Tried this last night w/ friends:
1. Andis Schioppettino (15%; www.AndisWines.com; 2 brls) Plymouth NV(2018): Very dark/black color; very intense plummy/black cherry cola/RCCola/DrPepper somewhat Amador briary rather black pepper/Schio beautiful nose; bit soft rich/lush very strong blackberry/black cherry cola/RCCola some ripe/Amador/briary fairly black pepper/Schio/spicy flavor w/ modest soft/ripe tannins; very long/lingering black cherry cola/plummy/Amador briary some Schio/black pepper light vanilla/oak finish w/ light bit tangy tannins; this is how IvanRupuzzi would make Schioppettino in AmadorCnty if he could; definitely speaks of Schio w/ an Amador accent; not the spice or structure of a Ronchi di Cialla but quite a good expression of Schio. $30.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Schioppettino is one of my favorite of Italian grapes. It was a variety thought extinct until rediscovered by Paola Rapuzzi of Ronchi di Cialla in the early '90's. He propogated from some vines he discovered in an abandoned vnyd in Friuli and it is gradually making inroads in Friuli wine production. Paola died several yrs ago but his two sons now run the wnry up in this tiny vlly in Friuli. We did a visit w/ Ivan a few yrs ago. I think his Ronchi di Cialla Schio is the gold standard for that grape.
I became interested in the wines of Andis a few yrs ago when I found out they were making Schio from an article by MikeDunne. The first one ('15?) was a bit on the overripe/late hrvsty side, but all the ones since then have been first rate.
This is probably their best one yet. Definitely Schio but spoken w/ an Amador accent. They also make some Zins that I think are quite good. Definitely a good ShenanadoahVlly producer.
Tom