WTN: Foppiano Lot 96

N/V Foppiano, Lot 96, California Red Wine ($7.99 U.S. at Whole Foods). Alcohol level 13.3%. This "non-vintage" is a blend of 28% Sangiovese, 19% Petite Sirah, 17% Zinfandel, 14% Carignane, 10% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc.

Despite the alcohol level, it is a medium body fruity wine that would go with a variety of foods. Will get some more.

We matched it with broiled Kielbasa w/horseradish, chopped spinach, and a half of a broule. Finished it with some chocolate cake. Always like red wine with chocolate cake.

[David M. Bueker]

Despite the alcohol level? 13.3% is very moderate for California, especially when you have a significant portion of Zin and Petite in the blend.

I had some time to kill yesterday and stopped at the Foppiano tasting room.
The current Lot 96 is indeed a tasty everyday red.
Foppiano recently acquired a new winemaker, Natalie West, 30 years old, and it may be her taste that makes this wine better than before. They're also doing a sauvingnon blanc, a new wine for Foppiano, that I liked.

I couldn't resist picking up a bottle of '98 petite sirah at $30. The '05 they were pouring was very good and surprisingly mature for such a young PS.

John

Aged PS is a beautiful wine. The Foppianos especially make really good Petit Sirahs. I might be in the Healdsburg area in a few weeks. I should stop over again and try some of their wines.

I rode my bicycle right by Foppiano twice over the past couple of months. I need to check them out.

I'm in escrow on buying a house in Santa Rosa - that's why I was up in the area yesterday.
Foppiano indeed makes good PS, and the '98 vintage was a very structured vintage in Sonoma County, which made wines that needed some time to develop. I still have a couple of bottles of '98 Zins that had years of life in them the last time I tried them.

John

That's cool, John. Whereabouts?

It's on Silva Ave, an older neighborhood just off Mendocino Ave, near Santa Rosa JC.