Tried these three w/ dinner over the last two days:
1. MarottiCampi Origiolo DOC: LaCrime di Morro d'Alba Superiore (Classic maceration + Carbonic maceration; 13%; www.MarottiCampi.It) Giovanni e Francesca MarottiCampi/Morro d'Alba/Marche 2007: Very dark/black color; rather grapey/Dolcetto-like quite floral/roses/hair oil/Vitalis slight tarry/pungent fascinating perfumed/aromatic nose; tart quite floral/roses/violets/rose petal/rose water somewhat grapey/Dolcetto-like some hard/tannic/bitey exotic flavor; very long rather hard/tannic very intriguing/floral/rose petal/rosewater/Vitalis/violets finish; some like a Dolcetto in profile but incredible/intriguing aromatics. $20.00
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2. Siduri PinotNoir Sta.RitaHills (14.1%) 2008: Med.dark color; fairly deep black cherry/Pinot/spicy/licorice slight earthy/peppery light smokey/oak/pencilly very attractive nose; fairly tart strong black pepper/Pinot/spicy/licorica/plummy fairly strong toasty/smokey/oak flavor w/ modest tannins; long spicy/black cherry/Pinot/plummy light licorice/peppery some toasty/smokey/oak finish w/ light tannins; a lovely/spicy Pinot at a great price. $23.50
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3. Siduri PinotNoir SantaLuciaHighlands (14.1%) 2008: Med.dark color; lush Pinot/black cherry/bit herbal/licorice/plummy some pencilly/smokey/oak quite fragrant nose; slightly tart light black cherry/Pinot/herbal rather pencilly/oak attractive flavor w/ light tannins; med.long pencilly/smokey/oak attractive black cherry/Pinot/lightly herbal finish w/ light tannins; ready to go; a classic Siduri Pinot that speaks in hushed tones of the SantaLuciaHighlands; great price. $23.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. LaCrima: This is a wine that was offered in DarrellCorti's latest newsletter (www.CortiBros.biz), his description sounded interesting, so I went for it. The "d'Alba" made me think I was getting a Piedmont wine. In fact, it comes from the Marches region over on the AdriaticCoast. Made from the indigenous LaCrima ("tear") grape, a variety I'd never heard of before.
The first night I opened it, I didn't care much for it. Not much nose and pretty hard/rough/tannic on the palate. By three days later, open but stoppered on the counter, it had developed these amazing/intriguing/exotic aromatics like no other wine I can recall. On the palate, it reminded me of Dolcetto w/ its hard/tanic character. That did not go away. The amazing floral perfume reminded me a bit of Brachetto, a bit of Freisa, a bit of Ruche; maybe even a bit of black muscat. I also have a partial fermentation/fizzy/slightly sweet version of this from Darrell I haven't yet tried, but will soon.
This is a variety I think they should be planting in Calif. Heck...I bet SteveEdmunds could make an amazing wine from it up in ElDorado. Heck...I would be willing to do the marketing for Steve, as long as I could work w/ his new MarketingDirector...PamelaAnderson. Gads..whatta team we'd make!! It boggles the mind.
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2. Siduri: Adam & Diana's appellation series of wines are some of the greatest bargins around. Very attractively priced, speaks loudly of both PinotNoir and Siduri Pinot, yet also speaks of the appellation. I slightly preferred the SRH for its greater spiciness. Both lovely Pinots.
Tom