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Don’t Stop The Dance

La Grange de l’Oncle Charles
La Danse des Corbeaux 2021
Riesling, Chasselas, Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, Gewurtztraminer
Organic, biodynamic, no sulfur, horse & sheep powered
Alsace, France
Jérôme François & Morgane Stoquert

A golden ray of summer sun that deepens over time. Inhaling apples & pears (baked & fresh), honeycomb, pinch of allspice, clover & orange blossoms & their greenery, gentle lemons & key limes, May roses, and a cool sea breeze with a touch of spring house mineral. Sipping and all of the scents with a heightened citrus twang that now includes pink grapefruit & tangelo, dash of juniper berries, a little woodsy/smoky on the backside that joins in with the honeycomb/wax, that salty/mineral taste grows, and it all melds together into a zingy lively sip that is filled with an elevated elegance. I truly love this wine!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Oh no! Step away from the box.

La Danse des Corbeaux translates to “the dance of the crows”. The first time I saw a murder of crows flying in a formation like a murmuration (more often it would be starlings) we were driving in the countryside in France. It was like a beautiful well choreographed swirling and whirling dance that took over the sky. Then they started coming up closer and closer to the back of the car in a way that almost looked like they were chasing us which was a slightly unsettling feeling (especially for a person who was scared & mentally scarred as a child due to the famous Hitchcock flick). Not much later they passed us and flew off to the side and continued their modern aerial ballet that just took my breath away. 🐦‍⬛

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Time To Fire Up That Grill!

Kuentz-Bas
Alsace Blanc 2024
30% Sylvaner, 30% Pinot Blanc, 20% Riesling, 10% Muscat, 5% Pinot Gris, 5% Gewurztraminer
Certified biodynamic & organic
Alsace, France
Owner & vigneron: Jean-Baptiste Adam (father/14th gen) & Laure (daughter/15th gen)

Sniffing and there’s pears, white peaches, a blended splash of mandarin oranges, tangerine, lemon, & kumquats. Then next up tickling my nose are spring fruit tree blossoms (pear, apples, plums, and more), tad of pineapple, gentle honeydew, touch of beeswax fresh from the hive, and that cool & clean springhouse feel. All of those lovely scents are in the sip with honeysuckle, a little kirby, mango, lychee, and that citrus tingle sizzle. It’s one dreamy wine.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: sparky

Kuentz-Bas’ reveal the beauty of their grapes, terroir, and Alsatian heritage. This Alsace Blanc’s pairing suggestions are brats & crab cakes, so I say it’s time to fire up that grill! Actually this domaine got its start from a pairing. First there were the Kuentz from back in 1795 that blended through marriage in 1895 with the Bas family. Now it’s in the hands of Jean-Baptiste Adam (since 2004) and he and his team take great care of their lands and all that inhabit it with their biodynamic ways. If you want a moment of zen, watch this video of them prepping and applying the “Bouse de Corne”. With a workout like that you’ll never need a gym membership and will definitely pump you and your biceps up. 💪 ❤️

#wine #vino #vin #winestagram #instawine

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Jump On The Train

Ruhlmann
Signature Jean Charles NV
Brut Sparkling
Crémant d’Alsace AOP
Pinot Blanc 60%, Auxerrois 30%, Pinot Gris 10%
Dambach-la-Ville, Alsace, France
Ruhlmann-Schutz family

Gold with tiny active bubbles. Floating up to my nose are pears, winter/dark apples, apricot, a smidge of Spanish peanuts, a light citrus blend, and teensy funk that fades. All of the scents are in the taste with a depth I’m trying to figure out along with salt, again a touch of good fading funk, and everything is dry, crisp & delightful.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Everything becomes more alive so perfect!

