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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

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“It Is Simply Cultural”

Azienda Biologica Bio Vio
U Bastio 2021
Rossese 100%
Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC
Organic
Bastia d’Albenga, Liguria, Italy
Aimone Giobatta Vio & family (Mom: Chiara; Daughters: Caterina, Camilla, Carolina)

Ruby stained glass. Breathing in bouncing raspstrawblueberries (and maybe a few others in the mix), twist of cherry, lemon & orange zest, and a pinch of light earth & cool slate. All I’ve been sniffing are there in the sip that wakes up my mouth & puts a smile on my face. There’s also blackberries (seeds & all), a little chew of wild sour grass from childhood that has kind of a rhubarb vibe too, light earth turns into a savory & pinch of peppery pixie dust including that slate, a tangle of wild herbs that you really don’t need to think about unless you want to dissect like me (marjoram, oregano, and savory) and orange zest

Pairs with Cheez-Its: I think I like it…still making up my mind…but you know what it pairs lovely with Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam

Bio Bio is so much more than just a winery. It’s about family, respect, traditions, the Ligurian way of life, and more. As they say, “Growing organically is neither a technical nor an economic choice: it is simply cultural .” For generations they’ve farmed carciofo spinoso di Albenga, herbs, Taggiasca olives, Brussel sprouts, other leafy vegs, and of course native grapes; and you can experience it all in person by booking a stay at one of their Pigato Biovio Farmhouse apartments. From there you can investigate all they & Albenga have to offer. Later join them in their OrtOsteria René where you’ll find local & home grown seasonal delights (BTW Orto = home vegetable garden) created by Chef Carolina (youngest of the 3 daughters) who interprets recipes passed down from her mom, nonna e nonno. Check out their IG (tagged in pic) and it will have you checking your calendar & booking a reservation as fast as you can. I’m already dreaming of their Farfalle di castagna, funghi porcini, rape dell’orto and another glass of wine. 🍄‍🟫🌰❤️🍷

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

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Tingly Tastebud Vibrations

Dio Cocktails
Turmeric Ginger Lemon Mule
Super Natural
13.5% ABV
Based out of NY, NY
Made in Athens, GA
Co-founders: Bronson van Wyck & Nick Bradley

Lovely pour of yellow with a green splash & bubbles. Sniff and there’s turmeric, ginger, sugar cane, lemon, a whiff of white pepper, and a salty breeze. Sipping and wow that is quite a delicious explosion and it’s all there from the sniff with more crisp lemon & zest, a teeny shave of orange, a peppery vibe that grows & a shake of salt. Awesome tingly tastebud vibrations, or as they say “A double dose of spirit with a splash of sin”.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: bleh

Two men of international intrigue…one with a flair for getting the party started & the other with expertise in getting a brand launched (both originally Southerners btw) paired to make intriguing classic & inventive cocktails with a nod to mythology, gods, other worldly pleasures. Dionysus would be totally impressed with these men and their lively libations, since “DIo  is crafted from the world’s finest, all-natural ingredients, offering modern twists on classic cocktails from around the world. Divinely distilled from Herculean-strength spirits, our luxurious libations are sweetened sinlessly . . . so you don’t have to be.”

#cocktails #cannedcocktails #gin #wineinacan #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #drinkdio #docwinebar #docwineshop

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“Luckiest Girl On Earth”

Division Winemaking Company
Pinot Noir “Un,” 2022
Sustainable
Willamette Valley
Urban winery & tasting room in Portland, OR
Co-owners & co-winemakers: Kate Norris & Thomas Monroe

Plummy maroon. There’s scents of dancing cherries, pink & green strawberries, rhubarb but in pie form, red currants, a teeny lemon drop, cardamon & coriander, and faint tomato leaf but this is the first glass. Sipping away on a mix of dark & light plums & cherries, strawraspbosenberry blend, smidge of hoarhound candy, that rhubarb pie again with the spices & red currant, lick of fresh rained on conglomerate rock, blackberry (seeds & all), and a good twang…light on its feet with a growing sophisticated dance that is sure to keep on grooving.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Step away from the bag…why ruin a good thing

Norris & Monroe are both very passionate about wine, the process, knowing when to step back or step in, or as Thomas says, “Winemakers are an integral part of the process, but I equate it to a chef and food. If you over season something, it takes away the nature and beauty of the produce you sourced for your dish.”. You know, just like a good meal a good wine can bring people together in a moment of joy, conversation and sharing which is definitely what “Un” does, and as Kate mentions, she loves to see people truly enjoying their wines to the last drop. One last quote that I found during my deep dive on their site that brought a huge smile to my face is how Kate views her part of winemaking, “That challenge is thrilling, humbling, and rewarding. I’m always asking myself, did I translate what mother nature gave us well? I’m the luckiest girl on earth, getting to make wine.” ❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #PinotNoir #oregon #portland #divisionwine #divisionwineco  #vinewinenyc

