Cracked this wine last night for DinDin:
1. Arnot-Roberts RibollaGialla VareVnyd/NapaVlly (12.2%; 3 brls) Healdsburg 2015: Med.dark gold color;very interesting rather subdued graham cracker/nilla wafers lightly phenolic/resinous/ViniMacerati slight white pepper/RG quite complex if quiet nose; rather tart/tangy fairly graham cracker/nilla wafters light white pepper/RG slightly rich rather smooth/round/gentle lightly VM/resinous rather quiet/elegant/subdued fairly complex flavor w/ no tannins to speak of; very long complex finish that mirrors the flavor; a beautiful complex white that's on the quiet/subdued/elegant side; a beautiful example of a fully mature VM that still has a slight bit of VM character to add interest; nothing at all like a Friuli RG because it lacks that minerality they usually show; an amazing wine.
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More tlickelgrit from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. This wine comes from the famous GeorgeVare Vnyd just North of Napa, the first planting of RG in the USofA. From cuttings George brought back as fishing poles he got from JoskoGravner I recall.
In its youth, this wine was very unattractive; a typical A-R lean/eviscerated/screechy white dominated by the VM/phenolic/resinous character and pretty tannic.... a quite ugly little wine. With 10 yrs of age, it has been transformed (sooner than I expected) into a beautiful/complex example of mature VM. It can only be faulted for being on the quiet/subdued side. Beautiful wine. One more btl left.
Tom