The Ruhlmann-Schutz family has over 300 years of history in Dambach-la-Ville that started with one Hungarian knight planting a few vines. Over the years, their family grew and so has their expanse from a few hectares in Alsace to now around 40; and then in 2015  added a new winery (30 ha) in Corbières, Château Valmont. This family is filled with enthusiasm for their wines and Dambach-la-Ville, They even have a “petit train” that will start in the town where they’ll teach you about it and their history, the vineyards, why each grape is special, and then to a tasting in their cellar. What a lovely way to spend a day. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting  #wineislove #winetime #winetrain #brut #sparklingwine #Alsace #France #worldbyglass #cognacone #ruhlmannschutz #docwinebar #docwineshop @cognacone @ruhlmannschutz @docwineshop @docwinebar

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It Takes A Village…Or A Region

Les Vins Pirouettes
Le Pet Nat de David 2020
Riesling
Pét-Nat
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeast, no sulfur, unfined & unfiltered
Rosheim, Alsace, France
Winemakers: Christian Binner, David Koeberlé (also grower) & team
Cultivated & Vinified by Domaine Muller-Koeberlé

Hazy gold with a lot of unfiltered goodness…almost like sea monkeys. Sniffing a combo of orange, tangerine, lemon, allspice, apples, pears…ok it’s pie along with citrus zest, and a hint of fresh picked Kirbys. Taking a sip and it’s a good wedge of that above pie…crisp & fresh with an extra squeeze of lemon, touch of pineapple, papaya, white pepper, and all sends your tastebuds kicking up their heels in a flying dance.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious

You know the saying, “it takes a village” or maybe a whole region as in Les Vins Pirouettes’ case. It’s a project/collaboration with a lengthy list of Alsatian organic & natural growers/winemakers with the encouragement by Christian Binner & his wine team. David’s Domaine Muller-Koeberle, definitely fits the membership requirements and then some, with dedication to biodiversity, permaculture, agroforestry, and he also creates a gentle safe nourishing space in his cellar with classical music (which sounds like a perfect grape spa for me). You can really taste and feel the artistic beauty of nature being allowed to run free through “Le Pet Nat” and it’s just a start for me from this grower/wine team’s line. Really hoping my next encounter will be with their, “Ultra Violet” because I’m reading it’s “ultra glou” and who doesn’t ❤️ a good “glou glou”. 🍇

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #winetime #worldbyglass #organic #naturalwine #Alsace #France #PétNat #petnat @jennyfrancois @christian.binner @lesvinspirouettes @domaine.muller.koeberle @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Pair ‘Em Up!

Kuentz-Bas
Alsace Blanc 2021
65% Pinot Blanc, 15% Muscat, 14% Riesling, 6% Gewurztraminer
Biodynamic, organic
Alsace, France
Owner & vigneron: Jean-Baptiste Adam
Winemaker: Olivier Raffin

Yellow gold and a little green shimmer. Lovely scents of yellow melons, mango, a well shaken citrus cocktail, and pineapple,  All of the scents are their in the taste with pears, Lady apples, kirbys, and fresh basil herby in the back. Crisp, dry and hits the spot.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh so smooooth

This young Kuentz-Bas blend just sings of its Alsatian roots, tradition & terroir; and plays well with just about anything from a romantic candle light dinner of seared tuna in a black pepper crust to an afternoon in the sun backyard grilled cheeseburger with a side of onion rings. Actually this domaine got its start from a pairing. First there were the Kuentz from back in 1795 that blended through marriage in 1895 with the Bas family. Now it’s in the hands of Jean-Baptiste Adam (since 2004) and he and his team take great care of their lands and all that inhabit it with their biodynamic ways. If you want a moment of zen, watch this video of them prepping and applying the “Bouse de Corne”. With a workout like that you’ll never need a gym membership. 💪💪💪💪

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #Alsace #France #organic #winetime #whitewine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @kuentzbas @kermitlynchwine @docwineshop @docwinebar

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Small & Natural Celebration

Les Vins Pirouettes
Le Brutal De Jean Marc
Gewurtraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling
Organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeast, no sulfur added, unfined & unfiltered
Rosheim, Alsace, France
Cultivated and vinified by Jean-Marc Dreyer

