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We had this w/ our Easter ham on Sat night: 1. Iuli Natalin VinoRosso (13.5%; 100% Grignolino; www.Iuli.It; Indie Wines Imports) Iuli Fabrizio/Montaldo di Cerrina NV (2016?) : Med.light slight orangey color; very fragrant/perfumed strawberry/Grignolino bit floral/violets/slight Nebb-like very slight...

Susan & I tried these two over the weekend: 1. elios Modus Bibendi Grillo IGP: Terre Siciliane (12%; www.EliosFood.It; Fruit of the Vines/LongIslandCity) Saverio Adamo/Alcamo 2017 : Med.dark gold color; fairly strong resiny/phenolic/pine pitch light appley/floral some saline/mineral rather interesti...

A rather interesting article by ChristopherBarnes in GrapeCollective: SlovenianWines Mostly it's an interview w/ MartinGruzovin of the VipavskaVlly/GuerilaWnry. He talks a lot about renewed interested in Zelen & Pinela grapes. The VipavskaVlly is, to my estimate, a bit of an undercheiving area. I th...

This strange duck showed up on the shelves at Kokoman Sat & I knew I had to try it. Us strange ducks all hang together: 1. VioletFreres Byrrh Grand Quinquina Recette Originale Apertif Elabore a Partiv de Vins (18%; Haus Alpenz/Edina/MN) Cave Byrrh/Thuir NV : Dark garnet color w/ no bricking; somewha...

Rich,
There is a NevadaCity Wnry that advertises itself as the oldest wnry in Nevada Cnty. But it is undoubtedly not the same folks as NevadaCllrs. Nothing I can find out there with Google on NevadaCllrs.
I’ll see if I can find out something from Darrell or MikeDunne.
Tom

Sorry, Rich. Not much help here. I tried 4-5 of their wines around early ‘80’s because it was a new growing area that I thought had some potential. The few I tried were underwhelming.. on the rough/rustic side. So blew them off. Don’t recall the folks behind it. Very surprised this Zin was that good...

Well...don’t any of you pine for the good ole days of the NewsGroup alt.food.wine?? Some of my first Internet wine friends I met there.
What’s things like on the WineSphincter board??
Tom

Larry brought this mystery wine last night: 1. Babcock Syrah BlackLabelCuvee SBVlly (13.6%) Lompoc 1997 : Dark color w/ no bricking; very strong toasty/Fr.oak very strong blackberry/Syrah/boysenberry/ripe/bit licorice some complex nose; lightly tart very strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe Syrah/lico...

Last week (4/10/19), we did a Tasting With Blair Swartz: 1. Louis Jadot Beaune-Chouacheux AC: Beaune 1er Cru (13.5%) Beaune 1990 : Med.light color w/ light bricking; rather mature cedary/pencilly rather earthy/dusty light PN/floral bit toasty/oak slight mushroomy complex nose; lightly tart bit dried...

Tried this wine last night w/ my leftovers: 1. Zeitgeist TrousseauGris Fanucchi-WoodRdVnyd/RRV (13.0%; www.ZeitgeistCellars.com) 2014 : Med.light gold color; fragrant spicy/apple/quince/slight floral some chalky/perfumed talc quite pleasant nose; bit soft slightly rich slight metallic/tangy/chalky/p...

I've always loved his mixed blend, Napa Valley White, and his Ribolla Gialla; I have to say I haven't fallen hard for his chards or the little cab that I've had. Maybe too dialed down for me? (I know he works all over, so should have access to some of the best grapes, and I think he grows his own M...

Visiting Napa for first time next month. Going to celebrate a birthday and figured it may be fun to pick up some bottles while out there to bring home for future celebrations. Do the wineries offer their own shipping methods while out there? As in, can I buy some wine and have them ship it home for...

Wanted a white last night, so pulled: 1. Matthiasson Chard MichaelMaraVnyd/SonomaCoast/SonomaCnty (13.3%) 2015 : Light gold color; fairly strong melony/appley/fresh pear/white fruits light stony/chalky/perfumed talc quite attractive fragrant nose; fairly tart/tangy bit rich (for Matthiasson) fresh a...

Thanks for clarifying all that history, Clyde. It’s always been confusing to me who’s who.
Tom

My Prima IlConsorzio shipment arrrived last week, so cracked two of them: 1. Wittman Silvaner trocken Rheinhessen (Q; A.P.Nr. 4 327 231 004 18; GA; www.WittmannWeingut.com; 12.0%) Westhofen 2017 : Light golden color; very fragrant floral/grapey/mango/Sylvaner rather stony/mineral/steely quite attrac...

