Susan & I tried this (finally) at dinner last night:
1. Idlewild Cortese FoxHillVnyd/MendoCnty (13.4%; 25% frmtd on skins for 20 days; http://www.IdlewildWines.com) 2013: Med.gold/bronze color; rather stony/mineral/floral bit spicy/cinammon light phenolic/cider quite fragrant/carnations lovely nose; fairly tart beautiful honeyed/dried mango/dried pineapple light stony/mineral very slight phenolic/mead/cider somewhat structured flavor w/ very light tannins; very long/lingering tart spicy/cinammon/dried mango/pineapple slight phenolic/cider some stony/mineral complex finish; a beautiful example of what Arneis can do in Calif.$30.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The '12 version of this wine was 33% skin-contact for just 12 days, w/ the skin-contact portion mostly from the south-facing grapes w/ more color. This '13 was 25% skin-contact for over 20 days. Yet I felt the '12 showed more phenolic character than the '13. Go figure.
Anyway, I think Sam nailed this '13 dead-on. It has just the right balance of Calif fruit, the stony/earthy character of Piemonte Cortese, and a quiet phenolic undertone from the skin contact; this is probably the best Cortese I've ever had. A beautiful wine.
Tom