Alpha Box & Dice Fog Nebbiolo

A modern, cutting-edge collection of wines - just look at the labels - from the passionate and slightly bonkers trio of Dylan and Justin Fairweather and winemaker Sam Berketa. AB&D was founded in McLaren Vale in 2008 and is unconventional in its approach; there are no regional, varietal or stylistic' boundaries, just great wines from great fruit. The plan is to craft a different wine for every letter of the alphabet - from Apostle (Shiraz-Durif blend) to Zaptung (crown-capped Prosecco). Each wine is unique and has a story and eye-catching label to go with it. A fab collecting of wines that a causing quite a buzz in the wine scene.

Every fog must lift. And when it does, we shall devour the treasures unveiled. While Nebbiolo may derive its name from the Italian word nebbia', meaning fog', relating to the fog-like milky veil that forms over the berries as they mature, our Fog is even more mysterious and whimsical still. The three year maturation process in season large format oak and barriques is necessary to unleash the grape's full potential. The reward, a tannic wine with velvety mouthfeel and characteristics of Turkish Delight, sandalwood and rose petal is a welcoming, comforting light at the end of a long, murky tunnel, making our Fog a more Nebbi-YOLO than Nebbiolo.

Nebbiolo,

Grapes are picked from the Protero Vineyard in Kenton Valley, Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Here the soil is sandy loam with pockets of clay over bedrock. Grapes are hand harvested in two picks, mostly destemmed (10% whole bunch). Wild fermentation takes place until dry, then the fermenter was sealed up to remain on skins for a total of six weeks. The wines is pressed off and matured separately for the first 12 months. Six weeks total maceration on skins, 12 months in new (5%) and old barrique on lees. Racked to cask and puncheon for 18 months, racked back to old puncheon for six months. Blended for bottling and aged for three months in bottle.

Brick red in colour , with a nose of cherry cola/all spice with a hint of sandalwood. Flavours of ripe red fruits and cherry pie, leading to a long high key finish.

Italian foods. All of them. And duck.