Virago nebbiolo is made by Rick Kinzbrunner (Giaconda) along traditional Italian lines, incorporating wild fermentation, basket pressing and approximately 3 years maturation in 1600L Gamba oval casks. An excellent year on full display, giving rise to a dark and brooding nebbiolo of wild rosemary, thyme, saltbush, incense, black cherry and mandarin skin. A most complex and accomplished wine, of intrigue and discovery – such is nebbiolo’s power – finishing firm, with a savoury tannin presence.
Jeni Port
Published 01 January 2021
Virago had a good showing at the MIWC this year, with our 2016 Nebbiolo receiving a gold medal, our La Mistura 2018 receiving a bronze medal, and Virago winning the Nebbiolo Winery of 2020 Award.
Our 2014 Nebbiolo received a silver medal, and the 2015 Nebbiolo received a bronze medal at the 2019 Melbourne International Wine Competition
Australian Wine Companion gave our 2015 Virago Nebbiolo a 95 rating.
“The perfumed bouquet has temple spices and incense, rose petals and more. The palate is quite exceptional in its wondrous line of dark, blood-red, flavours, leather and undergrowth. Yet above all this there is the sour cherry/morello cherry and firm, but ripe, tannins, alcohol playing no role.”
~ James Halliday, published 01 August 2019
Australian Wine Companion gave our 2014 Virago Nebbiolo a 94 rating.
Read the original review on www.ozwinereview.com
I first tasted the Virago wines back in 2015, describing it as a ‘label to watch’. After retasting the range now in 2018, I’m noting that down as a great call – these are some of the best Nebbiolo-based wines in the country. It’s great just to find good local Neb at all, really. Such a capricious variety, that rarely looks good outside of Italy.
The reason why these wines work is the detail. The Virago Vineyard features five different clones, planted on a NW facing slope in Beechworth, the vines tended by hand at every part of the process by Karen Coats and Prue Keith. Rick Kinzbrunner (Giaconda) makes the wines, with extensive skin contact in tank, basket-pressing and maturation in large, 1,600 litre oak – all A1 Nebbiolo handling.
Australian Wine Companion gave our 2013 La Mistura Nebbiolo a 95 rating.
“A slightly more opulent and fuller wine when compared to the debut 2011 release, but it is in no way missing structure or complexity that the Nebbiolo grape is known for. The nose has undergrowth with dark cherry and decaying rose petal that will continue to evolve over time. The palate is all about structure at this point in it’s development with a web of drying tannins that’s interjected by tangy dark cherry that dries the mouth and prepares you for the next sip, the finish has a touch of kirsch liquor with blackberry and background oak adding dimension and contrast to the wines more savoury notes.” WINE RATING: 93
Read the original review on www.winereviewer.com.au
