Text: Elegies/Carmina
Author: Tibullus
Date: before 19 BCE
Language: Latin
Elissa’s pick: a Langhe Nebbiolo like these from Sottimano or G.D. Vajra
Notes: approachable bouquet, acerbic; clay, leather, red fruits, angst
Rust-red and translucent with a delicate bouquet on approach, Nebbiolo tends to pack a bigger punch than it promises. The varietal has this in common with the somewhat mysterious elegist: the first book eases in with the sort of moralizing gentleman-farmer-type flow we might expect from the likes of Horace, but the illusion is soon shattered by visions of Delia and death. From there on out, our poet remains a bit of a chimaera: flirtatious and fruit-forward, tannic and astringent, raw-edged and leathery.
spes facilem Nemesim spondet mihi, sed negat illa.
ei mihi, ne vincas, dura puella, deam.
II.VI.27-8
“Hope reassures me that Nemesis will be kind, but the lady refuses. Ah me! Take care, cruel girl, not to outdo the goddess”
And like Nebbiolo, Tibullus always feels deeply personal. His poems take their character from the terroir of his mistresses’ moods: in turns capricious, angelic, passionate, and cruel. After a glass or two of Delia, you’ll realize you might be in over your head. But trust us, you’ll want to stick around for Nemesis, too.
flebis et arsuro positum me, Delia, lecto,
tristibus et lacrimis oscula mixta dabis.
I.II.97-8
“You’ll cry for me, Delia, when I’m laid on a bed that is to burn. and you’ll give me kisses mixed with tears of sorrow.”
If an approachable pinot is for a stable, healthy relationship, its more tempestuous cousin is for the endless cycle of breakup and makeup. And while you might eventually choose to trade up for one of the finer Barolos, with these Carmina you’ll want to stick with a mid-range, young Langhe Nebbiolo that hits hard. If you’re as troubled as Tibullus, you’ll need that 14+% ABV!
vintellect 
I kinda think that Two Moon’s ‘Angst’ wine fits with Tibullus too. (https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/two-moons-2012-angst-red-paso-robles/)
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