Had these two red this week at Pig+Fig:
1. Preston Farm & Wnry Syrah DryCreekVlly (13.2%; www.PrestonFarmAndWinery.com) Healdsburg 2022: Darkcolor; strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah rather DCV/raspberry/spicy slight toasty/oak/pencilly straightforward Syrah nose a bit on the simple side; bit soft some Syrah/spicy/blueberry/blackberry light pencilly/Am.oak simple pleasant flavor w/ light tannins; a pleasant enough Syrah in the simple Preston style but not very interesting.
$nc (Stoled)
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2. Unti LaCrima DryCreekVlly (13.2%; www.UntiVineyards.com; 85 cs) Healdsburg NV ('12/'13/'14): Dark color w/ some bricking; some earthy/dusty strong LaCrima/boysenberry/licorice/plummy bit toasty/oak some cedary/pencilly/oldRed bit rustic/Italianate some complex nose; soft strong blackberry/plummy/licorice rather rustic/LaCrima bit earthy/dusty/slight loamy quite rich/lush/ripe bit cedary/pencilly/oldRed quite interesting flavor w/ light ripe/smooth tannins; very long/lingering smooth/ripe finish that mirrors flavor; very much speaks of Marche LaCrima but not quite as earthy/rustic; quite an interesting red that's not going to get any better.
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More skiddlebrot from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. LouPreston was one of the first folks in the DryCreekVlly to have an interest in Rhone varieties. When he first started making wines back in the late '70's; the wines were pretty big & extracted & I loved them. He made a dynamite PetiteSirah. And then he started making a Sirah/Syrah blend that was quite good. But then his style started to lighten up and the Preston style became light/pleasant wines but just that. Last time I visited, I found all his wines to be rather on the boring side. By far, the highlight of the visit was the bread from his wood-fired oven.
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2. LaCrima: They were, because of their interest in Italian varietals, were the first ones to plant LaCrima & produce it. They had only two short rows of it, so their production was quite limited. So they blended together the first 3 vintages to have enough to sell. Alas, the vines were badly virus-infected & the production dropped to zero & they pulled the vines.
Which is a shame because LaCrima makes an outstanding red in the LeMarche in Italy. I don't belive anyone in Calif is curretly producing it. Whatta shame.
Tom