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A Glass Of Pure Pleasure

Château Haut Monplaisir
Partie de Plaisir 2022
Malbec
Comté Tolosan IGP
Organic, sustainable
Cahors, France
Cathy & Daniel Fournié and their daughter Mathilde

Dark red maroon with a ruby rim. Sniffing cherries dried & fresh, plums/prune/raisin smash, blackberries, warm spice blend of black pepper grind, smidge of toasted coriander & something I can’t name at the moment; and at last a little woodsy tangle. All of the scents are in the taste with the cherries even a bit more chewy in a good way, black currants, a mineral lick & a little raspberry flirt that winks, plays coy, hides and comes back out every once in a while, and it all goes sleek, elegant, with a sophisticated & glass raising smile.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Most definitely

Back in 1998, Cathy & Daniel took over her father’s vineyards and headed into their Cahors venture with open eyes, a willingness to learn from observing their land, plants & fruits, and also from the wisdom of other acclaimed & seasoned Malbec experts. 2012 marked their official stamp of organic, and not long after in 2015, Mathilde jumped on board the family wine wagon which from this bottle’s name sounds like a “fun party/time” or it could be a nod to a Claude Chabrol flick. Honestly though on Valentine’s Day my heart says it’s all about finding that joyous moment of pleasure and sharing it with the one you love or at least “the one you’re with”. ❤️🍷💋

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #lovetheoneyourewith #worldbyglass #France #malbec #cahors #baronfrancois #chateauhautmonplaisir #docwineshop #docwinebar

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Creature Of The Night

Quinta do Passadouro
Vinho Tinto 2019
55% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Francesa, 10% Touriga Nacional, 10% Field Blend from old vines
Duoro DOC
Pinhão, Portugal

Inky maroon with purple pops. Sniff and a little oak dances through & mingles with wildflowers, blackberries, black currants, plums, and a pinch of warm spice & anise. Tasting and there’s dark cherries joining the blackberries, black currants & plums & a red currant or two with a not quite ripe tart raspberry, licorice, and the teeny tiniest of tomato leaf appears & then tells you you didn’t see them…or shhh they were never there it’s all an illusion. Everything smooths out into an elegant, graceful sip. You know…this wine pairs well with a lot, but honestly I want it all to my self solo.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: this is one of those moments of YES!

My first encounter with Passadouro was when I was browsing wine in Montreal and a little Oryctolagus cuniculus hopped in my way. Yes, I was pulled in by the label but not just because of the little Portuguese bunny, but also the artistic details from the drawing & the distinctive zipper-like cut in the design. The next one to flutter in my path was a native game bird, the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) on their Tinto 2012. Now this 2019 red may just be my favorite yet with the sleek, stealth, and agile creature of the night…the Genetta genetta. I wonder if they are part of the natural pest control for their vineyards since they are carnivores. Back to the vineyards/grapes, another reason why I have fallen for these vinhos is their consistent yet somewhat varied blends. They always start with the 3 same grapes: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesa, & Touriga Nacional but may not be the same percent depending on the harvest and sometimes (like this one) it’s rounded out with a field blend of old vines. Hands down this bottle is not only a work of art, but it’s also simply delicious. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #portugal #douro #FrederickWildman #QuintadoPassadouro #vinewinenyc

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A Beautiful Dream

Domaine François Villard
L’Appel des Sereines 2022
IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
100% Syrah
Certified organic (Ecocert)
Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, France
Owner & winemaker: François Villard

Ruby red. Sniffing cherries, blackberries, something soft & gentle like violets, grind of black pepper, and a pinch of toasted coriander. Sip and there’s dried & fresh cherries, blackberries, red currants, and again the black pepper. It’s so full of a life, juicy and very mouthwatering. Somebody please bring me a 🍔

