Had this last night w/ Susan:
1. Skerk Vitovska IGP: VeneziaGiulia (13%; OliverMcCrumWines) Prepotto/Trieste 2011: Med.gold/slight burnished bronze color; some phenolic/resiny/skin-contact/bit cidery light nutty/orangey/honeyed/appley some earthy light floral/apple blossom quite complex nose; quite tart/tangy strong phenolic/skin-contact/very resiny very dry fairly rich/lush quite orangey/honeyed/honeycomb quite complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long/lingering honey/honeycomb/orange marmalade/spicy some phenolic/skin-contact very complex finish w/ light gentle/smooth tannins; the phenolic character on the palate diminishes as the wine warms up; tannins have smoothed and not nearly as austere as once was; a really lovely/interesting skin-contact white that's developing quite nicely and will continue to get better I suspect. $26.00 (K&L)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Just got in my case of the new Skerks from BerkeleyWines and thought I'd go back an revisit one from my first Skerk buy almost two yrs ago. This is a skin-contact frmtd white that's raised in a reductive manner w/ no signs of oxidation whatsoever. When I first had it almost two yrs ago, it was very dry/austere/strongly phenolic and almost painful to drink. The wine seems to be developing quite nicely. Will try the new '13 in the next few weeks. I think BerkeleyWines is about the best retail ource for the Skerks. Dan will take care of you.
We did a visit w/ SandiSkerk a yr ago last Oct. Damnably tough to find in the tiny village of Prepotto in the Carso of Italy, just North of Trieste and close by to the Kras/Slovenia...but essentially the same terroir. Very charming guy and I think a genius winemaker.
Most of the Vitovskas from Carso/Kras seem to be made w/ skin contact. So I don't have a very good feel for the varietal character of Vitovska. But, nonetheless, I will pontificate as if I do.
Tom