We had friends over to Susan's Fri night & had some interesting wines:
1. Stirm Calcite CienegaVlly WW (13%; 44% Riesling/WirzVnyd, 47% Chard/CienegaRdVnyd, 9% Chard/GimelliVnyd) Watsonville 2022: Med.gold color w/ lots of tiny bubbles; strong fragrant floral/mango/R slight melony/Chard rather mineral/chalky/stony very perfumed/aromatic rather Germanic nose; quite tart/tangy rather mineral/stony/chalky rather steely/R/floral/mango totally dry very brisk/steely quite savory flavor; very long/lingering finish matches flavor; a beautiful steely/brisk expression of R on limestone terroir; very fair price of $22.00 (KK)
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2. Ryme 91% Sangiovese/9% Friuliano Calif RW (11.9%) 2022: Med.light red color; Med.light red color; somewhat earthy/dusty bright Sangio/cherry bit Tuscan/rustic some fragrant/floral quite interesting nose; rather tart/tangy fairly cherry/Sangio some earthy/dusty/rustic flavor w/ light bright/brisk tannins; speaks strongly of Sasngio w/ a pretty floral component; qute an interesting red.
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3. Dom.Bibich Zutina Dalmatia/Croatia ( 13%; Debit grape; Natural wine; Kreso & Zev Slctns/Brooklyn) Dom.Bibich/Croatia 2019: Rather golden/orange/bit burnished bronze color; some phenolic/VM/skin-contact/resiny lightly floral/carnations/dandelions bit herbal/new mown hay rather interesting nose; lightly tart/tangy some VM/skin-contact/pungent lightly floral/herbal/carnations/spicy bit earthy/dusty/rustic slightly austere/tannic very dry flavor w/slight tannic bite; very long finish that mirrors flavor; needs 3-6 yrs of age. $22.00 (KK)
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4. Qupe Syrah Sawyer-Lindquist Vnyd EdnaVlly (13.0%; Demeter Certified Biodynamic) Santa Maria 2011: Med.dark color; beautiful cedary/pencilly smokey/Rhonish/roasted strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah quite complex some peppery/c-c classic Qupe nose; lightly tart/tangy strong Rhonish/smokey/roasted rather blackberry/blueberry/Syrah some peppery/c-c/spicy flavor w/ modest brisk tannins; very long/lingering roasted/Rhonish finish w/ light tannins; a beautiful classic Lindqist Syrah probably close to its peak; a Calif Syrah at its best.
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More flikkerspurt from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Stirm is Ryan Stirm. He specializes in Riesling, w/ inemaking background in MargaretRiver/OZ and Wachau/Austria. I've been mightly impressed w/ his Rieslings & this is one of the best w/ a minerality you don't often find in Calif R.
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2. Bibich: This is one of the better producers in Croatia. He is a natural winemaker but doesn't advertise himself as such. I've never found any natty/funky character in the Bibich wines. The Debit grape is thought to be of Croatian origins, but there is some suggestion of an Italian connection.
Tom