We tasted last night (6/28/17) Some New Wines
1. Avanguardia Selvatico SierraFoothills (Peverella + TocaiFriulano/Forastera/Fiano/PinotGrigio;
www.AvanguardiaWines.com; 12.7%) NevadaCity 2013: Med.light gold color; quite fragrant mango/pineapple/
fruity some perfumed talc/spicy quite lovely aromatic nose; fairly tart/tangy light stony/mineral
perfumed talc/floral/mango/pineapple/spicy rather exotic very attractive flavor; very long lightly tart
perfumed talc/floral/mango/pineapple light stony/mineral finish; quite a lovely aromatic/perfumed white
that reminds some of the better Verdicchio di Luganas I've tried; beautiful white at a stupid/silly
price. $16.80 (CB)
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2. Avanguardia Cristallo SierraFoothills (Rkatsiteli + Melon di Bourgogne/PinotBlanc/PinotGrigio;
12.3%) 2012: Light gold color; low-key rather stony/mineral/metallic bit earthy nose; quite tart/lean/
austere rather stony/earthy/mineral low-fruit flavor; med.short slightly bitter rather tart/tangy/mineral/
stony lean/austere low-fruit finish; lots of stony/mineral lean/austere character. $16.80 (CB)
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3. Fine Disregard Milhouse Semillon OakKnollDist/NapaVlly (12.3%; Btl#396; 5 brls;
www.FineDisregardWine.com) StHelena 2015: Light gold bit cloudy color; strong waxy/figgy/Semillon/spicy/
floral light earthy/stoney slight herbal quite attractive nose; fairly tart/grapefruity rather waxy/Semillon/
figgy slight stony/earthy/herbal flavor; very long/lingering waxy/figgy/Semillon/FigNewton slight stony/earthy
light dried Italian herbs/herbal fairly structured finish; quite a perfumed Semillon almost R-like in
fragrance; speaks strongly of Semillon; quite a lovely/perfumed Semillon that should go another 3-6 yrs.
$33.00 (WoP)
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4. Forlorn-Hope Nacre Semillon YountMillVnyd/NapaVlly (10.93%; 377 cs) Fairfield 2012: Med.light gold color;
light Semillon/figgy some herbal/gooseberry light earthy/dusty some perfumed nose; very tart/lean/austere
gooseberry/Semillon/waxy fairly earthy/stony/dusty some tangy/grapefruity flavor; med.long some gooseberry/
waxy/Semillon/herbal some grapefruity quite tart/lean/austere finish; a rather quiet/low-key Semillon that
needs age; some like a HunterVlly Semillon in texture & flavor but w/o the oak; will show better w/ some age.
$36.75
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5. Terra d'Oro Teroldego BurkeRanch/AmadorCnty (14.5%; www.TerraDOroWinery.com) Plymouth 2013: Very dark
color; strong black cherry cola/Teroldego/boysenberry light earthy/dusty light vanilla/toasty/oak slight
funky/complex quite attractive/interesting nose; lightly tart strong Teroldego/black cherry cola/
boysenberry light earthy/dusty light vanilla/oak flavor w/ light smoth tannins; very long lightly tart
fairly rich/lush strong classic Teroldego/black cherry cola/boysenberry slight earthy/dusty/graphite light
vanilla/oak very attractive finish w/ light ripe tannins; avoids the overripe/briary character of many
ShenandoahVlly reds; a bit simpler than the Foradori but speaks very strongly of Teroldego; easily the
best Terra d'Oro wine I've ever had; at a great price. $16.00 (CB)
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6. Foradori Teroldego IGT: Vigneti delle Dolomiti (L.03/15; U; www.ElisabettaForadori.com; 12%)
Mezzolombardo/Trentino 2013: Dark color; strong black cherry/black cherry cola/cherry cough syrup/
Teroldego quite spicy/cloves fairly earthy/dusty/mineral rather complex nose; rather tart/hard/structured
strong black cherry/black cherry cola/cherry cough syrup/classic Teroldego very spicy/cloves/Italian herbs
complex flavor w/ some hard/crunchy tannins; very long/lingering very strong black cherry/black cherry cola
very spicy some earthy/dusty/mineral complex finish w/ some hard tannins; a quintessential Trentino
Teroldego; very spicy & complex; very structured and needs age; very fairly priced at $28.00 (WoP)
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7. CortiBros Zin AmadorCnty (www.CortiBrothers.com; 13%) AndisWines/Plymouth 2015: Med.color; bright very spicy/
Zin light briary/Amador light vanilla/oak quite attractive nose; bit soft very spicy/Zin/blackberry some
Amador briary light vanilla/oak smooth/polished/gentle bit orangey/bright flavor w/ light smooth tannins;
very long quite spicy/Amador/briary spicy/Zinberry/Zin/blackberry light vanilla/oak smooth/polished/bright
finish w/ light gentle tannins; speaks of AmadorCnty briary and very spicy Zin fruit; quite an attractive
Zin but not in a big/extracted style; lovely Zin at a good price. $25.00 (CB)
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8. Day Zin SonomaCnty (15.0%) C&B by EhrenJordanWineCllrs/Napa 2015: Med.dark color; strong blackberry/Zin/
boysenberry quite spicy some dusty/OV quite fragrant rather complex nose; lightly tart very strong blackberry/
boysenberry/Zin very spicy light toasty/oak rather complex dusty/OV quite structured complex flavor w/ some
smooth/ripe tannins; very long/lingering very spicy dusty/OV very strong blackberry/Zin/boyenberry/ripe light
toasty/oak structured complex finish w/ some smooth/ripe tannins; a beautiful rather old-timey kind of Zin.