Pairs with Cheez-Its: delicious

François’s path into wine started as a chef & over time he became a sommelier which then led to the siren’s call of the vines. Fortunately he had good friends already in the business to show him the ropes and eventually an education & certificate in agriculture with a focus on all things wine (growing & making). Early on he built his skills, grew with experience, and then found his organic & elegant groove over 42 ha. When you check out his site you’re greeted by a pic of his infectious grin that’s so full of life & joy just like the one on my face after a glass of “L’Appel des Sereines”. My bet it is because he has found his own way to happiness. As he says on his site, “My dream would be to produce great wines for aging that we could drink immediately”…well I think that dream is already here. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #syrah #bowlerwine  #francoisvillard #docwinebar #docwineshop

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A Family Growing Together & Branching Out

Domaine Labbé 
Abymes 2023
Vin de Savoie AOC
100% Jacquère
Sustainable
Savoie, France
Alexandra and Jérôme Labbe (cousins)

Lovely yellow shine. Sniff and there’s scents of apples, pears, lemon/lime squish, cantaloupe, and a mineral whiff from a spring house. Tasting apples & pears, a lemon/lime spark with zest, honeydew, a dash of that mineral again but very mellow, tiny drop of honeysuckle/greenery, and a lick of limestone. It’s clean & bright with a dry light tongue tingling touch.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: yes please

Roger and Marc Labbé (the fathers of Alexandra [Marc’s daughter] & Jérome [Roger’s son]) started out farming with a little bit of this & a little bit of that such as cows, their products, and the grains that feed them. There was one more ingredient to their mix…grapes, but they were at first an only weekend & spare time endeavor. As time moved along those little fruits formed Domaine Labbé, and this is where the cousins came into the picture by taking the reins in 2004. They’re hard working and are keeping it naturally sustainable with letting the grass grow in the rows & indigenous yeasts do their magic in the cellar. A & R also added a splash of red into their portfolio with introducing a little Pinot Noir & Mondeuse into their lives. They’ve also branched out to a second venture, “Terres de 1248”. Sparked by their love & respect of nature this 1.45 ha hope to be organic approved by their 2025 harvest. All I have to say is cheers to that and their passion for their vines. 🥂Looking forward to the future & tasting the new wines.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #skurnikwines #domainelabbe #docwinebar #docwineshop

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“Wine, By The Grape”

Pormenor
Reserva Branco 2021
Douro DOC
Rabigato, Malvasia Fina
Hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, unfined, minimal intervention, natural
Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
Pedro Coelho

Light gold that deepens over time. Breathing in pears, apples, lemon/lime & a touch of tangerine, cool salt/mineral breeze, as it opens a deeper part of depth grows. Sipping and there’s apple, pear, a toasty possible bit of smoke, lemon, lime, sorrel, a beeswax & honeysuckle exhale, and the tiniest bit of mellow oak.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: sooo good

Coelho didn’t inherit a winery, but he did have connections to some of the essentials. His dad was a cork producer, his grandfather’s a cooper (barrel maker), and he ended up working in wine finance/marketing until the moment came when he decided it was time to give it a go at making wine. He works with old vines, but doesn’t’ adhere to the past usual ways of vinification…his are fresh & can be drunk young yet can also age. They also don’t hit you over the head with high alcohol content which in my book is a very good thing. There’s a quote on his site, “Wine, by the grape” that kept rolling around in my thoughts. He wants Pormenor wines to tell the stories of his Douro…through his vineyards & grapes, and as long as he keeps making these bottles, I’ll keep listening to their whispers & songs of a place & history that holds a special spot in my heart.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #naturalwine #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #portugal #jdselections #grandcruselections #pormenorvinhos #pormenor #vinewinenyc

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Fun, Friendly, and Chill

Les Vignerons du Castelas
Tranquille Pinard 2023
VDF
Grenache 70%, Syrah 30%
Rochefort-du-Gard, France

Shining raspberry ruby glass. Oh and remember chill it…just a little bit. There’s scents of cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and a little red plum. Taking a few small sips and it’s so light, fresh and easy. Tasting cherries, raspberries, a blackberry here & there, boysenberry, ripe red & dark plums (skins & all), and a light sizzle/burn on the back in a good way that waves hello and then goes back into hiding only to pop back up later. It’s a total glou glou and don’t overthink like I often do…just enjoy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: I wish but nope

