1. Forlorn-Hope Nacre Semillon YountMillVnyd/Calif (11.5%; 157 cs) MattRorick/Fairfield 2011: Med.light gold color; strong Semillon/figgy/waxy/slight floral/dandelions slight earthy/herbal slight chalky/mineral slightly complex nose; quite tart/tangy/somewhat metallic light Semillon/waxy/figgy/green olive some chalky/herbal bit austere/lean/eviscerated bit complex flavor; med.long rather tangy/metallic strong green olive/Semillon/waxy/herbal/dandelions/chalky somewhat austere/pinched/eviscerated bit complex finish; speaks strongly of waxy/Semillon but rather lean/austere/eviscerated/metallic; would like more richness & some oak; reminds a bit of ClareVlly Semillon but w/o the oak; don't see this wine going anywhere from here.
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2. Pierre-Oliver Bonhomme Pineau d'Aunis LaTesniere VdF (13.5%; LouisDressner Slctns/NY) Monthou sur Bievre/Loire 2020: Med.light red/garnet color; fairly fragrant strawberry/Pd'A/floral/cherry blossoms rather earthy/dusty/herbal/Gamay-like lightly spicy slight graphite/ozone some complex nose; quite tart/tangy/metallic rather earthy/loamy/dusty/herbal somewhat metallic/steely/graphite strong floral/Pd'A/strawberry/bit cherry blossom some herbal/Gamay-like bit complex flavor w/ light metallic/tangy tannins; very long/lingering quite earthy/loamy/dusty rather herbal/Gamay-like some floral/strawberry/Pd'A bit complex finish w/ light earthy/tannins; lots of floral/strawberry character but the earthy/loamy character dominates this wine; reminds a lot of a Loire Gamay or CabFranc; bit pricey at $34.00 (SFW&S)
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More spiggerspurm from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. I tried the new Forlorn-Hope Pineau d'Aunis a month age:
Tom wrote:Tried this on Fri w/ Susan:
1. Forlorn-Hope valentin Pineau d'Anuis RorickHeritageVnyd/CalaverasCnty/SierraFoothills (12.62%) 2020: Very light garnet/red near rose color; quite pretty cranberry/strawberry/bit floral/spicy rather earthy/dusty/bit loamy quite Loire-like rather fragrant nose; quite tart/tangy lightly floral/cranberry/strawberry rather earthy/loamy/dusty slight metallic bit spicy flavor w/ light tangy tannins; long rather tart/tangy some cranberry/strawberry/floral some earthy/loamy finish w/ light tannins; quite a good replica of a Loire Pd'A but a bit more fragrant/floral & not as rustic/herbal. $44.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Pineau d'Anuis is a grape variety mostly around Anjou/Tourraine areas in the Loire. Also known as Chenin Noir, it is by DNA related to neither CheninBlanc nor PinotNoir.
This is, to my knowledge, the first varietal Pd'A produced in Calif. Not a profound wine, it is, though quite pretty & interesting.
Tom
I much preferred the F-H expression of Pd'A because the earthy/loamy character was much more restrained and did not dominate the floral/strawberry fragrance.
Tom