WTN: Two Montepulcianos...(short/boring)

Tried these two last night:
1. Cantina Ciccio Zaccagnini DOC: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (13.0%; www.cantinazaccagnini.it) Bolognano 2011: Med.color; somewhat grapey/plummy/boysenberry bit jammy/ripe slight earthy/rustic clean fairly fragrant nose; soft/fat grapey/plummy/boysenberry/ripe/jammy/chocolaty bit rustic/earthy clean pleasant flavor w/ soft/gentle tannins; short soft/fat plummy/boysenberry/chocolaty/jammy somewhat earthy/loamy slight metallic/rustic clean finish w/ little tannins; a pleasant/simple/grapey Abruzzo red that lacks structure but is altogether pleasant drinking; clean/modern for an Abruzzi red; a nice red w/ red-sauce pasta or a pizza. $15.00 (SFW&S)
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2. Harrington L'Avventura Calif (Abruzzo inspired; 56% Montepulciano/44% Sangiovese/10% Brunello/5% Marzemino; Inspired by MonicaVitti; 20 cs) 2013: Dark color; strong plummy/boysenberry/blackberry/slight chocolaty very light pencilly/oak/toasty slight earthy/dusty almost Paso-Mourvedre-like quite fragrant nose; fairly tart bright/cherry/plummy/boysenberry/blackberry light pencilly/oak slight earthy somewhat structured quite attractive flavor w/ some soft/lush tannins; very long slightly tart/earthy/dusty strong plummy/blackberry/boysenberry/cherry slight pencilly/oak/toasty bit earthy finish w/ soft/ripe tannins; definitely speaks of Montepulciano/plummy but the cherry/Sangio gives it some structure & brightness that's not in the Zaccagnini; reminds me a bit of Paso Mourv w/ structure & brightness; a bit of Friuli Refosco w/o the earthiness; quite a delicious/tasty/lovely red blend at a more than fair price.
$25.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Zaccagnini: This is a wnry that was started only in 1978...young for a wnry in that region. It's a wine that's easy to recognize on the shelf. It's a btl that has a little piece of budwood tied around its neck w/ a strip of rafia. I've often been tempted to see if I could make that little budwood grow. Not certain how they get around the importation of uninspected plant material into this country unless they blast it w/ 14 MeV neutrons or something.
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2. Harrington: This is BryanHarrington's wnry located in the ugly industrial bottoms of SanFrancisco. I have, of course, followed him from the very start. His original passion was in PinotNoir, which he continues to fashion in an elegant/svelte style. But somewhere along the way, Bryan went off the deep end and he searches out some very obscure varieties to see what he can do w/ them. He's just released Calif's first Marzemino from Lodi grapes. His Nebbiolo from Paso is consistently one of the best made in Calif. He also works w/ a Swiss organic preservative and makes some wines w/ no SO2 additions, under his Terrane label. I'd love to see what Bryan can do w/ LaCrima di Morro d'Alba if he could talk some out of GeorgeUnti. Across the board, some very interesting wines a very fair prices....but well under the radar.
The varietal %'s on this wine don't add up because he could only squeeze in the Multipuciano/Sangiovese on the label.
The one big disappointment I have w/ HarringtonWnry: When I finally got around to doing a vist there, Katie the Ironworker who worked in the metal fab shop in the front part of the wnry had left the bldg & I didn't get to meet her. I was crushed.
Tom

Regrettably, I have to agree with your tasting notes re the Zaccagnini..I say regrettably because a dear friend of ours is the local distributor..They also make a white..a PG if I remember correctly, that wd also merit a somewhat bland tasting note.

I see Bedrock is offering their 2013 North Coast Syrah in the current mailer..In the past you have posted favorably on previous vitnages of this wine..Any chance you have already tasted it? If yes, wd appreciate your thoughts..This has been an anuual buy for me

thanks,Jon

Regrettably, I have to agree with your tasting notes re the Zaccagnini..I say regrettably because a dear friend of ours is the local distributor..They also make a white..a PG if I remember correctly, that wd also merit a somewhat bland tasting note.

I see Bedrock is offering their 2013 North Coast Syrah in the current mailer..In the past you have posted favorably on previous vitnages of this wine..Any chance you have already tasted it? If yes, wd appreciate your thoughts..This has been an anuual buy for me

thanks,Jon

Jon,
Nope...not tasted it yet. The Bedrocks are sort of a no-brainer buy.

Their Bianco is a Trebbiano d'Abruzzo + Chard. I thought it was pretty boring white. But a neat piece of budwood around the neck!!
That's gotta count for sumthin!!
Tom

ordered my usual case of the Bedrock Syrah..Not sure what to do with the Zach budwood ..At the time when I bought a bottle of both the white and red to try(My buddy Dean was in the store at time, schmoozing with my wife and smiling at my choice) I had given some consideration into using it as a golf tee...Have since given up golf so that never came to fruition.