WTN: Verdicchio, Riesling

Unti Vineyards 2015 Dry Creek Valley Verdicchio. Rich melon and flowers balanced by enough acid and minerality to keep it focused, with a gentle touch of soft wood. Animated, energetic, full-flavored, and seems bigger-boned than I remember the previous bottle being— which isn’t a criticism.

Emrich-Schönleber 2015 Nahe Riesling Kabinett, Monziger. Big for a Kab, broad and deep stone fruit flavors with solid acidity, more chunky (at this stage?) than precisely filigreed, but very tasty nonetheless. Haven’t had this producer before, I think my Nahe experience may be limited to Dönnhoff.

Lucky to have a nice E-S selection from the Nahe downtown but prices are creeping up.

Unti Vineyards 2015 Dry Creek Valley Verdicchio. Rich melon and flowers balanced by enough acid and minerality to keep it focused, with a gentle touch of soft wood. Animated, energetic, full-flavored, and seems bigger-boned than I remember the previous bottle being— which isn’t a criticism..

Wow, good for them for working with verdicchio. I could see this being fun. I remember visiting Unti maybe 10-15 years ago and finding the wines promising for my palate, but still a bit too ripe CA. So wouldn't have expected them to roll with this grape!

I love Emich-Schonleber, but as I just wrote on another thread, I had a falling out with the importer.

Maybe my New Year's resolution should be not to quarrel with importers, although the business case for picking fights with customers baffles me.

I had a falling out with the importer.

Ah, yes, the pleasures of being ITB. Sorry to hear it...

Wow, good for them for working with verdicchio. I could see this being fun. I remember visiting Unti maybe 10-15 years ago and finding the wines promising for my palate, but still a bit too ripe CA. So wouldn't have expected them to roll with this grape!

I think the story is that it's George Unti's favorite Italian white wine, so he insisted on planting some. I drank a lot of Unti from the late 90s to early 00s, then stopped ordering for several years, then started again around 2012. My impression now: the ZInfandel and Italian varieties tend to be brighter and more energetic; the Rhônes feel too heavy for my palate. And, unsusprisingly, I often prefer the simple quaffers to the things designed for aging, as the latter tend to have more wood -- I like the "Segromigno," a Montepulciano/Sangiovese blend, quite a lot, for example. Still might not be your thing, but for me it fills a niche very well.

[David M. Bueker]

Maybe it’s my Dönnhoff fixation, but Schönleber has never really grabbed me.

Rahsaan; the Unti family hails from the Marche, so they found a way (wink, wink) to get some Verdicchio in the ground. They have been dialing back some of the ripeness for a few years, especially with the whites. It should be interesting to see how the wines are when the vines are a few years along.

Rahsaan; the Unti family hails from the Marche, so they found a way (wink, wink) to get some Verdicchio in the ground. They have been dialing back some of the ripeness for a few years, especially with the whites. It should be interesting to see how the wines are when the vines are a few years along.

Sounds great. Will keep an eye out.