G Conterno and ripeness

[Josh Beck]

On the Brovia front, I keep buying with faith. The 99's and 01's have rocked my proverbial and literal socks; I've just had a spate of bad luck w/ recent vintages and don't hold it against them, but I would love to hear more discussion on the producer as I don't have as much experience as I would like.

On F Rinaldi, what can I say. Maybe not for everybody but they hit me just right. My cellar is like 50% Burgundy and 30% Nebbiolo (balance is Champagne and Fr/It/Rioja/Madeira) and I think that the F Rinaldi wines strike a balance of supple feminine appeal without being terribly ripe that really does it for me. Sappy, powdery, floral, sweet fruited but very fresh. Not the masculine power of many producers, and they may lack the ethereal depth of Pie Rupestris, Monprivato, Giacosa's better crus or older G Conterno, they make up for it with fresh, sappy character that appeals to my Burgundy loving heart and a price that appeals to my wallet.

 

[Levi Dalton]

originally posted by VLM:

Levi-

Curious, why more Villero than Ca'Mia? (And I had a corked magnum of 1996 Rocche two weeks ago, bummer.)

Because with the comparative youth of what is at this moment offered on the list (we've had some older items, but they sold through), I usually recommend people have the Villero over the Ca' Mia. As I find the Villero more approachable. So we end up selling more Villero.

 

[Levi Dalton]

originally posted by Josh Beck:
On the Brovia front, I keep buying with faith. The 99's and 01's have rocked my proverbial and literal socks; I've just had a spate of bad luck w/ recent vintages and don't hold it against them, but I would love to hear more discussion on the producer as I don't have as much experience as I would like.

On F Rinaldi, what can I say. Maybe not for everybody but they hit me just right. My cellar is like 50% Burgundy and 30% Nebbiolo (balance is Champagne and Fr/It/Rioja/Madeira) and I think that the F Rinaldi wines strike a balance of supple feminine appeal without being terribly ripe that really does it for me. Sappy, powdery, floral, sweet fruited but very fresh. Not the masculine power of many producers, and they may lack the ethereal depth of Pie Rupestris, Monprivato, Giacosa's better crus or older G Conterno, they make up for it with fresh, sappy character that appeals to my Burgundy loving heart and a price that appeals to my wallet.

I believe the VLM likes the ethereal depth, but he is a tough grader. He's not some feel good, slacker artist mumbo jumbo type.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Josh Beck:
On the Brovia front, I keep buying with faith. The 99's and 01's have rocked my proverbial and literal socks; I've just had a spate of bad luck w/ recent vintages and don't hold it against them, but I would love to hear more discussion on the producer as I don't have as much experience as I would like.

Aside from the Baudry Croix Boissée, Brovia Ca'Mia is the cheapest "great" red wine available, IMO.

My cellar is like 50% Burgundy and 30% Nebbiolo (balance is Champagne and Fr/It/Rioja/Madeira)

I've been telling Kevin you guys need to start drinking some Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by VLM:

Levi-

Curious, why more Villero than Ca'Mia? (And I had a corked magnum of 1996 Rocche two weeks ago, bummer.)

Because with the comparative youth of what is at this moment offered on the list (we've had some older items, but they sold through), I usually recommend people have the Villero over the Ca' Mia. As I find the Villero more approachable. So we end up selling more Villero.

That makes sense.

Do you find the Rocche more approachable than both?

What are your thoughts on the Roagna Rionda? I've been very surprised by how open and supple it seems.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by Josh Beck:
On the Brovia front, I keep buying with faith. The 99's and 01's have rocked my proverbial and literal socks; I've just had a spate of bad luck w/ recent vintages and don't hold it against them, but I would love to hear more discussion on the producer as I don't have as much experience as I would like.

On F Rinaldi, what can I say. Maybe not for everybody but they hit me just right. My cellar is like 50% Burgundy and 30% Nebbiolo (balance is Champagne and Fr/It/Rioja/Madeira) and I think that the F Rinaldi wines strike a balance of supple feminine appeal without being terribly ripe that really does it for me. Sappy, powdery, floral, sweet fruited but very fresh. Not the masculine power of many producers, and they may lack the ethereal depth of Pie Rupestris, Monprivato, Giacosa's better crus or older G Conterno, they make up for it with fresh, sappy character that appeals to my Burgundy loving heart and a price that appeals to my wallet.

I believe the VLM likes the ethereal depth, but he is a tough grader. He's not some feel good, slacker artist mumbo jumbo type.

93.

