Tried this last night w/ my BLT's:
1. IlPodere dell'Olivos Teroldego CentralCoast (13.5%; "Homage to Elisabetta") JimClendenen/MindBehind/SantaMaria 2003: Very dark color w/ little bricking;
strong plummy/black cherry/Teroldego bit cinammon/spicy/cardamon/perfumed slight licorice/pungent/earthy slight brett/horsecollar bit pencilly/oak lovely/
complex nose; slight bretty/leathery fairly strong plummy/black cherry/Teroldego bit pungent/tarry/licorice slight spicy/cinammon very light pencilly/oak flavor
w/ light slight bitey tannins; very long rather plummy/black cherry/Teroldego bit pungent/tarry/licorice light pencilly/oak complex finish w/ light drying/astringent tannins;
starting to dry out a bit & should be drunk up; speaks strongly of Teroldego w/ the plummy/black cherry character but lacks the verve & mineral/granite backbone
of the Foradoris; a great example of the potential Teroldego has in Calif. $24.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. IlPodere is, of course, JimClendenen's label for his Italian varietals. The homage is to ElisabettaForadori, probably the best producer
of Teroldego in the world, from the CampoRotiliano. Followed this label from the very start.
Jim is no longer making this Teroldego. He's turned that varietal over to his niece, Marisa.
When I was out for NEB4 last month, I tasted thru all of Jim's Nebbiolos. They were impressive. He actually makes some very good wines under the
IlPodere label. But since they come from Calif and not Italy, and everyone knows that Calif is a colossal failure w/ Italian varietials; they don't get much
recognition. Plus, it makes little sense to spend $24 for a 2'nd rate Teroldego when you can buy the Foradori Granato, the best of the lot, for $65.
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2. Foradori: I like her wines quite a lot (http://www.elisabettaforadori.com). The Master of Teroldego. However, I've heard tell that she has gone over to
the dark side: farms BioDynamically and ferments in amphorae and the recent wines are not as good.
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3. BryanHarrington also makes Teroldego that is mighty fine.
Tom