TN: A Chard, a Merlot, and a Torrette Walk Into a Bar....(short/boring)

WINE TALK
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Tried these three w/ DinDin last night:

  1. Ser Chard CoastviewVnyd/MontereyCnty (13%; www.SerWinery.com; 150 cs) NicoleWalsh/SantaCruz 2015: Med.gold color; very strong melony/floral/Chard/celerey seed/almondy bit citric light pencilly/oak slight spicy/nutmeg really lovely nose; fairly tart/tangy rather citric/grapefruity strong melony/Chard/bit honeysuckle/almondy light spicy/nutmeg slight pencilly/oak bit complex lovely flavor; very long/lingering quite spicy/bit nutmeg bit citric/grapefruity strong floral/melony/Chard/celerey seed light pencilly some complex finish; a rather lithe/vibrant/svelte expression of Chard that can still go another 206 yrs. $28.00
  1. S.Anderson Merlot StagsLeapDist (14.5%; www.4Bubbly.com) Yountville 1999: Med.dark some browning color; rather cedary/pencilly/oldRed bit toasty/oak some herbal/Cab bit oldBdx some oxidative/tired nose; soft pretty oxidative/tired/cedary/oldRed slight Merlot/grapey some toasty/oak rather earthy/oldBdx flavor w/ light astringent tannins; med.long some oxidative/oldBdx slight herbal/grapey rather tired/astringent/metallic sligt herbal/Bdx finish w/ light astringent/drying tannins; not totally dead & still clinging to life but offers up little pleasure. $nc (B&SR)
  1. Ch.Feuillet Torrette Dd’OP: Valle d’Aosta (13.5%; 90% PetiteRouge/10% Mayolet; Lotto 07/19; KermitLynch/Berkeley) Maurizio Fiorano/St.Pierre/Vd’A 2018: Med.color w/ slight bricking; lovely very fragrant cherry/black cherry/blackberry rather floral/lilacs/Alpine red light earthy/dusty/OV slight pencilly/oak almost Savoie Mondeuse-like fairly complex nose; lightly tar bit earthy/dusty/OV strong black cherry/blackberry/alpine floral/lilacs/spicy bit licorice/pungent light pencilly/oak fairly complex flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long/lingering lightly tart/tangy some earthy/OV fairly strong blackberry/black cherry/Alpine floral/lilacs bit pungent/licorice light pencilly/oak some complex finish w/ light tangy tannins; a lovely Alpine/Vd’A red that resembles a bit a Savoie Mondeuse but more high-toned/Alpine in character; very attractive price at $24.50 (KK)

A wee BloodyPulpit:

  1. Ser is the wnry of NicoleWalsh. She started her wine career in Michigan, then moved to Calif. She started wi/ Randall at BonnyDoon and continues there, w/ a brief stint in NewZealand.
    I like her wines quite a lot. Don’t know if she’s regarded as a natural winemaker or not, but her wines are clean/well-made & show no natty character whatsoever.
  1. S.Anderson was a wnry that started in the early '70’s w/ a focus on Sparkling wines. When that market stagnated, they switch to Merlot/Cab. In 2001, they were sold to RaySignorello and Cliff Lede. They no longer make wines under this label.
    This wine was recently gifted me from Bill&Sheila Reed, friends from Charlottesville. The storage provenance was questionable.
  1. Torrette is an AC that is mostly a blend of PetiteRouge w/ other red varieties. Both PetitRouge & Mayolet are varieties indigeneous to the Vd’A. This red displayed a floral character that I oft find in Alpine reds.
    Tom
1 Like
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Excellent title Tom, and nice notes as well. I’ll have to look up some Torette, from your description, it would seem to be right up my alley.

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Looking forward to the tasting note in 2228.

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Love Nicole’s wines, Have you had her Cab Pfeffers or Rieslings, Tom?

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Absolutely, Adam. From Wirz Vnyd. They’re terrific.
Tom

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