 

[Josh Beck]

originally posted by VLM:

I've been telling Kevin you guys need to start drinking some Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur.

I'm quite the fan of Savennieres and Muscadet. I drink the occasional Vouvray/Montlouis or Sancerre/P-F/etc but Cab Franc has never done much for me. The list of grapes that I drink more of than any of the Bdx varieties is very long and goes as far out as Zwiegelt, Nerello, Lagrein, Poulsard, Mondeuse and Cesanese.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

I'm beginning to get the faintest clue about Loire Cabernet Franc-based wines, and wouldn't characterize them as B'x grapes. There are some shared Cabernet flavors, but there's other stuff going on with the Loire wines, and they are also - as far as I can tell - a lot fresher-tasting with the passage of time. The reviled green in youth seems to develop with time as an additional dimension of complexity. Certainly worth some trial-and-error drinking.

 

[Yule Kim]

Any opinions on Brovia's Garblet Sue? I'm assuming it is softer then Ca Mia?

 

[Josh Beck]

originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

Certainly worth some trial-and-error drinking.

Indeed my trials are typically errors.

 

[MarkS]

originally posted by Yule Kim:
Any opinions on Brovia's Garblet Sue? I'm assuming it is softer then Ca Mia?

read my mind. Was going to ask the same question: No love for Sue?

 

[Florida Jim]

originally posted by VLM:
Aside from the Baudry Croix Boissée, Brovia Ca'Mia is the cheapest "great" red wine available, IMO.

Ca'Mia ain't cheap.
Mostly $75 and up (except for 2003).
Best, Jim

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by VLM:
What are your thoughts on the Roagna Rionda? I've been very surprised by how open and supple it seems.

Really? What vintage are you thinking? I have a 99 of this that I supposed would have to wait at least another five years.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

originally posted by VLM:
What are your thoughts on the Roagna Rionda? I've been very surprised by how open and supple it seems.

Really? What vintage are you thinking? I have a 99 of this that I supposed would have to wait at least another five years.

First vintage was 2003.

You must be thinking about something else. Rocca e Pira, I imagine. Different beast.

 

[Emilio Castelli]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:


Marcarini. Hmmmmmm.

Levi:
Good hmmmm or bad hmmmm?
Still traditional or going soft and sweet?
Thanks
E

 

[VLM]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by VLM:

Levi-

Curious, why more Villero than Ca'Mia? (And I had a corked magnum of 1996 Rocche two weeks ago, bummer.)

Because with the comparative youth of what is at this moment offered on the list (we've had some older items, but they sold through), I usually recommend people have the Villero over the Ca' Mia. As I find the Villero more approachable. So we end up selling more Villero.

That makes sense.

Do you find the Rocche more approachable than both?

What are your thoughts on the Roagna Rionda? I've been very surprised by how open and supple it seems.

Attn: Levi.

 

[Levi Dalton]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by VLM:

Levi-

Curious, why more Villero than Ca'Mia? (And I had a corked magnum of 1996 Rocche two weeks ago, bummer.)

Because with the comparative youth of what is at this moment offered on the list (we've had some older items, but they sold through), I usually recommend people have the Villero over the Ca' Mia. As I find the Villero more approachable. So we end up selling more Villero.

That makes sense.

Do you find the Rocche more approachable than both?

What are your thoughts on the Roagna Rionda? I've been very surprised by how open and supple it seems.

Attn: Levi.

It may be a vintage thing.

Open and supple are characteristics in general of 2003, 2004, and 2006.

We don't have, say, a 1999 Roagna Vigna Rionda to contrast.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by VLM:

Levi-

Curious, why more Villero than Ca'Mia? (And I had a corked magnum of 1996 Rocche two weeks ago, bummer.)

Because with the comparative youth of what is at this moment offered on the list (we've had some older items, but they sold through), I usually recommend people have the Villero over the Ca' Mia. As I find the Villero more approachable. So we end up selling more Villero.

That makes sense.

Do you find the Rocche more approachable than both?

What are your thoughts on the Roagna Rionda? I've been very surprised by how open and supple it seems.

Attn: Levi.

It may be a vintage thing.

Open and supple are characteristics in general of 2003, 2004, and 2006.

We don't have, say, a 1999 Roagna Vigna Rionda to contrast.

Might be worth a 2003-2006 tasting at some point. Rionda is such an exceptional terroir, I'd like to be able to better understand this wine, to the extent that one can understand such young Baroli.

 

[Levi Dalton]

No question that the Barolo put out from that same parcel by Giacosa are some of the finest wines from the region.