Some Italian Wines (Plus Ringers) to Welcome a New Restaurant to Town

Nella Kitchen & Bar, Los Olivos, CA
Tasted Monday, October 5, 2020 by JonnyG with 91 views

Introduction

We brought and bought in order to support this excellent new entrant, a spinoff of SY Kitchen in Santa Ynez, but well differentiated. Everything we tasted was outstanding. Equally impressive was the casualness of the concept, notwithstanding the beautiful presentation, dish and stemware and a top-notch, diverse cellar. I've found my new haunt!

Flight 1 (5 Notes)

  • 2013 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Another splendid showing with excellent balance, featuring leesy lemon oil and cut flowers, but the energy I have noted in earlier encounters is diminishing, and I would not hold these much longer.

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  • 2010 Miani Friuli Colli Orientali Rosso

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

    Beautifully mature, and firing on all cylinders. A savory wine, with bright red fruit and licorice notes in perfect harmony. Amazing quality for an "entry" blend, even more amazing for its ageability -- I could see this going another 5-10 years. Serve at cellar temp.

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  • 1999 Soldera (Az. Agr. Case Basse) Brunello di Montalcino 95 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    The best of a slightly variable batch of bottles I've happily been working through. My notes echo prior entries, but this bottle showed an extra notch of intensity and concentration. High toned and vibrant red fruit, both sweet and floral. Seamless, no edges, with fully integrated tannins and a lush finish. Can easily go 10 more years.

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  • 2005 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta 91 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Superiore

    I went deep this vintage and have to confess that this wine isn't really doing it for me. It's a crowd pleaser for sure. Rich and lush. Powerful aromatics of olives, chocolate and balsamico. A jumble of flavors tangle in the mouth: sweet meat, blueberry, some ripe plum. Too extracted and overoaked for my palate these days, but others will disagree.

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  • 1992 Dunn Vineyards Petite Sirah Howell Mountain 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    One of those wines that was more interesting than it was delicious. Massive barnyard on the nose marred the experience for sure. Underneath were notes of dark berries, leather and earth. Long-lived of course, just an off bottle I suspect.

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Closing

Don't miss Nella when in town.

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