WTN: Castelli Nebbiolo Sisquoc '09...(short/boring)

Shared this ystrday w/ John:
1. Castelli Nebbiolo SisquocVnyd/SBC (Michet Clone; 14.55; U/U; 150 cs; Hrvstd: 11/2; SaH: 25 Brix, pH: 3.18; www.CastelliVineyards.com) 2009: Med.dark color; strong floral/lilacs/violets/Nebb some tarry/pungent/licorice slight herbal/forest floor bit smokey/dusty/earthy quite perfumed nose; slightly tart/tangy some rich quite floral/violets/lilacs/Nebb/rose petal light tarry/pungent/herbal/forest floor bit earthy/dusty lovely Nebb flavor w/ modest/bitey tannins; very long somewhat floral/rose petal/violets/lilacs/Nebb light tarry/pine pitch/dusty/herbal/earthy finish w/ some angular/ripe tannins; speaks strongly of Nebb not from B/B; reminds some of Nebb from CollineNovarese/OltropoPavese; the nose has a very slight VA lift that gives it a very perfumed/aromatic character; one of the better Calif Nebbs I've had. $26.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I had Emilio's Fosco Nebb (a blend of 75% Sisquoc and 25% GreenVlly) several weeks ago and found it not as perfumed and w/ harder/bitey tannins. This Nebb was even more perfumed/fragrant and had rounder tannins. It should easily go out 10 yrs or more. If you love B/B, this wine is not for you. But if you want to see some of the great strides Calif has been making w/ that grape, this is definitely the one to try.
There are several primary clones of Nebb: Lampia & Michet & Rose. It is now felt (according to Jancis) that Michet is merely a Lampia that's virus-infected. The Rose clone has been found to be not a Nebb variety at all & has been largely abandoned because of the light colors it gives. Nebbiolo has very weird phenolics and it's easy to identify if a different variety has been blended in.
Tom

Tom,

I have had some very good Nebbiolo from Sisquoc, made by Palmina. I gave the wine blind to a Piedmontese enologist, and he was flabbergasted; varietally typical and very attractive wine, sometimes the alcohol is a bit intrusive but that's becoming an issue in the Langhe too.

I don't think Michet, Lampia and Rosé are clones, more like types.

Tom,

I have had some very good Nebbiolo from Sisquoc, made by Palmina. I gave the wine blind to a Piedmontese enologist, and he was flabbergasted; varietally typical and very attractive wine, sometimes the alcohol is a bit intrusive but that's becoming an issue in the Langhe too.

Not too surprised there, Oliver. They would be more inclined to taste it with an open mind than most of the
B/B fans in this country would.

I don't think Michet, Lampia and Rosé are clones, more like types.

To my understanding, for many yrs Michet/Lampia/Rose were all referred to as Nebb clones. I think there was a Bolla
clone in the mix as well. Now Michet is understood to be a virus-infected version of Lampia. I understand their growing
characteristics are rather different in the vnyd. And, via DNA, Rose has been identified as a variety distinct from Nebb, and not merely a clone. It's all way above the head of a mere LosAlamos rocket scientist!!
Tom

All of that is confirmed by the amazing new Ian d'Agata book, Tom, except for the 'clone' part. They (Lampia, Michet) are biotypes, not clones. There probably are numerous refences to them as 'clones' on the internet, just as there are of 'the Brunello clone of Sangiovese.'

All of that is confirmed by the amazing new Ian d'Agata book, Tom, except for the 'clone' part. They (Lampia, Michet) are biotypes, not clones. There probably are numerous refences to them as 'clones' on the internet, just as there are of 'the Brunello clone of Sangiovese.'

So...Oliver...help me out. What is the difference between biotype vs. clone?? With Google, it refers me to a scientific paper written in 1912.
DNA cannot distinguish between clones of a variety. Can it do so between bio-types.

I'll look again at d'Agata when I get home.
Tom

All of that is confirmed by the amazing new Ian d'Agata book, Tom, except for the 'clone' part. They (Lampia, Michet) are biotypes, not clones. There probably are numerous refences to them as 'clones' on the internet, just as there are of 'the Brunello clone of Sangiovese.'

So...Oliver...help me out. What is the difference between biotype vs. clone?? With Google, it refers me to a scientific paper written in 1912.
DNA cannot distinguish between clones of a variety. Can it do so between bio-types.

I'll look again at d'Agata when I get home.
Tom

Clones are identical plants, biotypes are 'families' similar plants within a variety. Clones are propagated by taking pieces of a particular plant and causing them to root; all of those pieces would be genetically identical to the parent plant.