Finally.....working on my last case of the orphan stash...I tried on Fri:
1. Santino Nebbiolo AmadorCnty (13.3%) ScottHarvey & MichaelMontaldo/Plymouth 1989: Light color w/ some bricking; rather metallic slight lilacs/floral/tarry/Nebb bit bretty some complex bit tired nose; quite tart/tangy light Nebb/floral/tarry somewhat bretty/unclean bit dried out/tired flavor w/ light tangy/brittle tannins; med.long some dried-out/tired somewhat bretty light floral/lilacs/tarry/Nebb finish w/ light drying tannins; speaks quietly of Nebb and some like an old/tired Gattinara.
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2. Santino Amadoro ShenandoahVlly (13.5%; DouroRiver varietals: Touriga/Alvaralhao/TintaCao/Souzao; 250 cs) 1990: Dark color w/ light bricking; slight bretty/horsecollar rather plummy/grapey/licorice/briary fairly lush fruit some earthy/dusty light vanilla/oak quite interesting nose; soft ripe/plummy/grapey/blackberry/briary slight tangy/dried out bit vanilla/oak flavor w/ light soft/smooth tannins; very long grapey/plummy/blackberry lush/ripe light earthy/dusty bit vanilla/Am.oak finish w/ light soft/ripe tannins; has a surprising amount of fruit and a real pleasure to drink.
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3. Santino Barbera AmadorCnty (13.5%; 19% Zin; 1170 cs; U/U) 1989: Light color w/ some browning; some earthy/dusty slight bretty/unclean/funky/wet wool light spicy/Barbara nose; rather tart/lean/dried out slight spicy/Barbera some tangy/metallic flavor w/ light drying tannins; med. slight spicy/Barbera tart/tangy/metallic/lean bit vanilla/oak some unclean/bretty/tired finish w/ light astringent/dried-out tannins; still speaks quietly of Barbera but pretty dried-out/tired.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This is a wnry out on SteinerRd that was started by Matt & Nancy Santino; two wine shop owners from the SanJose area. ScottHarvey was hired as their consulting winemaker after asst winemaking chores at Montevina, afore their purchase by SutterHome. These wine were shortly after the death of MattSantino and afore Scott started up the Renwood label there.
The wines were somewhat on the interesting side and still clinging to life. Remarkable...given the miserable storage condition over 18 yrs of the orphan stash.
Tom