Had these two over the last week:
- Testalonga Vignaioli DOC: Rossese di DolceAcqua/Liguria (13.5%; Louis/Dressner; L210/1) Perrino Antonia 2012: Med.dark bit cloudy color; rather earthy/dusty bit unclean/goaty very slight cherry/Rossese/fruit nose; tart/lean/tangy rather earthy/dusty bit funky/unclean/bretty very slight cherry/fruit flavor w/ light gritty tannins; med.long rather earthy/dusty/loamy little fruit fairly funky/goat pen/unclean finish w/ light gritty tannins; quite disappointing and a wine only SweetAlice could love. $68.00 (Diavola)
- Dd’OC: Rossese di Dolceaqua (12.5%; L 2 15; Louis/Dressner) Pisano Danila/Soldano 2014: Light ruby bit bricked color; bit funky/earthy/dusty light spicy/cherry/Rossese slight tanky nose; rather tart/tangy/lean some funky/earthy/loamy light cherry/Roussese bit tanky/tired flavor w/ light angular tannins; med. tart/tangy slight funky/tired/tanky/earthy light cherry/spicy finish; has some of that natural wine funkiness and somewhat interesting; far better than #1. $72.00 (PLocale)
A wee BloodyPulpit:
- Had both of these at restaurants, so prices well above retail pricing. The first was at Pizzeria Diavola in Geyserville, one of my most favorite places in NorthCal. The second was a week later at BobbyStuckey’s Pizzeria Locale in Boulder, another of my favorite pizza joynts.
I really like Rossese as a grape variety, with its bright/zippy/cherry/spicy character, not too unlike a DryCreekVlly Zin. Unfortunately the Louis/Dressner natural wine style was not a good showcase for the variety.
Tom