Some friends brought a bottle of 2007 Casa Nuestra “Tinto Classico” to dinner last night that they had bought at the winery a year ago. It’s a field blend from an Oakville vineyard planted in the 40s that “may include Old-Clone Zinfandel, Mondeuse, Carignane, and Petite Sirah to name just a few,” according to the winery’s web site (http://www.casanuestra.com/wines/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).
It was terrific stuff – inky purple in color with a nice grapy nose that definitely smelled like it had some zin but wasn’t dominated by it. In the mouth, it had wonderful acidic grip – like a Loire red or a lagrein or some other indigenous grape from Northern Italy – but with ample fruit. The texture reminded me of the Sonoma arbouriou that Steve Cantor (now at Quivira) made under his Luddite Vineyards label a few years ago. The bottles said it was 14.6% but with that acidity it tasted for all the world like a cool climate wine. One of the friends who brought it said she hardly drinks California wines because not enough taste like this one.
I see Casa Nuestra also has old vine chenin blanc, charbono and a cabernet franc rosé, along with some cabs. It’s hard not to like people who have the courage to sell a line-up like that.
Anyone had their wines? What did you think?