2012 Le Piane Boca

 Mostly Nebbiolo with some Vespolina. 

Classic old school Alto Piemonte. The Vespolina provides a nice lift to the deep black fruit. Insanely alluring melange of creosote, sottobosco and, emerging with air, mint on the mid-palate. Tannins are maturing nicely.

The tannins in the 2012 Le Piane Boca retain a little bite, but they don't clench down with extended aeration in a decanter. 

Alto Piemonte drinkability likely influenced by amount of Vespolina and Croatina in the blend. For example, the 2013 Le Pianelle Bramaterra is in a great zone now, IMO, and it has around 20% combined Vespolina and Croatina...

Have some of 2012 Le Piane  Boca left over for day two notes. Am impressed by the classic cloth this wine is cut from...

2019 Forman Chardonnay

 13.5% abv

Sourced from Star Vineyard in Rutherford. 

No malo. 20% new oak.
Disappointing. I was expecting a nice blast of fruit, but the fruit is marred by oak.
I've had tasty bottles of Forman Chardonnay.  This is not one. 

NV Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru Tradition

Deg July 2020

12.5abv
Mostly pinot noir with some chardonnay.
Very dry, oxidative style that is different than what I normally drink. My favorite Egly-Ouriet cuvee is the VP.   A bit "in your face" after intial pouring. Settled down over time and paired magically with calamari and crab cakes. 

2019 Ciro Picariello Greco di Tufo

 Citrus and spice on the nose. Lemony palate upfront giving way to savory honeydew imbued with saline minerality. Nice structure. Delicious now. Outperformed expectations. Extremely good value at $22.00.

Produced from organically farmed Greco vines (planted circa 1995) in volcanic-influenced soils of clay, limestone and sandstone. Harvest takes place by hand in late October. Low temperature natural fermentation in stainless, before 8 additional months aging in stainless, on the lees. Bottle aging for an additional 3 months before release. No fining, no filtration.

Sourced from vineyards in Tufo and Montefusco - some of the highest and most mineral zones in the Greco di Tufo appellation.