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and photos by califusa, |
1999 Consorzio Cal-Italia Tasting |
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Il
Podere del Olivos -
Jim Clendenon's winery that produces Italian varietals exclusively. Borgo buon Natale 1997 Refosco - Santa Maria Valley - the first pour was from a corked bottle - the second was freshly opened, and tasted like a freshly opened wine. Fair amount of smooth tannins on the attack - doesn't give the fruit much room to open - it's there, but I'm halfway through this tasting, and I can't really say that I have any distinctive impressions of this particular wine other than the tannins. 1997 Vito Novo Sangiovese - medium ruby color - somewhat shy on the nose - this wine allows some sweet, bright Sangiovese fruit to come through before your palate gets distracted by the tannins. As I recall, this was typical of my tasting experience last year with wines from this producer. I mean that not as criticism - it may just be that these wines need a bit of time before the tannins integrate and they show a little better. I think this wine does have the fruit and structure to become very drinkable. 1994 Pronto - Aleatico - slightly pale dusty rose color - sweet floral and dried petal notes on the nose - pretty, sweet fruit flavors - the wine absolutely delivers, and is a pleasure to drink. This is the same wine I tasted here last year and found so fascinating - a red dessert wine that was thoroughly enjoyable. Jim left to share some wine with other winemakers, and his help was too busy stylin' with the ladies to pour other samples for me, so I moved on. Although the table was not manned, there was a handwritten note from the folks at Iron Horse saying they had to leave to attend to crush duties. And, there was wine. 1997 Sangiovese - Proprietor Grown - Alexander Valley - deep color - interesting sweet fruit with a touch of fascinating perfume in the nose - smooth entry with medium intensity and lovely smooth & sweet Sangiovese fruit - finishes with a bit of unresolved tannin. I'd give this one a year or two and it should rock! A very impressive effort from this highly regarded sparkling wine producer. On to Jean Morton at the Altamura table. After speaking with Kal Showket earlier, I learned that this was the last vintage that contained fruit from the Showket vineyard. I'm not sure if there is fruit from other sources in this wine. 1996 Sangiovese - fairly deep garnet color - sweet fruit with a touch of smoke in the nose - very pretty black cherry fruit on the palate - the oak is well integrated and certainly not overdone - the wine lives up to its reputation without a doubt. 
And another visit with our friends Betsy and Bill
Nachbauer, owners of the Alegria Vineyard, and
Acorn Winery.1997 Dolcetto - pretty, dark ruby color - very attractive red and purple plum fruit in the nose - now, this is no light weight Dolcetto - it really has wonderful intensity and concentration, with a hint of tar and an earthy Rhone-like nuance. It still has some tannins that need to be integrated, but has great depth and structure. This is going to be a very nice wine given a little time in bottle!! 1996 Sangiovese - dark and dense color - a little bit of volatility in the nose - deep and intense black stone fruit flavors - lacks the brightness of some the other Sangios here today, but nevertheless, an interesting, intense and enjoyable wine. |
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