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Rustic Family Roots

Terra di Briganti
Nato Nudo
Aglianico 2017
Benevento IGT
Casalduni Campania Italy
Aglianico 100%
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts
Winemakers: Toni and Romeo De Cicco

Dark garnet that I can’t see through. Breathing in dark cherry, prune, and an earthy spiciness. Whoa the first sip is darker than I was expecting. Someone please bring me a lamb chop or maybe even better a lamb sausage. Rustic cherry including the pit and tart ripe blackberries some velvet plum/prune. There’s also something herbal or maybe…no wait, it’s oil cured black olives that I used to eat like a madwoman in college. It’s that luscious old school bitter.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Less bitter and more fruit

Senza Solfiti Aggiunti are magical words to my ears. I love no added sulfites! This is my third Terra di Briganti wine and all three are greatly diverse yet consistent. Every one is well structured and true to their grape. You can feel the passion and care in the wines. I love this quote from their site: “It’s the proper equilibrium between tradition and innovation and the ideal synergy that is found amongst the Earth’s gifts and the art of wine. Because wines of quality aren’t the fruit of coincidence.” This family is devoted to the land, the grape and the nature that nurtures. Does my heart good to see them passing this knowledge down the generations. Check out these lovely pics of everyone pitching in working the vines and wine.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @TerradiBriganti @steephillwine #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #aglianico #Benevento #Casalduni #Campania #organic #biodynamic #vegan

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Good Vibrations

Bodegas y Viñedos Patagonia Valley
Rivus
km1012
Malbec 2018
Patagonia Argentina
Rio Negro
Organic and biodynamic
Winemakers: Augusto Ripoll and Guy Zarate

A glassful of deep purple. It’s yeasty toasty so let this youngster breathe. Give it some time and a hint of vanilla pops up but runs away. Deep really tart cherry, orange peel, cola, smidge of tobacco, and earthy pepper appear. First sip is alive and young in a good way. Tangy cherry that has my lips vibrating, and some pomegranate too. Flowers are hanging out but definitely cedar and some funky slightly bubble feeling that is just on the tongue. There’s still some seriously natural rustic hayness. This little guy should be finished off in the first day or two to keep it’s full essence.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: there’s still the crazy tingle feeling, but the cherry darkens

The tingling is reminding me of a lip plumper from the past. Maybe a glass of this can be the new beauty trick.

If you want a good read on Malbec, “The Vineyard at the End of the World: Maverick Winemakers and the Rebirth of Malbec” (by Ian Mount) is a great recounting of the history and dramas that played out over the years.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @cheezits #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #organic #rivus #patagonia #argentina #rionegro #malbec #thevineyardattheendoftheworld

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Naked as the Day You’re Born

Terra di Briganti
Nato Nudo
Fiano 2018
Benevento IGP
Casalduni Campania Italy
Fiano 100%
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts

Super deep glistening gold. Inhale and then there’s blossoms, tangerine, some wafting salt, and then here comes the apples, pears, and something a bit herbal. Go in for the sip and there’s those pears and apples again. Add to that melon, honeysuckle, citrus peel tang, and spice that may be black pepper, or something dried. All I know is I want a plate of salame and mortadella.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: gives it a citrus zing lightness with a touch of celery

Nato Nudo means born naked, and is a natural unfiltered wine with no added sulfites. You can really smell, taste, and feel the benefit of the wild rugged land where the guyot trained Fiano grows.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @TerradiBriganti @steephillwine #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #fiano #Benevento #Casalduni #Campania #organic #biodynamic #vegan

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Naturally Enchanting

Agricola Foradori
Foradori 2018
Vigneti Delle Dolomiti IGT
Trentino-Alto Adige Italy
Teroldego 100%
Organic and biodynamic

A goblet of total goth deep dark ruby purple. Take a breath of cherries, plums, vanilla, cola, flowers, and some mineral earthiness. First sip and there’s tart cherries that mellow out to smooth. Next there’s plums, raisin, singed orange peel,  I do believe some strawberries, and dark rich earthy goodness. It’s as enchanting as Elizabeth Fraser’s voice.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Everything smoothes out even more. Silky fruity goodness

