Blind Inhibitions

2009 Vadeleinos Verdejo, Rueda, Spain ($12.99 at Whole Foods)
This had aromas of white pepper, pine, and lime zest. Lindsay "My Sweet" Jackson and myself thought the wine was a little green and smelled like a litter box when it was too cold. However, it softened up and was more approachable towards the end.

2010 Epicuro Vermentino, Lazio, Italy ($4.99 at Trader Joe's)
Typically Vermentino would be lighter in flavor and body than the Verdejo, however, we found it oily and waxy like that of a Viognier. It had passionfruit, papaya, and exotic citrus traits. For five bucks, people should be drinking this out of the bottle, taking their shirts off and asking for Mardi Gras beads.

2005 La Loggia Nebbiolo Barbaresco, Piemonte, Italy ($12.99 at Trader Joe's)
This one was a dissapointment. It said it would take several hours to open, but it never did. Ironically, this was a wine we both bought seperately (we were trying to conduct a blind tasting) and endded up with two full bottles. Bummer. Much like Pinot Noir, you can not go cheap on this varietal. We experienced nuances of mocha meringue, cooked fig and licorice. That might make the wine sound good, but it wasn't.

2002 Allegrini "La Poja" Corvina, Veneto, Italy ($95.00 at Passionfish Restaurant)
This one had dark mocha, coffee and acid. It was like a Zin but bitter and with more tannin structure.

Although the above wine (Corvina) was really good we couldn't afford it--it was leftover from a wealthy customer. For the pricepoint, Vermentino was the highlight and the Verdejo took second.

Barbaresco

2001 Bruno Rocca “Coppa Rossa” $150 – At 14.5% alcohol, a super-extracted profile mixed with coffee, leather, tea and tar. Since I drank half of this bottle while writing a wine story, I find this gem to be quite memorable. It helped that it was free. It was a little pruney though. Last tasted 9/25/07 Drink now-2015 

2001 Bruno Rocca “Coparossa”– Real tannic, a bit rough and very masculine for a Barbaresco. Each sip tasted a little better than the next as it evolved in the glass. Jean and I tasted this in the cellar of Casanova’s and both thought it needed some time. If this wine was a chick, it would be a big-boned volleyball player who will look beautiful when she sheds her freshman fifteen. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

2000 La Spinetta 14.4% ABV - This was pretty modern in terms of the aromatics it gave off. I tasted this at the Rio Grill with Kiley and Wendy. They both loved it because it was approachable. This wine was a little too superficial for me. I think this wine was too extracted. What did Michele Rolland tell the winery to micro-oxygenate? Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2018 

2000 Barbaresco Sori Tilden $1750 Magnum - Lighter and more acidic. There was a rose petal character permeating the balloon glass. Give me a truffle and mushroom pasta immediately. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2020 

1999 Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo – It had a brick color and opened up. Surprisingly, quite modern. Tons of fruit. Had a brick color. Oh, and the tannins were supple. Last tasted 2/17/06 Drink now-2017 

1998 Barbaresco "Costa Russi - $645 - single vineyard Barbaresco that tasted like a Luden's cherry cough drop. A little astringent because it was clawing at my cheeks. Lots of black licorice, menthol and... Last tasted 2/17/06 Drink now-2020 

1997 Barbaresco Sori Tilden - Amazing nose! Black fruit qualities in the nose and lots of dust on the palette. Last tasted 2/17/06 Drink now-2020 

1996 Barbaresco - Angelo Gaja revolutionized wine-making in Italy. 95' and 96' were good years because the rain came at the right times. You wouldn't believe there was alcohol in this, it tasted so good. It was like food in a glass. Nice and opened up with a complex finish. Last tasted 2/17/06 Drink now-2015 

1995 Barbaresco - this was a blend of 14 different vineyards. A bit more closed than the 96. Very acidic. Last tasted 2/17/06 Drink now-2015 

1995 Barbaresco "Costa Russi - A viscous, robust mouthful that was quite tannic. What am I drinking? There are anise and licorice nuances that reminded me of Jagermeister. Last tasted 2/17/06 Drink now-2015 

1989 Barbaresco - $495 - I love Nebbiolo!!!An orange color that had a medicinal port-like characteristics. It had a beautiful viscosity that had major Pinot Noir character (i.e. leather, dried cherries...). Very Burgundian and probably one of the best wines I've ever had. Last tasted 2/17/06 Drink now-2015 

I'm the Man. Just Ask Me.

2005 Ovello Barbaresco ($60 at Soif) - The color appeared fairly translucent, but not quite like that of a Pinot Noir. My buddy Zane, who purchased the bottle picked up on some red Twizzler nuances. I didn't know what the wine was because I was tasting it blind. I got some sour cherry-cough drop aromas, so I thought it might be a Sangiovese from Brunello. On the finish I noticed a touch of tannin, like that of a bannana peel. Yeah, there were some tannins and it was clear, so I thought maybe it was a Burgundy, but I decided to stick with my original guess.

Zane thought it was sleek, subtle and femenine. After a glass, he said his heart caught fire and all he could think about was, "Getting that real sweet baige."

After we killed this bottle, I blind-tasted Zane on one of my cellar gems: the 2008 Ruggero de Tasso Nero D' Avola from Sicily ($3.99 at Trader Joe's). He noticed the color was inky and dark like his soul. The aroma was sickly and a bit like dried out herbs. He thought the wine was extremely masculine. He noticed some sour, bitter mint characteristics that made him want to hurl. After he sipped this beauty, he set it to the side, a clear indication of his dissaproval. It had a touch of carbonation and reminded us of a disgusting Dolcetto or bad Beaujolais, but in a good way.

When we got back from the Red Room's upstairs bar at 2:30 a.m., Zane put on some records from the Pixies, Pavement, and Bob Dylan with hopes of impressing the ladies we were entertaining. We poured them some of Nero D'avola and realized that you don't need a $60 bottle of wine to have a good time. But it helps.

Zane Hawley is single and can be reached at: 831-760-0076. Warning: he claims that he's tough to get over if you get with him. "Once you get a taste of this, you'll never want to be with another man, " he said. See picture above.