This is the inaugural release of a wine Cascina Adelaide is especially proud and anxious to present because it pays homage to estate founder, Amabile. The 2017 Barolo Billo sources its fruit from the Fossati Vineyard, but because I tasted my preview sample from a shiner bottle, I'm not sure if the MGA is recorded on the front label. Named after the local word for "stubbornness," Billo is tart and stemmy with bright red fruit, baked cherry, crushed stone, grilled herb and a unique note of passion fruit or nectarine that you wouldn't normally associate with Nebbiolo. The wine offers a level of aromatic intensity and structure that defies standard Langhe wines. The secret lies in the mysterious clone, informally called "Blue" by the Cascina Adelaide team, selected for use in this bottling. What I also notice is the extra brawn and depth of the mouthfeel and that note of freshly squeezed blood orange that fills the palate in such a compete and ample manner. Billo is different for sure, and it most definitely colors outside the lines of standard Nebbiolo. Be prepared for a crazy ride with a wine that does not pretend to be "typical." It should be interesting to see how those fruity aromas evolve in time.

A wild ride of a red, with aromas and flavors of menthol and cherry, savory notes of juniper and sage, and burly tannins that flex their muscles on the finish. Best from 2025 through 2040. 1,600 cases made, 70 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add