WTN: Some OddBall Wines..(long/boring)

We tried last night (9/24/14) Some Interesting Wines:
1. Occhipinti SP68 IGT: TerreSiciliane (Nero d'Avola e Frappato; 12.5%) AriannaOcchipinti/Vittoria 2012: Med.light
color; rather earthy/dusty light cherry/Pinotish mushroomy some bretty/horsecollar interesting nose; soft rather
earthy/dusty/mushroomy light cherry/berry/Pinotish some unclean/bretty/goat pen slight metallic/tangy flavor w/
light tannins; med.chort some unclean/bretty rather earthy/dusty/funky slight cherry/Pinotish finish w/ light
tannins; a bit on the unclean side but a pleasant cherry/Pinot-like character; was expecting more from a hot
Sicilian winemaker. $30.00 (LM)
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2. Toccata Freisa LosAlamosVnyd/SBC (13.5%) 2008: Med.color; very attractive cherry/alpine strawberry/Freisa light
oak slight earthy/dusty quite perfumed/spicy lovely nose; quite tart/acid bright strawberry/alpine strawberry/
cherry perfumed slight earthy bright/lovely flavor w/ slight tannic bite; med.long tart/tangy bright/alpine
strawberry/cherry slight earthy/dusty finish w/ slight tannic bite; a pretty/lightweight wine that speaks
strongly of Freisa and Nebbiolo; would like a bit more richness but a very pretty wine. $20.00
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3. LaZucca Az.Agr. Freisa d'Asti (Dal vigneto storica "Vigna d'l Mond" ; 13%) 2001: Dark color w/ slight bricking;
rather earthy/dusty/mushroomy/truffly some unclean/barnyard slight cherry/strawberry not particularly complex
nose; soft tangy/metallic rather earthy/dusty/truffly bit old Nebb some unclean/barnyardy/bretty flavor w/
light/smooth tannins; med.long tangy/metallic rather unclean/bretty finish w/ light/gentle tannins; a bit too
unclean for my palate; much like a well-aged Nebb. $9.90 (SFW&S)
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4. Pelissero Freisa DOC: Langhe ("nature"; 13%) Giorgio Pel/Treiso 2012: Rather frizzante when poured w/ lots of
bubbles forming on the glass; lovely fragrant alpine strawberry/cherry bit earthy/dusty/truffly quite fragrant/
perfumed nose; slight spritzy rather tangy/metallic quite perfumed alpine strawberry/cherry/cherry blossom slight
dusty/truffly flavor w/ light/bitey tannins; very long bright/electric alpine strawberry/cherry/cherry cola/spicy
slight earthy/truffly finish w/ bit bitey/astringent tannins; a classic rendition of Freisa and exactly why a
like this grape so much; almost like a MoscatoRosso/Freisa blend in character. $23.00 (DiV)
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5. Verdad Graciano Ibarra-YoungVnyd/SYV (13%) 2011: Med.dark color; quite unclean/bretty/barnyardy/goat pen light
cherry/Graciano slight wet dog fur/strange/funky nose; fairly tart some bretty/barnyardy some tart/cherry/
Graciano light oak flavor w/ light round tannins; med.long some bretty/barnyardy/earthy light tangy/cherry/
Graciano finish w/ light tannins; loads of brett on the nose but not so much on the palate, but I have a hard
time getting past the nose. $25.00/$16.75
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6. RioMadre Graciano DOC: Rioja (14.50%; JorgeOrdanezSlctns) 2012: Quite dark color; strong very perfumed black
cherry/Graciano slight earthy some vanilla/oak/pencilly nose; soft bright cherry/black cherry/black cherry cola/
Graciano some pencilly/vanilla/oak/toasty bit earthy flavor w/ light/bitey tannins; quite long perfumed/black
cherry/black cherry cola/Graciano slight earthy/licorice rather oak/toasty/pencilly/vanilla finish w/ light/
bitey/hard tannins; a fairly intense Graciano very much in a modern International style at a great price.
$14.00 (SFW&S)
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7. GeorgAlbrechtSchneider Dornfelder Rheinhessen (trocken; 13.0%; Q; A.P.Nr. 4 382 238 19 11) 2009: Dark color;
rather earthy/loamy strong grapey/plummy/black cherry/black cherry cola/RCCola rather herbal/rosemary/thyme
quite attractive nose; soft/lush strong plummy/grapey/black cherry cola/RCCola light earthy/loamy/herbal
flavor w/ light/smooth tannins; fairly long grapey/plummy/black cherry/RCCola/root beer/spicy somewhat earthy/
loamy/herbal finish w/ soft/gentle tannins; a bit soft/lacking in structure but plenty of strong plummy/loamy
Dornfelder fruit; great value at $13.00 (WoP)
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8. Schnaitmann Lemberger Wurttemberg (Q; Dry; A.P.Nr.6672 3 10; 13%) RainerSchnaitmann/Fellbach 2008: Dark color;
quite pungent/hot asphalt/tarry/ozone rather earthy/loamy/compost pile nose w/ little fruit; soft slight
tangy/metallic rather pungent/tarry/asphalt/ozone flavor w/ little fruit and light/tangy/sharp tannins; long
pungent/tarry/hot asphalt/ozone somewhat earthy/loamy finish w/ light/sharp tannins; a real paucity of fruit
and a rather strange wine. $20.00
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9. Durin Rossese DOC: Riviera Ligure di Ponente (L6R06; 12.5%; www.Durin.It) Basso Antonio/Ortovero/Savona
2005: Light color w/ light bricking; slight unclean/bretty rather fragrant/cherry/spicy almost DryCreekVlly
Zin-like bit dusty/earthy quite perfumed nose; rather tart some dusty/earthy/OV rather cherry/raspberry/
