Digging deeper into my recent Matthiasson shipment, I tried last week:
1. Matthiasson RibollaGialla MatthiassonVnyd/NapaVlly (12.0%) 2018: Light gold/bronze color; some phenolic/ViniMacerati/resiny some white pepper/RG/spicy bit earthy/mineral bit complex nose; quite tart/tangy bit tannic/austere fairly phenolic/VM/resiny/slight graham cracker light RG/spicy/white pepper bit earthy/chalky bit lean/austere/metallic/severe some complex rather interesting flavor w/ light tannic bite; very long rather hard/austere/spikey some phenolic/VM light RG/spicy/peppery finish w/ light tannic bite; has a definite VM/phenolic character and a bit severe/hard/austere on the palate & not much fun to taste but should be very good/interesting in 4-6 yrs. $49.00
_________________
2. Matthiasson G/S/M Helen'sGateVnyd/Rutherford/NapaVlly (26% Grenache/41% Syrah/33% Mourv; 13%) 2018: Dark color; strong Syrah/blackberry/some plummy/Mourv light strawberry/Grenache slight floral/lilacs light pencilly/oak slight dusty/loamy almost ContraCosta-like pleasant nose; quite tart/tangy bit earthy/dusty modest Syrah/blackberry/plummy/framboise light pencilly/oak rather lean/brittle flavor w/ modest lean/brisk tannins; long some blackberry/plummy/Syrah/strawberry finish w/ some tangy tannins; a somewhat brittle/sinewy/hard/tight GSM blend & don't see it dramatically improving but I could be fooled; just not particularly attractive right now. $28.00
______________________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Like most VM, the RG was not a real pleasure to taste this young. But I'm confident it will age into something quite good. Reminds me some of the Kabaj or Simcic RG from Friuli.
Tom