Hazy electric orange with that’s heading toward magenta as it breathes…so mid 80s robe. Do any of y’all remember “Merry Go Round”? Breathing in and ooh so much at once…there’s a blend of citrus, pinch of allspice that mingles well with the rest, orange blossoms along with a bundle of spring flowers, some funky fun, and a shake of salt & puff of smoke. Sip and there’s blood orange and tangelo sizzle, tart plums, apricots dried and fresh, a super tiny piece of dried pineapple (I ❤️dried 🍍), pinch of spice, dash of salt, and that good natural punk funk again.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmm more rich

This wine is a 2 in 1. 1st part is Les Vins Pirouettes, a project/collaboration started by Christian Binner with enologists Xavier Couturier and Pierre Sanchez to assist small growers to celebrate their grapes and the organic/biodynamic, and this beauty is a collaboration with Jean-Marc Dreyer. 2nd part you’ll see noted on the label, “Brutal Wine Corporation” which is another natural movement. It’s an international group of winemakers (including Pirouettes) that share an “open-source label” with signature font, colors & a Grim Reaper slashing SO2 (on Jean Marc’s it’s a Reaper Stork: symbol of Alsace and believe me it is eye-catching). To be a part in this group you must be 0/0, organic/biodynamic, and can only have 1 “Brutal” experiment a harvest. So with this bottle, you’re drinking a wine with a membership in 2 wine groups of integrity, creativity, lively & free fun, and devotion to the small winemakers and their artistic creations. This wine also led me to discover Barcelona’s “Bar Brutal” and I can’t believe in all my travels I didn’t even know it was there. Next time around it is definitely on my list!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #orangewine #skincontactwine #JeanMarcDreyer #brutalwines #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Alsace #France @jennyfrancois @christian.binner @barbrutalbarcelona @lesvinspirouettes @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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A Bottle of Family Heritage, Dedication & Love

Domaine Barmès-Buecher
Crémant d’Alsace
Brut Nature 2018
48% Pinot Gris, 36% Pinot Auxerrois, 16% Chardonnay
Biodynamic, Méthode Ancienne, hand harvested, no added sugar
Wettolsheim, Alsace, France
Winemaking family: Maxime, Sophie and Geneviève Barmès

Pale straw with very active teeny bubbles. At first my nose tingles and then there’s a light creaminess of pears and golden delicious apples (as y’all know is my favorite), a fresh tiny citrus squish that leans toward green fruit, next up are toasted mellow almonds, a little salt, and as it grows…whiffs of a fresh baked bâtard that go in and out. Here comes the sip. Sparkle, sparkle, zing! It’s crisp and creamy at the same time…a bite of green apples picked right off the tree with a lemon zest, Ya Li pears, nectarines, and a smidge of Marcona almond or macadamia nut on the backside which brings it all together in a glass of dry refined elegance. For the love of all things sacred, please do not use this in a brunch cocktail!!!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly fab and brings out the pears

The Buecher and Barmès families had wine roots in the area since the 17th century. Once Geneviève and François married along came the creation of Domaine Barmès-Buecher in 1985. Currently brother and sister (Maxime & Sophie) have joined their mother in honoring the family heritage, values, dedication to keeping everything biodynamic, respecting the terroir, and letting the moon guide them; which is quite admirable and a whole lot of hard work. They’re also keeping their wine team small with only 5 other members (other than themselves), and they look pretty bonded. If you take a peek at their social media you’ll see a recent outing they went on to what looks like an amazing spa day. With perks like that, this is a team/family that I wish I could join!

