The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2017 Langhe Nebbiolo Il Favot delivers dark fruit intensity with cherry, blackberry and plum. This entry-level wine throws a lot of fruit out there, all delivered in a rather random and haphazard manner. This is a fun and informal Nebbiolo to pair with grilled meats or simple pasta dishes. Some 10,000 bottles were made.

Coffee and cocoa aromas segue into black cherry and plum flavors as this rich, polished red unfolds on the palate. Though pure fruit and sweet oak notes persist, the wine is more about the texture and harmony. Ends with a long, lingering aftertaste of cherry, vanilla and spices. Best from 2014 through 2028. 150 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Langhe Select to Add

The 2008 Langhe Nebbiolo Il Favot is similarly laid back. Sweet scents of tobacco, licorice and crushed flowers add complexity to the fruit in this graceful, medium-bodied Nebbiolo. Clean, mineral notes frame the finish. The 2008 is a pretty wine with lovely nuance but not quite the completeness of the finest vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.Importer: Massanois Imports, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 470-6769

The 2006 Langhe Nebbiolo Il Favot is a very serious wine endowed with superb concentration and balance. This firm, vibrant Nebbiolo possesses gorgeous, refined tannins that render it enjoyable today, but readers who enjoy more aromatic nuance and complexity may want to cellar the wine for a few years. The sheer integrity of fruit here is remarkable. This is a great effort from Aldo Conterno. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016. These 2006 reds from Aldo Conterno are well worth seeking out. I am far less enamored with the 2006 Langhe Chardonnay Bussiador, which comes across as heavy and lacking elegance.Importer: The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 603-1461