Tuesday Quick Sip – 2005 Ca’ del Solo Nebbiolo

Megan and I picked up the 2005 Ca’ del Solo Nebbiolo from Bonny Doon Vineyards back in November while were visiting the Santa Cruz area wineries. The Ca’ del Solo vineyard is Bonny Doon’s Biodynamic vineyard that received Demeter certification in 2007.

Wine Quick Facts:

Grape: 100% Nebbiolo

Vineyard: Ca’ del Solo, Monterey County

Price: $30

My Tasting Notes:

Nose: tomato paste, raspberry, persimmon, earth, espresso

Taste: black tea, raspberry, cherry, dried mushroom

Mouthfeel: full body, dry leathery tannins but not overpowering, good acidic backbone

Finish: “dusty” and long with red fruit flavors lingering

I really enjoyed this Nebbiolo, probably one of the better ones I have tasted from the U.S. A bit pricey at $30, I think we paid around $20 with the industry discount, it is still a good deal. Although under 900 cases were produced it has pretty good distribution so you should be able to find it at your local shop.

Cheers!

Kickin’ It Italian Style

Back in May I attended the Marchesi Di Gresy wine tasting at the Barrel Thief and got to meet the winemaker, Alberto di Gresy himself.  A couple of nights ago we had one of the wines that we purchased there for dinner to accompany our Tofu Parmesan. The wine was the 2006 Marchesi di Gresy Nebbiolo Martinenga priced at $30.

 

 

 The 2006 Nebbiolo Martinenga comes from the same single vineyard that Alberto’s famous Barberesco Martinenga comes from and is some of the same grapes, but does not go through the obvious DOCG requirement for Barberesco labeling.  Martinenga’s 29 acre vineyard combines ideal Southern exposure with blue marl soil to provide excellent growing conditions, evening in difficult vintages, for the Nebbiolo grape.

  

 

 

My Tasting Notes –

 

Color – Ruby red

Nose – Fresh raspberry, tea leaves, leather, sweet basil, clove

Taste – black currant, green pepper, walnut, dry soil

Mouthfeel – medium body bordering on light weight in the mouth, with very firm tannins and bright acidity

Finish – long, fresh blueberry flavors linger on the palate

 

It went nicely with the tofu parmesan, although not a meat dish, the slight crisp mozzarella cheese and fresh shaved parmigiano reggiano faired nicely with gripping tannins of the wine. Very nice balance of fruit and earth, none of which were overpowering, just present enough to notice. I should have decanted this for a couple of hours, which would have hopefully smoothed out those tannins a bit, or should’ve held on to it for another year but I just couldn’t wait.  Great chance to save a few bucks off the Barberesco price and get a really awesome quality Nebbiolo, I highly recommend it.

 

Cheers!