Tried these three last night:
1. Avanguardia Sangineto SierraFoothills RW (13.8%; 3 clones of Sangiovese + Montepulciano; www.AvanguardiaWines.com/) 2010: Med.light color; quite pleasant Sangio/cherry/spicy light pencilly/oak bit Chianti/rustic rather interesting nose; fairly tart/tangy rather cherry/Sangio bit dusty/earthy rather rough/rustic some Chianti-like flavor w/ light rough tannins; long rather lean/light/rustic fairly cherry/Sangio light pencilly/oak interesting finish w/ light rough tannins; resembles more a Montepulciano Vino Nobile rather than a high-toned Chianti. $22.00
___________________
2. Avanguardia TreT Clarksburg RW (13.6%; Tannat/Tempranillo/Teroldego) 2012: Med.dark color; strong Delta/mushroomy/earthy rather plummy/DrPepper/RCCola/black cherry cola bit floral/lilacs slight peppery quite attractive/interesting nose; rather soft/lush/bit rich/grapey strong plummy/earthy/mushroomy some black cherry cola/Teroldego/DrPepper/RCCola/spicy bit rustic quite interesting flavor w/ light bit rough tannins; med.long soft somewhat earthy/mushroomy/Delta fairly plummy/licorice/black cherry cola/RCCola light pencilly/oak finish w/ light ripe/rough tannins; lacks the tannic backbone or structure of Tannat or Temp but its from the Clarksburg Delta so not too surprising; reminds mostly of Teroldego but on the soft/mushy side; a pleasant but not particularly distinctive red that speaks mostly of Clarksburg. $24.00
___________________
3. Avanguardia Premiato SierraFoothills Dry RW (14.8%; Barbera/Dolcetto) 2012: Rather dark color; strong grapey/Dolcetto some Barbera/spicy/Italian dried herbs/fennel slight earthy/loamy somewhat aromatic/perfumed nose; lightly tart/tangy/acidic fairly spicy/Barbera/Italian sausage/fennel some grapey/Dolcetto bit rustic/earthy/Italianate flavor w/ light brisk tannins; long bit tart/tannic/tangy some grapey/Dolcetto mostly Barbara/spicy/dried herbs some earthy/loamy/rustic finish w/ light bit bitey tannins; speaks mostly of Foothills Barbera w/ some grapey/Dolcetto; an interesting/pleasant rather rough/rustic/Italianate red.
$nc (RC)/$28.00
________________________________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Avanguardia is the tiny GrassVlly wnry of Rob & Marilyn Chrisman. They have a very unusual tableau of varieties, unusual in Calif, planted, mostly Italian stuff. The focus seems to be mostly on blends. Rob is doing some pretty stuff w/ some very interesting varieties. I generally like his wine but find them mostly on a bit rustic/Italianate side & would just like a bit more intensity & high-toned character. But I applaud Rob for what he's doing & need to follow his wines more closely.
Tom