Yup, Jay.....I think Mike's GV is about the best made in Calif. It doesn't have a lot of the
minerality you get from Wachau GV, but I picked up a trace of the signature GV white pepper. Good stuff.
Tom

Correction from Darrell:
Peverella is a white grape that originated in the Trentino. Probably extinct there now. It’s found a toehold in Brazil. DNA it is identical to Verdicchio in the Marche.
Tom

Karl K wrote: ↑
April 12th, 2019, 7:52 pm
Was the SaH figure on the label?

Yup...down on the bottom of the label.
Tom

dave kammerer wrote: ↑
April 12th, 2019, 4:06 pm
This was easily the wine of the day for me, I hope you have more bottles of this as it should last for many more years.

Nope, Dave..last one. But happy to share it with you and Chris. But I do have a btl of the Riesling left.
Tom

Tried this ystrday afternoon: 1. JosephPhelpsVnyds Scheurebe NapaVlly LateHrvst (10.3%; RS: 12.2%; SaH: 30.0%) StHelena 1983 : Deep golden/burnished bronze color; fairly strong botrytis/apricotty/peachy beautiful BA-like slight herbal bit pencilly/cedary quite complex nose; quite sweet very strong b...

RickMinderman just put up a video: HarborWnryRetrospectiveTasting on a tasting DarrellCorti hosted on a retrospective of the wines from HarborWnry, whose owner, CharlieMeyers, died last yr. Charlie is best known for putting AmadorCnty/ShenandoahVlly on the map. He was an English professor at SacCity...

Tried these two new Nebbs from the furtherest regions of HumboltCnty: 1. FieldbrookCllrs Nebbiolo TrinityRiverCuvee/HumboltCnty (13.9%) 2013 : Med.color; light earthy/dusty some grapey/plummy very light floral/lilacs/Nebb/fairly ripe rather quiet/low-key slight herbal pleasant enough nose; fairly ta...

Interesting article, as linked by WineTerroirist, by MichaelaMorris, about the problem of quercetin precipitating out in wine from 100% Sangiovese: https://www.meininger.de/en/wine-business-international/sangiovese-throws-strange-quercetin-deposit . Don't think I've ever observed it (though I don't ...

D@vid Bu3ker wrote: ↑
April 9th, 2019, 4:17 pm
I have two bottles of that Oakville Farmhouse. Worth checking on one soon, or do you think time is a potential friend?

Well, David....no reason to drink one right away. I'd hold off a yr and see where it's gonna go.
Tom

Sad (and short-sighted) to see that Mike is being shed by the SacBee but he seems to be bidding adieu w/ no hard feelings. I've learned a vast amount from Mike's columns over the yrs and have enjoyed the opportunity to drink & break bread with him any number of times. However, I'm confident we have ...

We tasted tonight (4/3/19) Some More New Wines: 1. terragena Riesling WileyVnyd/AndersonVlly (13%; Plntd: 1976; #417 of 1320; www.TerragenaVineyard.com) ChrisBuchanan/MeyersFlat/HumboltCnty 2017 : Light gold color; quite fragrant pineapple/mango/R/slight floral light chalky/flinty/mineral quite attr...

As linked in WineTerroirist, there's an interesting article by BetsyAndrews: https://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-wine-mavericks-that-heralded-a-new-generation-at-u-c-davis/ on a (small) group of winemakers coming out of Davis whose focus is on making natural wines. They feel that bringing a scientific ...

Tried these two Sat night w/ dinner: 1. LaClarineFarm petit manseng SierraFoothills (13.4%; U/U; http://www.LaClarineFarm.com; whole cluster pressed thru fermentation) Somerset 2017 : Med.dark gold bit cloudy color; some funky/apple cider rather earthy/bit stony somewhat natty slight mousey rather ...

Tried these two Sat night w/ dinner: 1. LaClarineFarm petit manseng SierraFoothills (13.4%; U/U; www.LaClarineFarm.com; whole cluster pressed thru fermentation) Somerset 2017 : Med.dark gold bit cloudy color; some funky/apple cider rather earthy/bit stony somewhat natty slight mousey rather interest...

Thanks for fleshing out the story about Dennis. I’d like to meet him next time.
And you are right..Lolonis was the lady bug. One year at ZAP they were plastering lady bug stickers on everyone’s shirts...or cleavage in some cases.
Tom

Gallo does now own the Monte Rosso Vineyard. Several online sources say they do...... at least ‘did’. Curious as to who does and documentation of it. That came w/ the purchase of the LouisM.Martini brand, who were the owners. Gallo continued to sell MR grapes to some long-time customers, but stoppe...

I can get rather skeptical as well and am not surprised at the this new level of control and influence by a growing number of Chateaux. Bringing tasters to posh surroundings and out of a competitive tasting venue, where it is hard to differential your brand and face comparison and repeat tastings o...

Had these two gems at dinner last night: 1. Carlisle GrunerVeltliner SteinerVnyd/SonomaMtn/SonomaCnty (14.1%; 230 cs) 2017 : Med.light gold color; very fragrant classic GV/floral/white pepper slight earthy lovely aromatic nose; fairly tart/tangy strong GV/floral/melony/white pepper rather rich/lush ...

