Zachary Ross
Zachary Ross
2007 Quattro Mani [toh-kai] Exto Gredic vineyard
100% Tocai Friulano from Slovenia (Furlanski Tokaj). Bizarro wine made by Ales Kristancic of Movia for a negociant producer. There's the usual sort of peach-apple Tocai nose but with a powerful topnote of spearmint, and the wine itself is dominated by an overwhelming presence of spearmint/menthol atop a melony frame that resonates until the surprisingly bitter finish (akin to vodka, sans heat) cuts things short. Medicinal. Pretty interesting wine, but not especially pleasurable; while there's some richness there's a hole in the midpalate leading to a lack of flavor, other than the spearmint. $12
2006 Ferrando Canavese Rosso La Torrazza
Nebbiolo and Barbera. Scents of earthy, woodsy, bitter bark, touch of mint/menthol, roses, some savory roasted meat, kirsch. Very dry and savory, some nice cherry fruit with hints of almonds among the barky, earthy goodness. Damn nice for $16.
100% Tocai Friulano from Slovenia (Furlanski Tokaj). Bizarro wine made by Ales Kristancic of Movia for a negociant producer. There's the usual sort of peach-apple Tocai nose but with a powerful topnote of spearmint, and the wine itself is dominated by an overwhelming presence of spearmint/menthol atop a melony frame that resonates until the surprisingly bitter finish (akin to vodka, sans heat) cuts things short. Medicinal. Pretty interesting wine, but not especially pleasurable; while there's some richness there's a hole in the midpalate leading to a lack of flavor, other than the spearmint. $12
2006 Ferrando Canavese Rosso La Torrazza
Nebbiolo and Barbera. Scents of earthy, woodsy, bitter bark, touch of mint/menthol, roses, some savory roasted meat, kirsch. Very dry and savory, some nice cherry fruit with hints of almonds among the barky, earthy goodness. Damn nice for $16.