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Lingering Over The Last Glass

Domaine de La Taille aux Loups (Jacky et J.P. Blot)
Brut Tradition
100% Chenin Blanc
Certified organic, indigenous yeasts, no sugar, hand harvested
Montlouis-sur-Loire, France
Jean-Phillipe Blot

Golden shine with fine bubbles. Sniff and up floats a little croissant or toasty pastry, a zesty bit of lime, lemon cream pie, as it grows there’s also an apple blossom or 2, apple/pear baked, and a scratch of tangelo zest. Sipping…it’s tickling & tingling on my tongue with all of the scents, a crisp & bright clean mineral/stainless elegance, lemon & lime keep dancing but more than just zest with a smidge of kumquat, and on the very back a bit of poached pear or actually maybe quince…yeah, it’s quince. It’s a glass of pure celebration.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just don’t

Many years ago Jean-Phillipe joined his father in winemaking at the age of 16, and now he is at the helm after his father’s passing in 2023. I never had an opportunity to meet him but through this bottle I think I have a glimpse into his dream. Found out that earlier in his life he was a paratrooper, and thanks to his brother was turned on to wine which led to being a wine broker and then his curiosity and passion led him to become a winemaker. In the late 80s, he picked up 8 ha in Montlouis-sur-Loire (Domaine de La Taille aux Loups) and focused not on Vouvray but Chenin Blanc. There were ups and downs but his resilience and determination paid off. He became an acclaimed winemaker, one of the finest in Loire, and a champion of Chenin Blanc. As brilliant of a wine figure he was, there are so many words people use to describe him in tribute..he’s generous, friendly, welcoming, so very kind, wanting to share his knowledge & joy of tastings, and he was so loved by so many. I’m down to my last glass, savouring it and raising it as a salute to Jacky & also J.P. as he carries on the traditions. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #brut #sparklingwine #bubbly  #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #loirevalley #cheninblanc  #skurnikwines #domainedelatailleauxloups #docwinebar #docwineshop

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“Friendship Is A Slow Ripening Fruit”

Supergay Spirits
Two Fruits
Cosmo
Sustainably sourced & packaged
12.5% ABV
Based in Brooklyn, NY
Distillery in PA

Hazy pink grapefruit pour. At first there’s fragrant scents of pink/orange jelly beans that grow into a natural fruit blend of nectarines, orange/citrus sparkle, and light cranberry with a lime squeeze. Such an easy sipper & tasting nectarine, cranberry, an orange/lime/kumquat (spelling) swirl with their zest singed & twisted in the edge, a small reminder of chewing sugar cane as a kid on holidays…but not too sweet & just dry enough on the back. FYI one can holds two cocktails, so beware of cocktail goggles, or you know…just go with it and see what present you end up unwrapping. 🎁

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just don’t.

Two Fruits is Supergay Spirits’ line of cocktails but it’s more than that. They care about sustainability in all aspects of their production, less waste (recycle it!), and work with local producers (when available) like in this can with their Supergay Vodka (Yonkers, NY) & Heimat Nectarine Liqueur (Hudson Valley, NY). Another thing to add about Supergay is they “only use 100% organic and ethically sourced”ingredients in their spirits, and are “queer owned and operated and we donate a percentage of profits to local LGBTQI+ organizations.” That’s a big plus for me. Another plus is Two Fruits was founded by friends…who doesn’t need supportive friends who you can share your dreams & drinks. As they say on their site in a quote attributed to Aristotle, “Friendship is a slow ripening fruit.” ❤️🏳️‍🌈

#cocktails #cannedcocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #cosmo #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #friyay #weekend #weekendvibes #worldbyglass #supergayspirits #twofruits #docwinebar #docwineshop

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The Things You Can Do In Your Parent’s Basement

LaRuraL
Parellada 2022
100% Parellada
Organic (CCPAE since 2015), indigenous yeasts & grapes, no additives
Santes Creus, Alt Camp, Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
Xavi and Andreu Padró (brothers)

Bright orange gold. Breathing in oranges, orange blossoms, irises & roses, tangerines & zest, fresh pineapple, cantaloupe, and a touch of  musk melon. Taking a sip and ding ding ding it’s all of the scents with a bit of lime zest spring in its step, golden apples fresh & baked, round pears, apricots, candied pineapple like from mom’s fruitcake & also dried but not overly sweet, all of the flavors linger & swirl, and at the very back green apple peel.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: ok

