Tried these two last night w/ dinner:
- UntiVnyds Verdicchio DryCreekVlly (11.9%; 15% Picpoul; 3rd vintage; Concrete egg; 158 cs; www.UntiVineyards.com) 2016: Med.yellow/gold color; quite fragrant pear/pear blossom/floral/carnations light chalky/perfumed talc/flinty lovely perfumed nose; quite tart/tangy/metallic/steely/flinty rather pear/floral/carnations slight chalky/perfumed talc rather tightly wound flavor; very long/lingering steely/flinty quite tart/tangy some floral/pears/carnations light bodied some stony/perfumed talc finish; a rather coiled/wirey white but plenty of flavor and not at all lean & eviscerated; quite an attractive good-drinking white. $22.00
- Kaltern Quintessenz Kaltersee Classico Superiore DOC: Sudtirol/AltoAdige (13.0%; 100% Schiava; 30-70 yr old vines; RS: 0.2%; www.KellereiKaltern.com; EnotecImports) Caldaro 2017: Med.light color; very fragrant plummy/blackberry/Schiava rather earthy/loamy classic Schiava perfumed nose; lightly tart/metallic strong Schiava/plummy/blackberry quite earthy/loamy/dusty bit rustic classic Sudtirol red bit complex flavor w/ light round tannins; very long strong plummy/Schiava/blackberry rather dusty/earthy/loamy bit complex finish w/ light round bit tangy tannins; an attractive balanced rather classic Sudtirol Schiava. $30.00 (KK)
A wee BloodyPulpit:
- Schiava is a grape indigenous to the Sudtirol. Also known as Vernatsch. Most widely planted in Germany’s Baden/Wurttemberg region under the name Trollinger, where it has a reputation for making rather ordinary wines. The Sudtirol Schiavas can be qute nice & good-drinking, with a lot of earthy/loamy character. They, to me, resemble some the Blaufrankisch & StLaurent from the Burgenland of Austria.
- Unti is a DryCreekVlly wnry that focuses mostly on Italian varietals. This Verdecchio has put on weight since I first had it almost 2 yrs ago and developed some very nice aromatics. I expect it will still go out another 4-6 yrs.
Tom