Had these two whites over the last few days over the last hurrah for tomatoes:
1. Fallegro Favorita DOC: Langhe (12.5%; EnotecImprts/Glendale/CO) Gianni Gagliardo/LaMorra 2019: Loud pop & whisp of vapor when cork removed; pale yellow color; lightly floral/Verm slight chalky rather simple bit vapid nose; rather tangy/metallic rather spritzy very light Verm /floral slight chalky flavor; short spritzy/tangy/metallic light Verm/floral finish; pretty much a vapid/watery expression of Piemonte Vermentino. $16.00 (PrimaIlC)
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2. PuntaCrena Mataossu Vigneto Reine IGT: Colline Savonesi (12.5%; KermitLynchImprts) famiglia Ruffino/Varigotti/Savona/Liguria 2018: Light yellow color; rather fragrant floral/carnations/citrusy some chalky/mineral/perfumed talc/savory/bit spicy/cardamon quite high-toned attractive aromatic nose; quite tart/tangy/citrusy/brisk fairly floral/carnations some chalky/mineral bit metallic/steely/savory flavor; long rather tangy/mineral/steely somewhat lean/brisk/savory/citrusy light floral/carnations; not a whole lot different from Liguria Pigato; nothing particularly distinctive about Mataossu; a bit like a less fragrant Croatian Malvasia d'Istriana, a bit like a French Picpoul. $30.00 (KL)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Favorita is the Piemontese name for Vermentino/Pigato. It obviously had a high degree of dissolved CO2 which gave this vapid wine an ersatz acidity that was not inherently there. Pretty dull stuff that even the CO2 couldn't save.
Mataossu, also known as Lumassina, it is a variety indigenous to Liquria. There is no DNA evidence that I can find that relates it to any other grape varieties. Grown almost exclusively in the Savona region of Liquria. It was almost extinct because of being difficult to grow until revived by the Ruffino family. Nothing really distinctive about this wine and a grape variety that doesn't deserve to be planted all up&down the Coast of Calif. Or maybe it does?
Tom