WTN: Dinner at Darrell's...(short/boring)

Dinner At Darrell's
After shopping for over an hour at CortiBros and picking up three cases to try, we got an invite to join
Darrell for dinner that night. As usual, simple, well-prepared, tasty food; some very good wines to try,
and great conversation:
1. Vinja Barde Malvasia Istriana DOC: Corso 2009: Med.light color; light very fragrant/perfumed Malvasia/
low-key muscatty some mineral/stoney nose; fairly lush/rich light Malvasia/muscatty bit mineral/stoney flavor;
a bright/lush/refreshing low-key Malvasia w/ a nice minerality
2. Patricius Muscat de Lunel Tokaji SárgaMuskotály (14%) 2009: Light gold color; very fragrant/perfumed
elegant muscatty slight stoney/earthy nose; dry tart/lean stoney/earthy very fragrant/muscatty flavor; a
very pretty low-key muscat w/ a pleasing minerality; this is YellowMuscat or MuscatBlanc a PetitsGrains.
3. CortiBros AtlasPeak Refosco/Mondeus HarborWnry 1992: Med.dark color w/ little bricking; rather smokey/
earthy/pungent slight tarry/licorice rather complex nose; bit tart slight tannic/astringent/dried out rather
smokey/tarry/pungent/licorice some earthy/dusty somewhat complex flavor; starting to dry out a bit but still
has interest and pleasure.
4. IlPodere Dell'Olivos SantaBarbaraCnty Nebbiolo 1988: Med.red color w/ no bricking; lovely floral/lilacs/violets
slight smokey/tarry quite complex rather old Gattinara-like nose; lovely smooth light cedary/oak/pungent quite
floral/lilacs/violets/Nebb very slight tannic complex flavor; long floral/violets/lilacs/Nebb slight pungent/
tarry smooth complex finish w/ slight tannic bite; a really lovely example of an old Nebbiolo much like an older
Gattinara.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. When Darrell asked me what I wanted to drink, since I was on a Friuli mission, I suggested one of his CortiReserve
Refosco/Mondeuse wines. At the time these were made (at HarborWnry) in the early '90's, the grapes up on AtlasPeak
were planted as Refosco, which, at the time, was thought to be the same as Mondeuse(Noir). Subsequent DNA work
showed that Refosco in Calif was, in fact, Mondeuse. In its youth, this was an absolutely delicious wine, but the
ravages of time have started to take its toll.
The IlPodere was Darrell's idea. In its youth, this wine was really quite oaky and had a pretty mean tannic
streak. It has come together quite well and reminded me of an older Gattinara. Thiis was the 2'nd really good
older Calif Nebb I've had on this trip. Despite the assertions of Monktown attourneys, maybe Nebbiolo can make
a fine wine in Calif. I think it can and has a good potential.

Interesting comments on the Mondeuse, Tom. I guess the current release ought to hold for some time, although not forever. Thanks for the data point.

Interesting comments on the Mondeuse, Tom. I guess the current release ought to hold for some time, although not forever. Thanks for the data point.

When I first had that '09 Mondeuse, I characterized it as "fiercely tannic". Darrell took exception to that descriptor and asserted that
it was meant to be drunk young, hence the screwtop. But I think it'll still be going at 10 yrs of age.
Have you tried one yet, Mike? And?
Tom

Interesting comments on the Mondeuse, Tom. I guess the current release ought to hold for some time, although not forever. Thanks for the data point.

When I first had that '09 Mondeuse, I characterized it as "fiercely tannic". Darrell took exception to that descriptor and asserted that
it was meant to be drunk young, hence the screwtop. But I think it'll still be going at 10 yrs of age.
Have you tried one yet, Mike? And?
Tom

I have indeed. I have to go with Darrell on this one - I didn't find it to be all that tannic. I thought it drank pretty well for a young wine. Very interesting to hear how well it is likely to last, though.