The Castelas co-op is built up of over 40 wine growing families with around 450 hectares. Some farm organic, but all have a deep respect for their vines, the land that nourishes them, and the people that share in their bottles. As for this “Tranquille Pinard” it was born out of a rough time in many of our lives…you know that not so long ago pandemic…”This cuvée was born during the first period of COVID, we were looking for a funny and friendly concept and an easy-drinking, fruity wine that could be drunk chilled.” Les Vignerons wants us all to enjoy the happy moments and even the small things that bring us delight in each day. As it says on the label, “On n’est pas bien là?” and from what I see somewhat translates to “Isn’t this the life!” Santé! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #redwine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #SkinContactWines #lesvigneronsducastelas #docwinebar #docwineshop

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You Can Do Good

Renegade Wines
Riverine Red
Syrah 85%, Grenache 15%
Certified biodynamic, dry farmed
West Riebeek, Swartland, South Africa
Owners: Francois Haasbroek and Jaap Pijl
Winemaker: Francois Haasbroek

Deep dark goth ruby velvet. Breathing in cherries, raspberries, strawberries, plums that grow over time, pinch of allspice, and a faint smidge of coffee. All of the scents are there in the taste along with black currants, darker, deeper cherries & plums, a grind of black & white pepper, tad bit of earth, and bit of a greenery herb blend like rosemary, sage, oregano.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: juicilicious

Francois (traditional winemaker) & Jaap (accountant) kicked off Renegade Wines (1st canned wines in South Africa) in 2018 with their first wine “CANCAN” in 2019. Riverine is their latest line with a Chenin Blanc, a Grenache Rosé, and this red blend. Honestly, if someone brought me a glass and didn’t show me the can, I would have assumed it was from a bottle. As I’ve said many times before, canned wines just keep getting better & better, and there’s less waste, saves space, and easy to recycle. There’s another reason to try this line too…bunnies. Notice the cute one on the label? From what I’m learning, the Riverine rabbit is one of the most endangered mammals in the world (maybe 1,500 left), and with every sale of these cans part of the proceeds is donated to the Endangered Wildlife Trust. So hop out to your local store, pick up a few cans & save some rare hares. 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #wineinacan #cannedwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #naturalwine #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #rabbits #bunny #southafrica #redwine #vsiwine #renegadewinessa #riverinewine #vinewinenyc

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Preserving The Lands

Wither Hills
Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Certified Sustainable
Marlborough, New Zealand
Head winemaker: Matt Large
Winemakers: Andrew Petrie, Patricia Miranda-Taylor

Starlight shimmering light yellow-green. There’s scents of orange & other blossoms, wisteria, lemon, lime, grapefruit, guava, and a mineral salty breeze. Sipping away…lemon, lime, grapefruit, squeeze of tangerine & all the citrus zest, passion fruit, sliver of mango, green apples, super ripe home  grown cucumber, touch of bell pepper, cool mineral river rock lick, shake of salt, and a really teeny pinch of white pepper as it grows & then fades. Oh this glass has me craving a seafood tower like the one we had in Zeebrugge with langostinos, winkles & all.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: it’s complicated

Back in 2000, Wither Hills purchased their Rarangi Vineyard which had previously had not been given the proper care needed, and the wetlands (one of the largest in the region) in the middle of the site had been damaged due to areas being drained for farming & cattle, the water being compromised and invasive weeds popping up. Once it was in the winery’s hands they set off to fix the past wrongs. The cows were shown the door, pests were removed by trapping, native flora were replanted, they implemented careful protection of rare & threatened plants (like the Mazus novaezeelandiae) that were still sticking it out. Now the Rarangi Wetlands Conservation Project has an annual indigenous greenery planting day for members to celebrate that they’re continuing to keep it all sustainable. Now that is commendable and cool.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #sustainable #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #newzealand #distinguishedvineyards #witherhills #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Forever Strong

