2023 Billy Button ‘The Elusive’ Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is known as the 'King' of Italian grape varieties and is notoriously difficult to grow and make. The mountainous topography and climate of the Alpine Valleys is not that dissimilar to Piedmont, the Italian home of the variety. Growers Tony and Josie Ferraro put in an inordinate amount of time to their small patch of Nebbiolo to ensure the quality of the resultant grapes.

Say 'neb-ee-oh-low'

Vintage Snapshot

The 2023 growing season has produced a classic Nebbiolo.  It is packed with savoury notes of dried herbs, rose petals and hallmark strong tannins.

Production Notes

The fruit was machine harvested and destemmed to a combination of open pots and Flexcubes for fermentation with indigenous yeast.  The ferments were hand plunged twice daily until primary ferment was complete. The Flexcube components were topped and held on skins for an extended maceration of 7 months before being pressed to a combination of Flexcubes and seasoned oak barriques for maturation. Bottled September 2024.

Tasting Note

Fresh and varietal aromas of dried rose petals, Dutch liquorice, raw fennel and nuances of wild strawberry.  Trademark tannins are complemented with lively acidity and lines of crunchy cranberries and the palate flavours are deepened by an undercurrent of umami.  Layered, savoury and complex.

Optimal Drinking Window – 2026 to 2035

Technical Details

Reviews

TOP GOLD medal winner at the 2025 North East Victorian Wine Challenge

Nebbiolo from the Alpine Valleys in north-east Victoria. This tastes like a mix of leather, red- and black-cherry, cola and dried herbs, and carries a good line of cleansing acidity, complemented by dry, rusty tannin. It’s a faithful and indeed very good rendition of the nebbiolo grape, with a sound finish and a general impression of completeness. Awarded 90 points, The Winefront, Campbell Mattinson - Posted on 5 December 2025

"Nebbiolo has many faces, personalities. This is its friendly side, revealing its pretty, aromatic, berry bright personality which is easy to get to know and like. Rose, pressed flowers, anise and red licorice join forces with red cherry, cranberry and blood orange. Super fresh and lively with tannins and acidity in control but not dominating, it looks set for some further time in bottle. Still, there is opportunity for a pairing right now with food." Awarded 90 points, Halliday Wine Companion, Jeni Port - Published 11 February 2025