Zin-like/quite spicy flavor w/ light/gentle tannins med.long tart/tangy rather bright/cherry/raspberry/spicy/
Zin-like bit earthy/dusty finish w/ light/smooth tannins; seems much like an aged DryCreekVlly Zin but still
has plenty of bright/cherry fruit; quite a pretty wine. $26.00 (WE/SM)
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10. Clos Cibonne CuveeSpeciale Tibouren AP: Cotes de Provence "Cru Classe" (13%; #4581;
www.deMaisonSelections.com; 90% Tibouren/10% Syrah) AndreRoux/LePradet 2012: Med.light color w/ slight
bricking; very strong cherry/black cherry/black cherry cola/strawberry almost Grenache-like slight herbal/
garrigue/earthy quite attractive nose; soft bit watery/weak/dilute some cherry/strawberry/Grenache-like bit
tangy/grapefruity light earthy/dusty flavor w/ light/gentle tannins; long spicy/strawberry/cherry/Grenache-like
bit weak/watery some earthy/dusty/herbal finish w/ light/weak tannins; some like a CdR/Grenache; quite a pretty
Grenache-like nose but doesn't deliver as much on the palate. $34.00 (BWM)
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11. Cacchetto DOC: Raboso del Piave (13%; Un Po'Pazzo Slctns/Sacrameto) Tezze di Piave/Vazzola/Veneto 2008: Very
dark/near black color; strong plummy/black cherry/boysenberry/LaCrima-like slight earthy/dusty lovely perfumed
nose; very tart/tangy strong black cherry cola/plummy/RCCola/boysenberry some dusty/earthy flavor w/ strong/hard/
rugged tannins; very long quite tart/acid/tangy strong black cherry cola/plummy/boysenberry bit earthy/dusty
finish w/ strong/hard/rugged tannins; needs much age; much like a LaCrima or Refosco but w/ tannin & acid;
quite an impressive wine. $24.00 (CB)
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12. Bonotto delle Tezze DOCG: Malanotte del Piave/Veneto (100% Raboso del Piave; 14%; Tavolo Vigneto) Vazzola
2010: Very dark color; rather toasty/charred/smokey/Fr.oak rather spicy/black cherry cola/DrPepper light earthy
complex nose; fairly tart strong toasted/charred/oak some spicy/black cherry cola/RCCola bit earthy/dusty
complex flavor w/ lighter but hard/roughh tannins very long black cherry/cola/DrPepper strong toasty/charred/
Fr.oak finish w/ lighter but hard tannins; very much in the International style; overpriced at $68.00 (Gom)
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The usual nonsense from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Freisa: This is one of my favorite grapes from the Piemonte. I particularly like it for its aromatics...not a
lot unlike Brachetto or Marzemmino. It is sometimes made as frizzante (as the Pelissero) or off-dry; but most
are now made in a dry form. They oftentimes have a bit of a tannic bite. In act, Freisa is one of the parents
of Nebbiolo. This Lucas&Lewellen Freisa is the only rendition of the grape I know of in Calif. And quite a
pretty wine it is.
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2. Rossese: This is a variety that apparently made its way into Liguria from the StTropex gulf in southern France,
where it is known as Tibouren. It is suspected the variety was first brought to France by the Greeks. This is the
first Tibouren I've tried. I've only had one other Rossese from Liguria, whic mightly impressed me last March.
It's a variety that you don't see much of, alas. There is a Bianco version of the grape that appears to be even
rarer than the Rosso version. Based on these three data points, I am prepared to announce that Rossese is a
variety that should be being planted all up & down the Coast of Calif.
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3. Raboso del Piave: This is a variety that originated in the Veneto, maybe near the Piave River. Cacchetto is,
by far, the largest producer. He is recognized for being the man responsible for its revival. It had fallen
out of favor because it produces wines of high acid & high tannins (so why didn't that happen to Nebbiolo
in the Piemonte??). It crossed w/ MarzeminaBianca to produce RabosoVeronese, a varietal I've never seen.
I liked both of these wines for my first taste of Raboso. Particularly the Cacchetto for its greater
authenticity. The Bonotto was a classic Italian technique....take a great indigenous grape, hit it w/ a ton
of new Fr.oak, obliterate any varietal character, and jack the price up by another $50.
Based on these two data points, I am convinced they should be planting Raboso all up & down the coast
of Calif...it's a no-brainer.
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4. Graciano: Thiis variety is mostly found in Rioja. It is a sibling to Monastrell/Mourvedre. It had fallen into
disfavor in Rioja but is enjoying a quiet comeback. It a variety I think has potential in Calif.
I had the Verdad when I first got it in over a year ago and liked it quite a lot for its bright/clean cherry
character. Since the, ths btl has developed a pretty strong brett character. So sad. Unusual for a Lindquist
wine.
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5. Lemberger: Also known as Blaufrankisch and a parent of GamayNoir. This wine was a rather odd-ball rendition of
Lemberger. You used to see a fair amount of Lemberger coming out of WashState, but the numbers seem to be
dwindling to my view.
Tom

