2007 Alysian Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Floodgate Vineyard West Block

[wondersofwine]

I had asked the gentlemen with the Mazer Inferno if the grape might be Nebbiolo. They said no. We both checked our references after that evening (the one who brought it checked in a reference book on Italian wines and I checked on the Internet). It turns out that the standard red wine variety in Valtellina, Italy is Chiavennasca, the local name for a Nebbiolo clone grown almost exclusively in Lombardy, so I was correct (pat on the back.) I wasn't familiar with the name Chiavennasca or Valtellina wines however. Some nonindigenous grapes are creeping into blends in Valtellina wines now but Chiavennasca is still the D.O.G.C. standard.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 07-22-2010).]