We tasted tonight (3/27/19) More Wines w/ Oliver McCrum: 1. Balgera Dd'OC: Rosso di Valtellina (12.0%; www.ViniBalgera.com) Chiuro 2004 :: Med.light color; strong delicate floral/violets/rose petal slight strawberry slight pungent/earthy bit pencilly very aromatic quite complex nose; very tart bit m...

Levi Dalton wrote: ↑
April 4th, 2019, 1:43 pm
Hmm. I wonder if getting flown around on private jets by Bordeaux chateau owners might water down the criticism as well.

Now, Levi...we don't wanta go there!!!
Tom

I have a sample of a few crystals of TCA, compliments of a friend at ScottLabs, that is soaking in vodka. The small jar is enclosed in two ZipLok, placed in a jar that has a tight clamp on the top, w/ a piece of SaranWrap sealing the opening. Yet I can pick up the jar, thru all the seals, and smell...

Amazing what you can find out out there on the InterNet. Some of it even true. Like windmills cause cancer. I was trying to remember what wnry prominently featured a LadyBug on its label (don't ask why). The name DennisPatton popped into my mind. And a Google search told me the rest of the story. De...

An interesting article, as linked by WineTerroirist, by JamieGoode: http://www.wineanorak.com/wineblog/uncategorized/privileged-access on how the privilege of tasting BDX en Primeur may subtly shade how the wines are being scored by the opinion leaders. It's a question I've sometimes wondered about....

Rather interesting article in which I find out that TCA has no smell: https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/03/29/does-your-wine-smell-wet-dog-polluted-corks-microbiology-are-blame-13912 A rather interesting, if surprising, article. I have a sample of a few crystals of TCA, compliments of a friend at Scott...

Wow, Blake. Pretty impressive lineup of wines. Some very familiar faces ther, both at table and on the sideboard. Tom Hey Tom, Yes, you would know many, if not all of the participants in both instances. It was a fun night. On the side, our teams got shelled pretty early on, but we do have Texqs Tec...

I like the COS Pithos Bianco. It's a "mildly orange" wine, without as much skin contact as Radikon, and I feel that it shows more grape complexity and less of the monolithic character that comes from some of the more overdone skin contact wines. It's funny when people say this, but they'd never say...

Wow, Blake. Pretty impressive lineup of wines. Some very familiar faces ther,
both at table and on the sideboard.
Tom

Tried this last night w/ dinner: 1. Forlorn-Hope Nodosaur RorickVnyd/CalaverasCnty WW (14.07%; 37 cs; Viognier/3% Albarino) MatthewRorick/Fairfield 2013 : Med.dark gold color; strong nutty/toasted hazelnuts/bit oxidative some floral/honeysuckle/peach/spicy/cinammon bit figgy/graham crackers rather c...

What are your best experiences, able to challenge the best white expressions in the world (dry or sweet) ? I'm interested that people have listed arneis. A good one can be quite interesting, but there are so many diluted, boring ones. Even the best I don't see it answering to Laurent's description....

2001 Failla Chardonnay Keefer Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (4/1/2019) Picked up a few bottles from a Keefer estate sale. Grower provenance. Cork was saturated but not leaking. Pop and pour, nose of caramel apple and white flowers. Creamy oily palate with sweet pear, ...

The Beckett boys labels for Chronic Cllrs have to rank right up there...but the wines are pretty good.
I loved their Sofa King Bueno label they managed to slip by the TTB folks has always made me life.
Bueno is Spanish for "good". Say it fast to get the joke.
Tom

Dorigo's Picolit. Picolit was once as prestigious as Tokay. Bingo, Eric...totally forgot about Picolit. As you say, it was once as famous as Tokaji. But when they quit interplanting it w/ Verduzzo, the myth of floral abortion came out and production of Picolit passito plummeted and prices skyrocket...

Just to be clear here I am a former part time employee of TW a very long tine ago (although it was called a different name in MD). Like most large size companies involved in wine they take their share of slings and arrows here and I am not here to defend them. But they do provide a service to the n...

Tried this last night w/ dessert: 1. Cypres de Climens AC: Barsac (14%; SarantyImports/Stamford/CT) Berenice Lurton 2013 : Med.dark gold color; strong botrytis/peachy/apricotty bit figgy/Semillon some butterscotchy/Fr.oak/toasty slight volatile classic Sauternes fairly complex nose; soft/fat fairly ...

Just two names in my mind : * Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Valentini * Etna bianco Benanti (carricante) I also found great the sweet Maculan Acininobili 1998 (passito vespaïola). What are your best experiences, able to challenge the best white expressions in the world (dry or sweet) ? Laurent, I would have ...

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