patrick Underwood Chalmers Nebbiolo 2023

91 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

Patrick Underwood knows his way around a nebb or two. In good stead. This feels curious in its edgy profile, lemony zing, blood orange tang, a juxtaposition between red fruits in ripe and not that ripe flavours. A balance of bright-lights pleasing sourness and the chewy, succulent, spicy tannin finish. The fruit profile, as is sometimes the case with the site, feels diffuse, painted in watercolour, and not quite delivering the full DNA of the variety; sure, lighter styles go well, and this does too, but it feels a bit ‘lacking’ in its way. A breathy warm zephyr of red fruits and spice wafts through. Warm, but not quite. That being said, the vibrancy, edgy nature of the wine is appealing; the cut of acidity is almost glass shard, the strings plucked hard on freshness go well with their sizzle, one could say. A nice drink is the result.