Lethbridge The Birthday Present Nebbiolo 750ml

Lethbridge Il Regalo di Compleanno, meaning “The Birthday Present”, is a Nebbiolo produced by Lethbridge Wines from the Malakoff Vineyard in the Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia. The wine began in 2013 when Maree Collis sourced two tonnes of Nebbiolo from Malakoff as a surprise birthday present for winemaker Ray Nadeson. The vineyard sits near Landsborough at approximately 300 metres elevation, with a sheltered north-easterly aspect and iron-rich red clay soils scattered with ironstone and quartz. Lethbridge works with the same selected blocks, pursuing low yields and optimal ripeness, while long skin contact and extended maturation in large-format oak build the structure and complexity characteristic of the cuvée.

The appearance is typically bright garnet to ruby, with Nebbiolo’s characteristic transparency and brick-red tones developing with maturity.

The nose is lifted and complex, centred on red cherry and red fruits with dried rose, brown spice and dried herbs. With development, more savoury tones of tobacco, leather, autumn leaves and forest floor emerge, underpinned by a distinctive stony, mineral character.

The palate is medium-bodied yet firmly structured, with a concentrated core of cherry and red fruit framed by Nebbiolo’s persistent tannins and fresh acidity. Savoury herbs, spice, earth and mineral nuances add complexity, while the extended maceration and large-format oak maturation give the wine depth and texture without overwhelming its aromatic character.

A distinctive Australian interpretation of Nebbiolo, combining the formidable tannin and perfume of the variety with the iron-rich soils and cool-climate character of Victoria’s Pyrenees.