Cracked this btl the other night:
1. Zidarich DOC: Vitovska Verde/Carso (12.5%; LV32) Prepotto/Trieste 2000: Deep golden/burnished bronze color; very strong phenolic/resiny/skin-contact bit cidery/oxidized/nutty slight honeyed/orangey quite complex nose; very tart/tangy/acidic quite phenolic/resiny/skin-contact slight oxidized/Kansas hay mow/honeyed/orangey very dry/austere quite savory/saline complex flavor w/ some bitey/astringent tannins; very long/lingering very tart/acidic rather austere/tannic/astringent very strongly phenolic/resiny/skin-contact slight oxidized/nutty/hay mow complex finish w/ austere/astringent tannins; dominated by the phenolic character and very little fruit evident but quite an interesting/complex food wine. $20.00 (K&L)
___________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Vitovska: This is a variety that originated in the Carso/Karst region. It is a cross between Malavasia
Bianca Lunga ( neutral Tuscan variety) X Prosecco Tondo. Prosecco is a variety that evolved near the town of
Prosecco near Trieste in the Carso; where it was known as the ancient Glera variety. Unfortunately, the
folks in the Veneto near Valdobbiadene stole the Glera variety, took it to the Veneto, ran with it, and
changed the name of the variety to Prosecco and decreed it could only come from that area. Alas, the
folks in Prosecco/Carso can now only make Sparkling Glera, but cannot call it Prosecco. Friggin' thieves.
________________
2. Zidarich: Ben Zidarich is one of the people credited for rescuing Vitovska from near extinction in the Karst.
The younger Zidarich wines I've had have been distinctly phenolic/tannic. WebSite: (http://zidarich.it/en). Some beautiful pics of the surrounding area there.
It was quite a coincidence in that Zidarich was on my list of producers I wanted to visit, but wasn't
able to work it in. When we finally found SandiSkerk's place & headed down to the wnry, I noticed a large
new bldg right there on the same narrow road that looked like a wnry. As we were bidding adieu to Sandi,
I looked back down the road and saw these large letters right there on this new bldg..."Zidarich".
_________________
3. This wine was quite painful to taste by itself. As it warmed up to room temperature, it was easier on the palate. But like most wines of this genre at badly needs food and w/ the spicy percatelli dish, it became much more toned down and attractive.
Tom