Tried this wine from the archives this weekend:
1. Unti Lacrima DryCreekVlly (12.9%; 50 cs; http://www.UntiVineyards.com) Unti/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty NV ('15 & '16): Very dark color w/ slight brickig; beautiful classicLacrima/licorice/boysenberry/blackberryslightly dusty some vanilla/Am.oak quite spicy/rosemary/thyme beautiful complex nose; bit soft quite ripe very rich/lush classic Lacrima/licorice/blackberry/plummy some vanilla/Am.oak quite spicy/thyme/rosemary fairly complex flavor w/ modest chewey tannins; very long very spicy finish that tracks flavor; reminds a lot of Unti Zin but much richer/lusher & strong Lacrima character; a bit more rustic than their Zin shows a bit of evolution & maturity & probably near its peak; a lovely rich/spicy red w/ slight peppery/SonomaVlly character.
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More urdlestick from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. When George Unti visited LeMarche in Italy, he fell in love w/ the the wines from the Lacrima di Morro d'Alba and was determined to make that variety in Calif. In a tube, he brought back some canes that were marked as fishing poles. He then propagated them into two rows on his vnyd. Since he had such a tiny amount, the first two vintages of this wine were blended together. In subsequent yrs, he made some vnyd designate versions of Lacrima; They were always some of the best Unti reds made.
Unfortunately, the cuttings George brought back were virus-infected. As the yield from his two rows continued to decline, he & Mick finally gave up and pulled his Lacrima vines. Such a shame. Don't know of anyone else in Calif pursuing at this time the wonderful Lacrima variety.
Tom