We tried these two last night at our BBB SauvBlanc tasting:
1. MassicanWnry Sauvignon NapaVlly (13.9%) 2010: Pale yellow color; very strong herbal/SB/grassy bit earthy/grapefruity/cat pee rather mineral/chalky fairly attractive nose; fairly tart some herbal/SB/mineral/chalky light melony/earthy brisk/bright flavor; very long rather herbal/chalky/mineral/SB/grassy finish; an altogether pleasant NZ-style or Friuli-style SB. $nc (DP)
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2. Massican passito Sweet NapaVlly TW (13%; RS: 13%; Sauvignon; Air dried: 10 days; 50 gal + 10 gal
Ribolla; 49 cs of hlf btls) 2010: Light gold color; very intense grapey/passito/figgy/orangey almost passito/Muscat very perfumed nose; quite sweet rather tart very peachy/apricotty/grapey/figgy bit honeyed flavor; very long/lingering peachy/apricotty/grapey/figgy/honeyed fairly tart rather sweet finish; loads of grapey passito character; no SB character evident but quitte an attractive if simple dessert wine. $33/hlf
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Massican is the Friuli-focused wines of DanPetrowski, asst winemaker at Larkmead.The Sauv was quite similar to many Friuli Sauvs I've had...nothing profound but just good/pleasant drinking.
The passito was much more interesting. As I recall the story, he used the old Italian technique of letting the grapes ripen, then clipping the canes to stop the flow of nutrients to the bunches and let them hand until they're well-raisened.
Tom