The Padró family were growers but didn’t get into winemaking/selling until Xavi & Andreu decided it was time to show the world what their family’s grapes could do. When I think of two brothers hanging out in their parents’ basement, the image that comes to mind of boys/young men playing D&D or video games, but with these two…they were on their way to creating magical elixirs. Starting out they worked with an enologist but it wasn’t quite the right fit, and they followed their heart or should I say their tastebuds to inspirations of likeminded & knowledgable souls that helped guide their way. Their celebrated wines also carry eye catching labels by their friend & artist, Fran Rodríguez aka lacabezaenlasnubes. His imagery is surreal and filled with emotions or memories that seem frozen in time. Check him out and please do pick up one of LaRuraL’s wines because they are inside and out a portal to an enchanting world.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #organic #naturalwine  #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #lacabezaenlasnubes #josepastorselections #Spain #LaRuraL #vinewinenyc

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Imagine Better

Gérald Vallée
Mercies-Vallée
La Closerie Imaginaire 2023
Sauvignon Blanc
Touraine AOC
Organic (Ecocert certified now), hand picked
Touraine, Loire Valley, France
Gérald Vallée & family

Light shimmering gold. Scents start popping out of lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, kumquat, Valencia oranges along with orange blossoms, mineral river rocks, and an old favorite of Orangina. Sipping and there’s a good squeeze of the scents including the rock, pineapple, little scrape of mango with green apples & pears, and a blade of grass.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Easy as pie

Gérald Vallée’s father Claude passed along the love and devotion for their vines (Domaine de la Cotelleraie) and when he took over in 1997, he realized to move forward with his wines, he had to focus more. They had for years cultivated their grapes along with other farming, but he would be the 1st generation to be “devoted itself solely to wine.” This led him toward heading to the organic side in 1999, growing not only in ha but also together in rhythms, setting up “rigorous work schedule of plowing, digging, hoeing and treatment with sulfur or copper from spring to avoid the use of chemical weedkillers, fertilizers and other pesticides”. Well, obviously it has paid off. He’s known & acclaimed for his cabernet francs, so was a bit of a delightful surprise to see this sauvignon blanc that even on the label calls for us to imagine something better for the world…to follow him to a better way of wine life through nature. Oops now I have that classic John Lennon song stuck in my head, so I’m passing this earwig on to you. 

“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one”

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

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Let Them Speak & Listen

Dönnhoff Estate
Riesling Trocken 2023
Oberhäusen, Nahe, Germany
Dönnhoff family: Cornelius Dönnhoff (current & 4th generation)

Twinkle twinkle little light yellow green star. Sniffing pears, lemon, mild apples, honeydew, a slightly musky mango, as it grows Valencia orange with a clean stainless smell, roses and a few other flowers that make you smile. All of the scents are there in the elixir rolling around on my tongue, but the mango is oh so clean with a dry lime zest/citrus sizzle that crisps more the further back and makes me crave west coast oysters….actually the more I taste…I’d prefer warm very crisp thin bacon and as time goes by maybe even a sourdough BLT.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: so lovely and gentle

The Dönnhoffs’ heritage in Oberhausen an der Nahe is well over 250 years with the earliest mention of vines in 1761. Cornelius’s great grandfather Hermann paved the way for their winery and lands as they are now with his first wines back in 1920s. As one would expect they grew but only just enough so they could devote their time and space to care for them properly. As they say “The vineyards speak for themselves. You have to listen to them.” and if you pay attention they will give you the best wine. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #catsofinstagram #cats #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Germany #skurnikwines #DonnhoffEstate #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Do I Need A Decoder Ring?

Fabien Jouves
H@*T€ Côt de Fruit 2023
100% Malbec
Organic
Cahors, France
Winemaker: The man, the legend…FJ

Deep purple with a maroon rim. Breathing in cherry, blackberry, dark plums, a drop of blueberry that swirls into boysenberries, touch of vanilla followed by warm holiday spice, and an earthy depth but not poop wine (you know what I’m talking about). Sipping bright cherry, raspberry, young strawberry, red & black currants, sprig of wild sour grass, rhubarb, and as it breathes there’s more layers that keep emerging so enjoy the ride.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NON NON NON

Let me just simply say, I love Fabien Jouves’ wines. He’s a master of Malbec (Côt), cares more about keeping it biodynamic/natural than following the wine rules, and has a way with words…especially on his labels such as “Soif d’Ailleurs” (translates to “Thirst for Elsewhere”), “You F&@K My Wine ?!”, and “Haute Côt(e) de Fruit” taking a jab at “Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuit”. Leads me to wonder why this one is spelled a bit differently “H@*T€ Côt de Fruit”. I’ve searched, asked & had some answers about labeling, but so far the spelling is still a mystery. If you’re still reading at this point, and have any inkling as to this moniker…please satisfy my curiosity by revealing the secret. Do I need a decoder ring? 🤔 Whatever the reasoning, I hope he keeps them coming because oh do they make me smile.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #biodynamic #organic #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #malbec #cahors #zevrovineselections #masdelperiefabienjouves #fabienjouves #docwinebar #docwineshop