$29.00 (WoP)
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9. Terra d'Oro Aglianico AmadorCnty (14.5%) Plymouth 2014: Med.color; strong plummy/blackberry/ripe clean/
fragrant/fruity rather spicy quite attractive some vanilla/oak/tobaccoy nose; bit soft vanilla/oak/tobaccoy
rather plummy/blackberry/ripe bit spicy/earthy/briary slight rustic flavor w/ light ripe/smooth tannins;
very long rather plummy/blackberry fairly spicy/briary slight rustic/earthy/loamy finish w/ light smooth
tannins; much more fruit & cleaner than most Italian renditions but shows a bit of the rustic side of
Aglianico; another very good Td'O red at a great price. $16.00 (CB)
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10. MarthaStoumen MendoBenchlands/MendoCnty (60% Nero d'Avola/40% Zin; 14%; www.MarthaStoumen.com) Napa 2015:
Very dark color; somewhat medicinal bit funky/mouse nest/hantavirus rather MendoCnty/tomatoey slight plummy/
blackberry/perfumed bit rustic/earthy complex/interesting nose; very tart strong tomatoey/tomatoe sauce/
MendoCnty strong plummy/black berry/black cherry/spicyrather rustic/earthy/slightly funky flavor w/ light
rough tannins; very long MendoCnty/tomatoey rather blackberry/black cherry bit rough/earthy/rustic finish w/
light coarse tannins; a rather earthy/rustic Italianate-style red; a bit on the funky/natural side but
rather interesting. $30.00 (WoP)
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11. Scarpa LaSelva di Moirano VinoRosso Brachetto PoderiBricchi/CastelRocchero/Monferrato (13%;
www.PortoVinoItaliano.com; L14/108; www.ScarpaWine.com) NizzaMonferrato/Piemonte 2011: Med.light color;
powerfully fragrant alpine strawberry/Brachetto Italian herbs/cloves/very spicy complex beautiful nose;
fairly tart bright floral/alpine strawberries very spicy/herbal/Italian spices/cloves complex beautiful
flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long/lingering bright/alpine strawberries very spicy/Italian herbs
lovely complex finish w/ light brisk tannins; this is quintessential dry Piemonte Brachetto; maybe the
best I've yet had; a bit pricey, but maybe worth it. $42.00 (CB)
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12. Tenuta LaPergola Birbet VinoRosso Cuscrit (7%; KermitLynch) Cisterna d'Asti NV: Light garnet color;
beautiful/fragrant cherry/strawberry/alpine strawberry/Brachetto Nehi strawberry soda pop slight earthy
lovely nose; slightly off-dry bit frizzante strong cherry/alpine strawberry very soda poppy slight earthy
flavor w/ no tannins; long off-dry strong alpine strawberry/strawberry soda pop bit fizzy finish;
a quintessential Nehi strawberry soda pop w/ alcohol; would be better than Lambrusco w/ charcuterie;
wonderful frivolous litte wine at a great price. $15.00 (CB)
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13. Malabaila Birbet Mosto d'Uva Parzialmente Fermentato (4.5%; www.Malabaila.com; 100% Brachetto) NV: Med.
light color; more black cherry/soda pop more earthy/grapey/Lambrusco-like less perfumed/fragrant quite
attractive nose; rather sweet strong black cherry/black cherry soda/grapey some deep/earthy flavor w/
light gentle tannins; med.long grapey/black cherry soda pop slight frizzante slight earthy finish w/
light tannins; less pure Brachetto and more like Lambrusco. $19.00 (CB)
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More fake stuff from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Avanguardia: (www.AvanguardiaWines.com) This is a new wnry for me. Several weeks ago, as I was shopping
at CortiBros, I noticed a number of their wines on the shelves w/ interesting varieties. Darrell gave them
a strong recommendation. I then contacted the owner, Rob Chrisman, with a few questions. Turns out we are
birds of a feather when it comes to interest in unusual Italian varieties.
After living in LosAngles, they moved to the foothills of TulareCnty and put in an experimental vnyd
of unusual stuff. In 1990, they moved to NevadaCity, started their wnry, and continued their experiments.
These two wines were my first go-round w/ Avanguardia. I liked the Selvatico quite a lot. The Cristallo
was not as impressive, but I don't find Rkatsiteli to make a very compelling wine as a rule. But Rob is
doing some very interesting things and is now on my radar. He should get together w/ BryanHarrington/
MattRorick/StuBewely; all grapegrowers/winemakers who have sorta gone off the deep end.
