Had these 4 wines over the last 2 days w/ dinner:
1. I Pastini Farone Verdeca IGP: Valle d'Itria Puglia (12%; www.IPastini.It; KermitLynchImprts/Berkeley) I Pastini/Puglia 2020: Light gold color w/ some tiny bubbles that dissipate; some floral/carnations/bit gardenias light earthy/chalky slightly neutral quite pleasant nose; lightly tart/tangy lightly floral/carnations/dandelions some earthy/chalky rather pretty flavor; med.long lightly floral/carnations/gardenias light chaly/earthy bit simple finish; an altogether pleasant but a bit simple/neutral clean/pretty white w/o the rustic/coarse character that many Puglia whites display; very well priced at $21.50 (KK)
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2. Ch.Feuillet PetiteArvine Dd'OP: Valle d'Aosta (13.5%; Lotto 03/19; KermitLynch/Berkeley) Maurizio Fiorano/St.Pierre/Valle d'Aosta 2018: Med.light gold color; strong very floral/gardenias/very spicy bit cardamon/nutmeg very Alpine white flowers light mineral/perfumed talc somewhat complex bit Timo-like lovely nose; quite tart/tangy rather rich/lush quite spicy/cardamon very floral/gardenias/bit apple blossom/spicy rather Alpine white flowers/edelweiss fairly complex slight mineral/perfumed talc beautiful flavor; very long/lingering lightly tart/tangy very strong floral/gardenias/spicy/cardamon light mineral/perfumed talc/bit chalky/stony very Alpine wild flowers beautiful finish; a beautiful classic Alpine white w/ more richness than most; a steal at $24.50 (KK)
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3. Solminer GrunerVeltliner SantaYnezVlly (12.5%; 158 cs; Coquelicot & Spear vnyds; www.Solminer.com) Buellton 2021: Med.light gold color; rather quiet/low-key pleasant fragrant GV/white pepper/slight floral/carnations bit spicy quite attractive nose; fairly tart/tangy rather GV/white pepper/floral/carnations slight metallic/mineral/chalky bit grapefruity/citric pleasant rather quiet flavor; very long quiet floral/GV/white pepper slight chalky/mineral finish; a quiet/low-key pretty expression of GV but just that; can do better from Austria at $34.00
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4. Schloss GobelsburgZweigelt Niederosterreich (12.5%; www.Schloss-Gobelsburg.At; SkurnikWines/NY) Michael Moosbrugger/Gobelsburg/Austria 2018: Dark color; strong grapey/plummy/boysenberry/licorice bit herbal/earthy quite juicy Zweigelt nose; bit soft light tangy/metallic strong plummy/boysenberry/grapey/licorice fairly earthy/loamy bit rustic flavor w/ light tangy tannins; long bit soft slight metallic/tangy fairly strong grapey/plummy/Zweigelt rather earthy/loamy/rustic finish w/ light tangy tannins; a fairly classic expression of Zweigely w/ lots of earthy/loamy character; not worth the $18.50 (KK)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Verdeca: A variety that probably originally in Puglia, though some indications it might be from Croatia. It was often used in the production of Vermouth, but that no longer
happens much in the area. Verdeca X Zin ---> Plavina Crna, a variety now found in Croatia. But there is no Verdeca now remaining in Croatia. The wine shows a bit of a neutral character
which would make it suitable for use in Vermouth. The wine is not nearly as fragrant/perfumed as the Minutolo from this same producer; which is a terrific wine.
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2. PetiteArvine: A variety that originated in the Suisse Valais region. I've only seen the wine from the Vd'A. I first had this wine well over a yr ago; liked it, but just that.
It has really developed beautifully in the btl. It's a classic example of an Alpine white...one of the better ones. Wines appeals 4 senses of smell/taste/feel/sight. It also appeals
to the sense of sound. If you put your ear down close to the glass, you can hear Julie Andrews off on yonder peak singing "The Hills Are Alive". Trust me!!
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3. Solminer: As a rule, I like the Solminer wines. Certainly like the people behind them, David & Anna DeLaski. But often the wines are on the quiet side. I just
wish they had a bit more impact.
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4. Zweigelt: A Blaufrankisch X St.Laurent cross developed in 1922 at Klosterneuburg by Fritz Zweigelt. They Austrian are trying to get its other name, Rotburger, to be more commonly used; the
name Fritz originally gave the grape. Fritz was an early & ardent supporter of the Nazis in the '30's & they named him the director of Klosterneuburg. He used his position to get many of his
colleagues fired because they were not Nazi supporters. A kinda of messy legacy to leave with Austria's most widely planted grape. The story is told here:
https://grapecollective.com/articles/through-a-glass-darkly-confronting-the-nazi-legacy-of-dr-zweigelt-and-the-impact-on-growers-and-impo
FritzZweigelt was simply a member of the "woke" culture of that era and should not be villified because he was a Nazi.
Tom