If all the grapes which you've declared should be planted all up and down the California Coast were actually planted here, this would be a God-forsaken place, Tom!

If all the grapes which you've declared should be planted all up and down the California Coast were actually planted here, this would be a God-forsaken place, Tom!

Only if you're looking at Calif from way back in Monktown!!

Did you get the e-mail on Woodshed Rhones??

Tom

yes; I responded! Something like "heck yeah!"

Vini Wine Bar in Davis had a Lemburger last night. I rather enjoyed it...tart, earthy, even just a hint metallic, but interesting red fruit. I can see this as the parent of Gamay Noir, as I got a bit of a Pinot-ish character.

yes; I responded! Something like "heck yeah!"

Couldn't find that e-mail for some reason. But great that you can do it. I'll proceed w/ a plan eventually.
Tom

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5. Lemberger: Also known as Blaufrankisch and a parent of GamayNoir. Thi

I don't think so.

Gamay Noir's parents are that prolific coupling Gouais Blanc and Pinot Noir, which makes sense to me, considering Gamay's homeland.

Jancis's book is confusing -- Gouais & Pinot are explicitly stated as parents in the Gamay entry, and shown as such in the family tree diagram at page 806, however the entry on Blaufrankish does say

Blaufrankish has a parent-offspring relationship with Gouais (see Pinot pedigree diagram) and is a parent of Gamay Noir but this must be wrong because the next sentence says As a consequence, the birthplace of Blaufrankish is most likely to be within the area now demarcated as Dalmatcija, Austria and Hungary

In the entry for Gouais on Page 420 it says Blaufrankish is the offspring of Gouais with an unknown parent

so I think they meant to say
Blaufrankish thus has relationship with Gamay Noir rather than 'is a parent of'

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5. Lemberger: Also known as Blaufrankisch and a parent of GamayNoir. Thi

I don't think so.

Gamay Noir's parents are that prolific coupling Gouais Blanc and Pinot Noir, which makes sense to me, considering Gamay's homeland.

Jancis's book is confusing -- Gouais & Pinot are explicitly stated as parents in the Gamay entry, and shown as such in the family tree diagram at page 806, however the entry on Blaufrankish does say

Blaufrankish has a parent-offspring relationship with Gouais (see Pinot pedigree diagram) and is a parent of Gamay Noir but this must be wrong because the next sentence says As a consequence, the birthplace of Blaufrankish is most likely to be within the area now demarcated as Dalmatcija, Austria and Hungary

In the entry for Gouais on Page 420 it says Blaufrankish is the offspring of Gouais with an unknown parent

so I think they meant to say
Blaufrankish thus has relationship with Gamay Noir rather than 'is a parent of'

That's the reference I was using, Peter. Maybe I misinterpreted what she meant.
Tom

Had Bokisch's 2012 Graciano at their release party last weekend. Inky black, fairly jammy, lots of dark fruit. Not too alcoholic at 14.5. It wasn't bad and didn't come off as an Lodi-ian overly ripe monstrosity or anything like that, but I didn't find it to be all that interesting.

Thank you for the notes Tom.

I've never seen the red from Clos Cibonne before, but thought that their standard rose was quite nice when I had it a couple of years ago.

Alas, neither Rossese that I've ever had (Colle dei Bardellini, Mandino Cane) has impressed me. The latter, in particular, struck me as pricy for the quality when I had it a few years ago. Colle dei Bardellini's Pigato is quite pleasant, however.

Never seen any of the Schnaitmann wines around, even with Rudi Wiest as the importer; would definitely be interested to try any of them sometime.