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2. Peverella is a grape that is related to Verdicchio grown in the Marches. Not clear if it's a synonym or
a truly separate variety. It was apparently once grown in Trentino but is now near-extinction. Forastera
is a white grape now grown mostly on the islands of Ischia and Procida of the coast from Naples, but may
have had its origins up in Lombardy. I've never had a wine from these varieties before. Fiano is, of course,
a grape widely grown in Campania, of which there are a number of interesting examples in Calif. Rkatsiteli
is one of the hundreds of varieties indigenous to Georgia. I've never had a Rkatsiteli, from Georgia or
elsewhere that particularly jazzed me. I think it probably works best in blends to lend structure to the
wine. Your grape lesson for today.
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3. Teroldego: A variety that's a speciality of the PlanoRotialiano in Trentino. Elisabetta is acknowledged
the master of this grape. I expected the Terra d'Oro to be blown away by the Foradori. It was not. Not
the best Calif Teroldego (Harrington/Bevela are), but it showed well against Elisabetta's basic
Teroldego.
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4. Scarpa: I was first turned onto Scarpa by DarrellCorti, who was the first to import them into USofA, back
in the mid-'70's. They pretty much disappeared from the market in the '80's and were seldom seen. Scarpa
was modernized by the far-thinking Mario Pesce. It is now run by Swiss owners, notably Maria Zola, since
2001. The few recent ones I've tasted seem to indicate Scarpa hasn't lost a step over the yrs of absence.
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5. Brachetto: One of my most favorite of Italian grapes. I variety they should be planting all up&down the
coast of Calif. A highly aromatic variety (not unlike Freisa or Nebbiolo), it is often finished w/ a bit
of RS and a slight fizz (as in Birbet). I first fell in love w/ the dry rendition w/ the Scarpa back in
the late '70's. I try every one I come across. This Scarpa is the most expensive one I've ever seen, but
don't feel it's overpriced.
The two Birbets are more traditional renditions of Brachetto, both just good-drinking frivolous little
Brachettos...exactly what Birbet is all about. I slightly preferred the Pergola as being more soda-poppy
in character; more fragrant/perfumed.
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6. Terra d'Oro: I have, of course, followed this wnry from the very start, when CaryGott started making wines
at Montevina in 1974. Some of the best Amador wines ever made in that day. After Cary left Montevina for
Corbett Canyon...Canyon...Canyon in the early '80's, Montevina sorta limped along until it was finally sold
the SutterHome/Trinchero. By then, I had already given up on SutterHome as a producer of good Zins. The
WhiteZin tail was wagging the dog. They eventually changed the name from Montevina to Terra d'Oro. I've
occasionally tried their reds over the yrs and not been particularly excited...a bit too polished/refined
for my tastes. The last I tried was a DeaverVnyd Zin and, knowning the greatness this vnyd can produce,
was rather disappointed.
So when I saw these two wine-club only wines at CortiBros, I thought I would try them...w/ low
expectations. Whatta surprise...they were actually pretty darned good. The Teroldego one of the better
ones from Calif. Maybe I should revist Terra d'Oro wines??
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7. MarthaStoumen: Though I've heard good things about her wines, this is the first one I've had a chance to
try. Though she doesn't use the N-word on her WebSite (MarthaStoumen.com), my impression is that she is
one of the "natural" winemakers (whatever the heck that means). Primarily based on who she's worked with
over the yrs. This wine spoke strongly of the tomatoey character I find in UkiahVlly reds. Though a bit
of the funkiness you often find in "natural" wines, I didn't think it was a flawed wine and really quite
interesting. Just signed up for her mailing list...I think she's doing some interesting things. If it's
carried by BayGrape, that's good enough for me.
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8. Corti Zin: This special CortiBros Zin was made to commerate the 50'th anniversary of CharlieMeyers' first
Ho-Made Zin from DeaverVnyd grapes. In '68, Darrell took BobTrincero to visit Charlie, tried his '65,
and were sufficiently impressed that SutterHome bought the Deaver grapes and made their first AmadorCnty
Zin that really put AmadorCnty on the Calif wine map.
In the mid-'70's, Charlie gifted me a btl of his first '65 Zin. This wine is not a replica of that first
Ho-Made Zin of Charlie's. This is much more polished and less extracted. Nonetheless, this is an absolutely
lovely Zin that is a fitting tribute to Charlie's original Zin.
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9. Day: Halleluja...EhrenJordan is back in the Zin game. This reminds little of his original Turley Zins. It's
got an incredible spiciness to it. Very structured and rather old-timey. It reminds some of the Bucklin
AncientVines Zin, a lot of the old JoeSwan Zins, some of the new Boheme ManciniRanch Zin. A beautiful Zin at
a very fair price.
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10. FineDisregard: A new wnry for me. Owned by MikeSchieffer (TurleyCllrs) and KaraMaradan, who works on the
vnyd side. They also make a NapaVlly Syrah. But I was pretty impressed by this Semillon.
Tom