Tried last night w/ my tomatoes/burrata/basil:
1. Avanguardia DueFiori SierraFoothills WW (12.5%; Semillon/Flora/CheninBlanc/OrangeMuscat;
www.AvanguardiaWines.com) NevadaCity 2011: Light yellow color; some Semillon/figgy/waxy light floral/orange blossom some earthy/stony somewhat complex quite attractive nose; lightly tart/tangy bit stony/earthy light Semillon/figgy/slight floral bit orangey slight metallic flavor; very long some stony/earthy light Semillon/figgy bit metallic/tart/tangy slight floral/orange blossom finish; strikes me as a wine that would have been more attractive in its youth given the aromatic grapes therein; a good solid Italianate white at a very good price. $16.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
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 experim1. 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. ents.
Rob mostly specializes in blends. This DueFiori speaks only quietly of Semillon and doesn't have the aromatics I was expecting, probably because of the age on it. It actually, more than anything, resembles a good Verdicchio (and there are some) or a Lugana Turbiano.
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2. Tomatoes: Dinner was this big platter of Heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, Italian burrata, smoked bacon crisps, and croutons made from leftover pizza bones from PizzeriaNormale. Alas, the tomatoes, appropriatly ugly and misshapen, from WholeFoods, probably trucked in from Canada, were tough, no juice, and all the flavor of a piece of cardboard. Man...I miss those wonderful Kansas tomatoes.
Tom