Azienda Agricola Fabiana
Negroamaro Salento IGP 2020
Total respect for their ecosystem, hand harvested, keeping it local
Faggiano, Salento, Puglia, Italy
Fabiana Baruzzi & mom

Shining ruby with a touch of garnet glints. Scents build over time of black cherries & skins, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries (maybe dried), hint of oak & touch cigar that expands to dark plums over time, little run through the bramble, with a touch of oil cured olive pits, a teeny bouquet of spring flowers & their leaves…and something that reminds me of repotting hanging plants under the warmth of the sun. Going in for the taste and there’s dark cherries & skins, red plums, and now trying again on day two there’s a depth that is wow with fresh & dried raspberry & strawberry, blackberry, little fennel/anise (maybe toasted), blueberries, orange zest, earth grows as we ride along, wild bramble with a bit of tobacco. This wine is romantic in a way you don’t want it to end and want to be selfish with it…well I definitely do.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: juicy bouncy & smooth

This bottle was a surprise shared on my birthday & then another gifted as a present later. Yes, that’s the same day I was & still going through dental insanity & couldn’t do any chewing but hey I could/can still drink wine. This jazzy little bottle pulled me right out of my doldrums because it truly is a wine of celebration of all things local to the Azienda which is important to this family. As I’ve been learning about who they are I’m finding a story of resilience & strength. In one year Fabiana’s father passed from cancer & her brother had to take over the winery while she utilized her business skills marketing the wines, then the unthinkable happened…her brother Michele unfortunately died in a car accident. To be punched emotionally twice in one year is so heartbreaking, but she was determined to keep her father’s memory alive with assistance from her mom. There have been attempts to buy & sabotage their land, crops, steal their grapes, etc, but she is not backing down. Fabiana, you are my inspiration…you are one strong woman & winemaker. Raising a glass to you, your family, and your magical wines. 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Italy #tradizionenyc #agricolafabiana #fabianawines #docwineshop #docwinebar

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Clink Clink

Domaine de L’Oubliée
Le Bruit Des Glaçons 2023
VDF
Chenin Blanc
Organic, indigenous yeasts, hand harvested
Saint-Patrice, Loire, France
Winemaker: Xavier Courant

Shining light gold/yellow with a delicate splash of green. Just poured and there’s a toasty scent that morphs into bees wax with honey, golden delicious apples, firm pears, dry lemon & lime twist, and a bit of greenery. Sip and there’s lemon & lime squeeze joined with zest, another taste and out comes crisp apples & pears, quince, a lfew fresh clover leaves & blossoms, an echo of that honeycomb wax along with a mineral taste like from our old spring house (our natural water source back home as a kid. It was cool year round and the same fresh smell & taste). Such lovely fruit but so deliciously dry, and it’s meant to drink very cold in the morning, in the afternoon, or in my opinion anytime at all.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Amps all of the fruit

My first encounter with Domaine de L’Oubliée’s wines was their Les Valseuses 2018 (back in 2020) where I found out about Xavier Courant’s love for the work of Bertrand Blier. Each of his wines are named for Blier’s films or books that speak to the grapes. This bottle Le Bruit Des Glaçons “The Sound of the Ice Cubes” is named for Blier’s 2010 film (English title “The Clink of Ice”). Charles an alcoholic & depressed writer gets a surprise visitor at his gate early one morning. The stranger greets him through the security monitor with “Hello, I am your cancer. I thought it might be nice to get to know each other a little bit…”. Oh why is it so hard to find Blier’s movies in USA/online?  I am dying (pun intended) to find a copy of this dark comedy streaming somewhere so I can see how they get on with each other, Charles’ beloved bottles (hence the clink clink), and how these “buddies” end up. If anyone knows of such a place PLEASE send me the link, and I’ll share a bottle (or 2) of this dry Chenin Blanc with you while we watch. I promise you it rocks!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #organic #naturalwine  #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #catsofinstagram #cheninblanc #louisdressnerselections #DomainedeLOubliee #xaviercourant  #vinewinenyc