TN: Sineann Riesling, Tablas Creek Vermentino, Corino Barolo

Loren Sonkin

Loren Sonkin
2003 Sineann Riesling (Oregon)
I still have a few of these left and I thought I would check in. Deep golden in color, clear and bright. The nose has a diesel note but still some grapefruit left. A slight touch of minerals. Full bodied. Lush texture. The palate is sweet with great complexity. More Austrian on the nose and more German Spatlese on the palate. Long finish. This is in a wonderful place right now (assuming you like mature Riesling) and in no danger. This is really rocking and I am glad to have cellared a few. Certainly, these seem to age a bit faster than their old world counterparts, but I am wondering what the younger ones, sealed with glass closures will be like.

2006 Tablas Creek Vermentino
Screw Capped. Light golden/green in color. The nose is classic with minerals, steel and lemon rind. Silky texture. On the palate, this has great minerality with some almonds and lemons. Excellent acidity. Long finish. I m not sure how well this competes on price with its qualitative counterparts from Italy, but it is every bit as good on quality. IIRC, this costs in the upper $20s from the winery.

1998 Corino (Giovanni) Barolo Giachini
Ruby/Maroon in color, clear and bright. Stunning nose of cherries, dried cherries, tar and roses. Full bodied. On the palate, this is mature but still not yet at peak. Layers of cherries, crunchy leaves and some tar and anise. Nice complex. Great balance. Long finish. Just a great true Barolo experience.
 
I can't wait to see more southern Italian white varieties in California. Both the Edmunds St John Vermentino /Grenache Blanc blend and the Tablas Creek seem to me very promising; what about Coda di Volpe, Fiano, Carricante?
 
originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
I can't wait to see more southern Italian white varieties in California. Both the Edmunds St John Vermentino /Grenache Blanc blend and the Tablas Creek seem to me very promising; what about Coda di Volpe, Fiano, Carricante?

Oddly enough, a couple years back, in the Acreage report for California, Cataratto was listed, hundreds of acres of it, in a number of the North Coast Counties. Equally mysteriously, it disappeared, in the subsequent year's report. I think there are numerous folks surreptitiously messing around with some of these varieties.
 
Back
Top