Had these two Tues night for DinDin:
1. ElvioCogno Anas-Cetta Nascetta del Comune di Novello DOC: Langhe (13%; 100% Nascetta; Wilson Daniels Imprts/St.Helena) Elvio Cogno/Langhe 2018: Med.light gold color; beautiful very fragrant very floral/gardenias quite R-like light stony/mineral rather complex nose; fairly tart/tangy rather delicate/elegant very strong floral/perfumed gardenias/bit pineapple light stony/mineral/chalky rather complex flavor; very long/lingering delicate/legant quite perfumed/floral/gardenias/rather R-like light stony/mineral rather complex finish; a beautiful/elegant very floral white that reminds a lot of VieneseHills R bt not quite as rich/lush; a wine that ranks up there as a great Piemontese White. $34.00 (KK)
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2. Radio-Coteau Syrah Timbervine RRV (15.2%; U/U; 244 cs; www.RadioCoteau.com) Sebastapol 2008: Dark color w/ some browning; strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy rather toasty/Fr.oak bit cedary/pencilly/oldRed fully-mature Syrah complex/interesting nose; bit soft rather cedary/pencilly/oldRed fairly strong mature/Syrah/blackberry/spicy rather toasty/Fr.oak bit complex flavor w/ light drying tannins; long rather dried-out/tired oldRed/cedary/pencilly some Syrah/blackberry/spicy some toasty/Fr.oak complex finish w/ light drying tannins; still some interesting old Syrah character but pretty much on its way out the door.
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More sisteewark from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Nascetta: This was a near-extinct Piemontese indigeneous varity that had a few rows mixed-planted on upper slopes in the Novello village iin the Barolo district. It was originally produced as a passito/dessert wine and once had a great reputation in the Piemonte. In 1993, ElvioCogno & ValterFissore tasted a 1986 Nascetta and fell in love w/ the grape. So, in 1994, cherry-picking thru some of the Novello vnyds, Cogno produced a tiny amount of clandestine Nascetta, which was not then a recognized grape for Piemonte. Since then, they have been propagating more Nascetta and the variety has been officially recognized. It is sometimes characterized as the "White Barolo" but that strikes me as a bit of a stretch unless it is because of it delicate/floral fragrance.
But it seems a grape variety that should be gaining traction & I can hardly wait until SamBilbro makes the first one in Calif. A variety that should be being planted all up&down the Coast of Calif.
Tom