2020 Tre Monti Thea

 

First time trying this. 100% petit manseng. This is a wine to be paired with food. It has a somewhat voluptuous palate, with a pithiness on the finish. Based on notes from @"Eric Guido", the 2020 is somewhat of a weak vintage for this wine. I am inclined to agree since the wine, at this stage, lacks complexity and depth. However, it did show some development on day 2 which may bode well for the future. I cannot get enough of the white wines from Italy, Spain and Alsace these days. Fascinating stuff to be found every day.

Cru October 2023

Mike Brawley poured a flight of outstanding Spanish wines from his cellar. No formal notes.

The 1994 Artadi and 1998 Ramirez de Ganuza showed beautifully! The 2005 Planots is 50/50 blend of Carignan and Grenache and had fascinating complexity. The 2016 Proto Gran Riserva is a a really nice place right now with air, and shows the seductiveness of Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero..

1994 Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja Riserva

1998 Ramirez de Ganuza Rioja Riserva

2000 Fra Fulca La Vilella Alta Priorat Vinyas Velles

2002 Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial Sardon de Duero

2004 La Vinya del Vuit Priorat

2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga

2004 Bodegas Lan Rioja Riserva

2005 Cellar Cal Pla Mas d’En Compte Planots Priorat

2005 Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja Riserva

2010 Celler de Capcanes Val de Calas Montsant

2012 Hanzana Rioja Tradicion

2016 Bodegas Protos Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva

 

Ischia

 

First foray with Biancolella from Ischia. Thanks to @"Eric Guido" for making me aware of these wines. A modestly priced wine. I'm guessing seeing only stainless steel. Quite suave, lemony quaff. Paired with duck confit hash (sauteed sweet potato chunks, prosciutto, garlic cloves, onions). Just stupid good. We're drinking a lot more white wine these days...
Music pairing:
https://youtu.be/aLq2z5CBwFw?si=6ZU-l4d3QiwtooCR
They've been touring with Wilco.. lot of great Wilco influence in their music, especially Tweedy, Cline and Sansone influence on triple guitar attack...

Cru wine flight 28 Aug 2023

Poured these at a recent tasting...

2019 Mayer Chardonnay Yarra Valley

2013 Pehu-Simonet Extra Brut Villers-Marmery Les Chouettes Fins Lieux No. 7 

2010 Clos du Mont-Olivet CdP La Cuvee du Papet (2nd favorite)

2015 Chateau de Vaudieu CdP L'Avenue

2016 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard Walla Walla Valley

2015 Malartic-Lagraviere Pessac-Leognan

2015 Clos de l'Oratoire Saint-Emilion

2015 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Napa Valley (favorite)

The Pehu-Simonet showed better than six months ago when I tried it. 
The Mayer Chardonnay was a disappointment at that price range.
Beringer Private Reserve Cab may not be trendy these days, but it's a stalwart representation of how good Napa cabs can be.
Cayuse syrah have a signature herbal funkiness that diminishes over time. This example was not popular because of that unique nose and palate. Just too young. I like Horsepower better. 

2019 Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Spätlese AP 14

 We've been knocking back with wines from Erich and Johannes Weber recently. 

This one is still young, but we vacu-vin'd half the btl to revisit after a few days. 
Day X : wow! Really blossomed. These guys make some of the most elegant Riesling available today.
When tasting at a cooler temperature,  a beautiful peach nose and palate hits you, with a lovely finish.
As it warms up, the palate transitions to some zesty lime on the finish... beautiful salinity.
My wife and I love these wines.
. 
Music to enjoy Riesling by...

https://youtu.be/EpXIt_7uso8?si=oRmyO_F5Acg91FH7