#145 Pinela

A delicious wine. Think unoaked chardonnay with firm structure and solid acidity. It has great balance despite the alcohol content of a blistering 14.22%! This wine is bold but not over the top and if you can find it (good luck) its an excellent bottle.

And a blurb from the retailer:
"Zelen and Pinela are the two indigenous grape varietals of the Vipava Valley which are just now being rediscovered and replanted by a handful of leading vintners. They consider these grapes their precious natural resource to make wines that are unmistakenly unique to their beloved wine region.
Guerila is one of these few estates, its vineyards have been family owned for centuries. The approach revitalizes traditions but with an exquisite contemporary technical know-how and a careful attention to every detail."

#144 Zelen

Zelen from Slovenia.

At first I was a bit disappointed in the uni-dimensional aspect of this wine. Served ice cold it went down like an ultra-light beer. A few days later, warmed to room temperature this wine revealed its character. At first I considered it a simple Pinot Gris in style but there is a bit more dimension. Maybe a touch of nutmeg with that citus acidity? Enjoyable wine and easy to drink without food.

This had me very interested in the next bottle...

#143 Kisi

"2006 Vinoterra Kisi, Khakheti, Republic of Georgia SKU #1044695

100% Kisi, a very rare grape varietal indeed, which is fermented in kvevri (amphora/clay jars) and then allowed to mature in oak. A little nutty, a little salty, a little savory with loads of mouth feel, structure and character. Try this with smoked white fish!"

Can you tell I stole this directly from the K&L website? I suppose since I paid $22 for this bottle from them they might not mind after all they did nail the tasting notes. I might simplify it further (if I wasn't trying to sell anything) and say this wine has a hint of nutty brine once the oak washes off. Also the wine has a unique color which reminds me (again since I am not trying to sell the bottle) of a white wine poured into a recently finished glass of red. Just a hint of red.

I greatly enjoyed this wine for its history and manufacture and color and taste. Really fascinating.

#142 Rkatsiteli

Tonight we have another Georgian wine... Yes the country not the state. A blend of 80% Rkatsiteli and 20% Mtsvane. Rkatsiteli is believed to have been the most widely planted grape in the world at one point. Seeds from this grape have been found in Georgia in man made vessels dating back 5,000 years.

And a quick map check from the winery; "Mildiani Family Winery is located in the town of Tsinandali, one of the most renown appellations and possibly the single most recognized historical wine town in Georgia, and the heart of the Kakheti region in the southeastern portion of the country."

This bottle set me back $10. It has subtle fruit up front followed by a mid-palate fade and then a buzz of acidity. The 13.8% alcohol level can be felt on the finish as wisps of the stuff trace through my nose. It is a simple white which reminds me of a Pinot Grigio.

#141 Baco Noir

Oh my, it has been 6 weeks without a new wine... I do have a small backlog of new varietals and I will dutifully get on to it, after all I do need to get to 200 grapes before the year ends. (That has become a lot harder than it sounds)

Today it is Baco Noir . Clearly this is not an easy grape to find but I have to say that not only does the wiki (check link above) do a great job of describing this grape it mentions this particular bottling as well. In short this is a grape that is now largely found in Ontario and primarily has excellent defenses against many of the North American weather/diseases/bugs. Perhaps the flavor profile was secondary to survival as this wine is fruit forward but then becomes quite acidic - a lack of balance. Still at $15 a bottle for a red wine made in Canada in far from optimal conditions I must respectfully say thank you.