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Alsace France #winestagram #instawine #Chardonnay #PinotGris #PinotAuxerrois #organic #biodynamic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits @barmes_buecher @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Living Freely in Harmony

Lindenlaub
En Liberté 2020
Pinot Gris Pét-nat
Organic, unfined, unfiltered
Dorlisheim, Alsace, France
Winemaker: Christophe Lindenlaub

Brilliant cloud filled sunset streaked orange with pink undertones…think a beautiful watercolor with tiny crystals. Scents run out and bounce around (like the happy leaping Shiba Inu on the label) of oranges and orange blossoms, lush flowers, and a hint of pink grapefruit. Tasting slightly light fizzy orange/citrus but definitely not my childhood Nehi more Orangina, smoke and white pepper, light peach, a splash of tangerine, and a lick of granite.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious and super smooth

Everywhere I look, I keep reading about Christophe Lindenlaub and his abundant energy, positivity, and enthusiasm (he’s even compared to “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”). Is this why his wines are so delightful? Sounds like it’s part of the reason, but I’m betting it’s also due to his patience. He’s “Mr. Natural” and low-intervention, which means he knows how to listen and how to wait which leads to harmony in the vineyards and all the way into the bottle.

#wine #naturalwine #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #PinotGris #petnat #Pétnat @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #Dorlisheim #Alsace #France @vinewinenyc @christophelindenlaub @super_glou @cheezit

 

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Bottled Memories

Lindenlaub
En Équilibre 2018
100% Riesling
Organic, unfined, unfiltered
Dorlisheim, Alsace, France
Winemaker: Christophe Lindenlaub

Yellow gold with a little unfiltered treat. There is a lump at the bottom of my glass that reminds me of  a mini version of what you find in the bottom of a bottle of mezcal. Right from the get go there’s beautiful aromas of honeysuckle, wisteria, and apricot. It’s very fragrant. Then of all things a soft hint of Chanel #5 🤔 and then a squeeze of lime, smoke, and a poof of gas, like for your car…but that is not a bad thing (it’s just a Riesling thing). After all that, here comes tastes of lemon, lime, smoke, and apricot. A whole lot more than I was expecting! Also a tang zing keeping it so lively. It’s bright and happy like chirping birds gossiping.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smooth operator

Say what if a Riesling and Chenin Blanc had a little wild baby. Well, this is what this wine would taste like…the lovely and then the lovely funkilicious. I’m going to be a bit honest, the C#5 has sent me down a rabbit hole of memories. My grandfather brought a bottle back from WW2 for the love of his life, my grandmother. I spent my young years huffing that empty bottle full of fragrance and am still hanging on to that scent filled with so much history. Now on to another glass, and back to an evening of warm recollections of years past.

#wine #vinho #vino #vin #Riesling #chanel #pairswithcheezits #worldbyglass #cheezit #vinewinenyc #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Dorlisheim #Alsace #France @vinewinenyc @christophelindenlaub @super_glou @cheezits

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Tweet Tweet

Michel Nartz
Cui Cui
Crémant D’Alsace
Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Riesling, Pinot Gris
Alsace, Dambach-la-Ville, France
Sustainable
Winemaker: Laurence Nartz

Sparkling golden glass with tiny bubbles. Inhaling creamy vanilla, orange peel and tangerine but super light. There’s some natural funk, but I just opened this and it rapidly fades away. It’s clean, dry and a little nutty. Sipping apple that has a slight cider feel, also a citrus combo, then it goes all mellow, creamy and some toastiness with vanilla. This is crisp and regal and is making my day!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the toast

The happy little birds on the bottle give this lovely sparkler its name “Cui Cui”, and from what I’m finding is the way they chirp in France. As for the contents of this bottle, Laurence Nartz is the fine winemaker responsible for this delightful bubbly. Her parents Gaby and Michel Nartz founded the winery, but have now left the winemaking part to her. They’re focused more on the vineyards and their 17th century home/bed and breakfast which is also listed as a historic monument. Oh would be so lovely to go for a tasting and stay for the evening learning more about their wines, land and the old town Dambach-la-Ville and their medieval walls.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny #MichelNartz @communalbrands @cheezits #cheezit #wine #cremantdalsace #sparklingwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #LaurenceNartz #Pinot Blanc #Auxerrois #Riesling #Pinot Gris #Alsace #France