Tried these 4 Massican annia’s over the last few days:
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Massican gaspare Dd’OC: Bianco Friuli Colli Orientali (13.5%; 44% Friulano/29% RibollaGialla/27% Chard)
P&B by Ronco Del Gnemiz/SanGiovanni al Natisone 2017: Med.light gold color w/ some small bubbles; strong
floral/carnations/TF quite aromatic/perfumed rather chalky/mineral/perfumed talc slight steely/petrol fairly
complex nose; quite tart/tangy nfairly chalky/mineral/perfumed talc some floral/carnations/gardenias/TF bit
spiced apples lovely flavor; very long/lingering some floral/carnations rather mineral/chalky/perfumed talc
some complex finish; quite an attractive white that speaks mostly of Friulano. $26.00
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Massican annia NapaVlly WW (41% RibollaGialla/45% TocaiFriulano/14% Chard; 12.5%) Calistoga 2015: Med.light
gold color w/ tiny bubbles along side of glass; more fragrant floral/TF/carnations/gardenias somewhat earthy/
chalky more interesting/complex bit spicy rather perfumed nose; lightly tart/tangy rather floral/TF/carnations
somewhat spicy bit rounder/lusher light apple/pear bit complex flavor; very long/lingering floral/gardenias/
carnations light stony/chalky/perfumed talc bit more complex flavor; very long/lingering strong floral/
carnations bit stony/chalky finish; a bit more round/lush/softer & more interesting than the '17; a quite nice
white that reminds a lot of a good Friuli Fruilano. $30.00
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Massican annia NapaVlly WW (55% RibollaGialla/39% TocaiFriulano/6% Chard; 12.5%; www.Massican.com)
Calistoga 2017: Light gold color w/ tiny bubbles; rather pleasant floral/carnations/gardenias rather fragrant/
spicy/appley quite attractive nose; lightly tart/tangy floral/carnations/gardenias/appley slight stony/chalky
flavor; very long lightly tart/tangy floral finish; a pretty decent replica of a Friuli Friulano; a bit more
angular & tight than the '15. $30.00
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Massican annia NapaVlly WW (48% TocaiFriulano/41% RibollaGialla/11% Chard; 12.4%; www.Massican.com)
Calistoga 2018: Med.light gold color; fairly fragrant floral/carnations/TF light spicy/peppery/RG light chalky/
stony quite attractive nose; fairly tart/tangy bit metallic/steely some rich/textured rather floral/carnations/TF
bit peppery/RG light stony/chalky quite pleasant flavor; very long rather floral/carnations/gardenias/TF slight
peppery/RG light stony/mineral finish; not a profound wine but at the level of of a good Friuli Friulano; fairly
forward for an '18 and not as tight/closed as I was expecting. $30.00
A wee BloodyPulpit:
- Massican is, of course, the wnry of DanPetroski, who seeks to make wines of a Friulian style. His annia is his
blend of mostly Friulano & RibollaGialla. Served these 4 blind, I doubt that I could identify the ringer from
Friuli. This is a blend Dan puts together w/ the folks at Ronco Del Gnemiz…one of my favorites in Friuli.
All 4 of these wines are very pretty whites. Though not profound wines, I can see drinking any of them w/ great
gusto at LaSubida in Cormons.
I’ve been wanting to taste these wines together for some time. I generally like Friulano as a mono-varietal,
though they can oftimes be a bit on the simple side. The Ribolla seems to bring a certain structure and interest
to the blend. Of these 4, I slightly preferred the Friulian gaspare as being slightly more mineral and interesting.
But the 4 were remarkably similar in style.
Tom