Tried these two w/ dinner last night:
1. Ridge Calif Zin BuchignaniRanch/SonomaCnty (81% Zin/19% Carignane; 15.4%; 43 brls; Bttld: 12/09; Yield: < 2 tons/acre; Drk: 8/09-8/16-8/17: JO) 2008: Dark color; rather strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/spicy light vanilla/toasty/oak slight boysenberry/ripe/licorice slight pungent/tarry attractive nose; slightly sour/acid fairly strong blackberry/Zin/spicy light vanilla/oak slight tannic flavor; fairly long bit sour some tannic strong blackberry/Zin/spicy/pungent/tarry light toasty/vanilla/oak finish; maybe the best Buchignani Zin yet; needs 3-6 yrs of age. $28.00 (ATP)
______________
2. Velenosi DOC: Lacrima di Morro d'Alba QuerciAntica (13%) Marches 2010: Dark color; beautiful very strong aromatic/cheap hair oil/Vitalis quite plummy/black cherry compote/black muscat/moscato rosa slight graphite/pungent very perfumed nose; fairly tart bit tannic/hard/rough/rustic very strong plummy/black cherry compote/black muscat/bright very perfumed flavor; very long somewhat rough/rustic/tannic bit pungent/graphite strong plummy/stewed black cherries/black muscat totally dry very oxotic/perfumed finish; some like a ripe Teroldego, some like a dry black muscat, some like a big Moscato Rosa; very exotic & incredible wine at a great price. $14.00 (PrimaIlC)
___________________________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Ridge Buchignani: This was my Nov ATP wine that arrived last week; so I thought I'd give it a shot, but having low expectations. StanBuchignani's old vnyd up on DutcherCreekRd as long been in the Ridge ATP program, mostly for the old-vine Carignan that Stan grows. Like Ponzo/Nervo/Mazzoni Ridge ATP's; I have been rather underwhelmed by the Buchignani Zins on release. The usually seem pleasant enough Zins, but just don't move me much. This '08 Buchignani was much better than expected. There was a bit of a sourness on the palate; but it had much more dark fruits than it uusually shows. Like some/many of the Ridge ATPs; they have this way of putting on weight and turning into something really nice/interesting w/ some age. And sometimes not.
___________________
2. LaCrima: I spied this inexpensive Italian wine that I received from my Prima IlConsorzio shipment last week and thought I'd just blow it off and try it as well. Wow...whatta a surprise this wine was. Incredible Muscat-like aromatics, a nose that just blew me away. A bit rough/rustic on the palate; I just couldn't get over the wonderful aromatics. Good job, Frank.
This wine comes from the Marches on the Adriatic. Has nothing to do w/ the Alba region in the Piedmonte. The grape, native to the environs of Morro, possibly of Greek origins, of unknown parentage, is apparently unique to the area. There is a Lacrima Nera grape, which is another name for the Gaglioppo, grown further south in Calabria. It has nothing to do w/ the white wine, LacrymaCristi. Whatever the heck it is; it's a grape they should be planting all over Calif. Amazing wine.
Tom