Tried these two last night for dinner:
1. Thalassitis Assyrtiko PDO: Santorini (13.0%; 80 yr old ungrafted vines; www.GaiaWines.Gr) GaiaEstate/Koutsi-Korinthos/Greece 2017: Light yellow color; quite fragrant floral/apricot blossom/peach blossom bit spicy slight stony/flinty/saline lovely nose; veey tart/tangy somewhat savory/saline/flinty bit lean/steely/metallic/tangy lightly floral/peachy/ peach blossom very attractive if lean/wiry flavor; very long quite tart/tangy/flinty/metallic/steely rather stony/mineral/saline/savory light floral/peach blossom finish; a lean/saline/savory white w/ a quiet floral component; a quite nice Ass but pricey at $37.00 (AV)
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2. LaClarineFarm piedi grandi SierraFoothills RW (13.1%; 38% Nebbiolo/32% Syrah/30% Mourv; www.LaClarineFarm.com) Somerset/ElDroado 2016: Cloud puffs out when screwcap opened; med.dark color; rather earthy/dusty/bit loamy some ElDorado/mushroom/earthy slight tarry/pungent/Nebb slight lilacs/floral light plummy/blackberry/Mourv slight spicy/funky fairly aromatic quite interesting nose; some tart rather earthy/loamy/ElD/mushroomy fairly rustic some Nebb/pungent/tarry/floral/lilacs bit plummy/Mourv flavor w/ light bitey/hard tannins; very long rather earthy/loamy/root cellar/ElD/mushroomy fairly rustc bit funky finish w/ light rough tannins; not a good example of ElD Nebb but speaks load & clear of ElD Cnty and an interesting/tasty if rustic red that went well w/ my Kasekrainer & polenta. $25.00 (TheCllr/Taos)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. LaClarine: This is HankBeckmeyer's wnry in ElDorado that makes "natural" wines. Met Hank at ShenandoahVnyds one time and was quite taken by his passion for his winemaking.
I approached this wine, a recent arrival to NM thru PM Wines/Taos, w/ a bit of trepidation like I often have when I try "natural" wines, having been stung a few too many times. The LaClaring al bosc Albarino I had about a yr ago was one of the worst white wines I've had...loaded w/ hantavirus character. So my expectations were low & I was prepared for the wurst (having it w/ my Kasekrainer...subtle joke there). Though not anywhere near the DueVigne Nebbiolo in character; I rather liked this wine for its rough-hewn/rustic character that spoke loudly of ElD Cnty. Not at all unclean and not nearly as funky as I was expecting. A good/tasty rustic red that I'd buy again.
Tom