WTN: Outstanding Triacca "Valtellina" Nebbiolo

Triacca Riserva 2001 "La Gatta" Valtellina Superiore Tasted with Manchego and good sourdough at Terroir Wine Bar San Francisco.

What an explosively flavorful, yet elegant and pretty wine. Good light red-orange color. Nice restrained but lovely nose of roses? raspberry, leather and tar. In the mouth, this has a nice moderate weight. Not over the top, though. All kinds of flavors are going on here-tar, raspberry, rosewater, leather. The fruit is definitely there, but there are so many other things going on! Moderate acidity, and the tannins seem to be fully resolved. What strikes me is the finish-it just goes on and on and on. If you like savory "umami" goodness, this wine delivers in spades. 19/20, and I almost rated it higher. One of my wines of the year!

Also tried an intriguing oxidized Chenin Blanc. didn't write down the name, though.

Triacca produces some great wines. On allocation here in AB-land but all have been consistently good.
Manchego cheese is a favorite of mine!!

Also tried an intriguing oxidized Chenin Blanc.

And they keep that open for pouring by the glass? I guess it is already an oxidized style so no extra air will hurt?

Also tried an intriguing oxidized Chenin Blanc.

And they keep that open for pouring by the glass? I guess it is already an oxidized style so no extra air will hurt?

Don't know. It looked like a pretty new bottle. Not sure I liked it-is this one style for Loire Chenin Blanc? He did warn me, and I wanted to try it!

Not sure I liked it-is this one style for Loire Chenin Blanc?

Certain "natural wine" hipsters in the Loire (and elsewhere in France) were making lots of wine in that oxidized style over the past decade, and from what I can tell Terroir would certainly give exposure to some of those people. In recent years many winemakers have moderated their previous extremism, added some SO2 just before bottling, etc, and the crest of the oxidized style may be behind us.

Thanks, Rahsaan. I would note that I had no problem finishing the glass. The wine was certainly "interesting" which is frankly what I am looking for when I visit my new favorite wine bar.