This deep dark beauty had me thumbing through some of the music from my past, and here are two of my Fraser favorites.  Even now Song To The Siren gives me goosebumps and makes my heart fly, and let us not forget her lush work with Massive Attack – Teardrop.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @agricolaforadori @louisdressnerselections #louisdressnerselections @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #Trentino-Alto Adige #Teroldego #organic #biodynamic #ElizabethFraser #ThisMortalCoil #MassiveAttack

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Apple Kisses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manoir du Kinkiz
AOP Cornouaille Cider
Brittany France
100% Fresh Apples
Owners Maugane and Hervé Seznec
Cider-Maker Hervé Seznec
Organic and biodynamic

Sparkling very deep orange gold…like antique rose gold. Beautiful bubbles. First sniff and here’s lemon, flowers, tart apple, tangerine, maybe some cinnamon, and good earth funk. Now raise your glass and take a sip. Whoa and wow! Apples (reminds me of golden delicious which is my apple point of reference from childhood but also another richer sweeter apple too), a little celery, and smoke. Opens up to sweet smoothness with a little kick of balsamic.

Pairs w Cheez-It’s: super sweet apple-ness. Glorious. Reminds me of my childhood home, the apple orchard and helping out making cider by hand.

Let’s enjoy another glass along with some Apple Kisses from Alison Moyet.

@vinewinenyc @Manoir-du-Kinkiz #manoirdukinkiz @patrickallenselections #patrickallenselection @cheezits @alisonmoyetofficial @alisonmoyet #cider #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #cheezit #vinewinenyc @worldbyglass #Brittany #France #cornouaille #organic #biodynamic #apple #alisonmoyet

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Old School

Migrante
Terre Olibani 2015
Cesanese 100%
Olevano Romano Lazio Italy
Organic and biodynamic

Glassful of garnet. Give it a little moment to breathe. Inhale and here comes the cherries, cola, some spice that I’m thinking is cloves, and orange peel. Going in for the sip and there’s tart cherry that turns smooth, raisin, orange, some smoke, a dash of white pepper and rustic earthiness. This is old school.

Pairs w Cheez-It’s: brings out the cherry orange sweetness

And here’s a little more old school: Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – Renegades of Funk

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @migrantevini @migrante.vino @steephillwine @afrika_bambaataa_official @Afrika_Bambaataa #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #biodynamic #organic #Cesanese #Lazio #Italy #OlevanoRomano #AfrikaBambaataa #oldschool

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WINE MEMORIES 12.13.18

Vinyes Singulars
Minipuça 2016
Xarel.lo 100%
Penedès, Spain
Ancestral Method
Organic, biodynamic, native yeasts, vegan friendly, and from what I read…aged in a Spanish Civil War air raid shelter
Winemaker Ignasi Segui

A glass of pale lemony gold. Let it breathe a short bit and then inhale. There’s salt, a touch of smoke, then lemon, apples, pears, and slate. First sip is vibrant with lots of tiny bubbles, at first some hay, lemon, and apple. It’s crisp with a smidge of spice which may be cinnamon. As time passes it melts into grassy light sweetness.

@despananyc @despanavinos @vinyes_singulars @indiewineries #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #xarello #spain #Penedès #penedes #Catalunya #biodynamic #organic #AncestralMethod #petnat @worldbyglass 

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Floating on a Berry Filled Cloud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celler Mas Candí
Cap de Pardals 2018
Sparkling Wine
Viticultor Ramon Jané
Les Gunyoles D’Avinyonet
Penedes Spain
100% Mando
Biodynamic and ancestral method

When I poured it is was like a creamy pomegranate foam on top. It’s a raspberry bubble cloud, and reminded me of a framboise lambic pour. Inhale the wave of raspberries, strawberries, lemon, some cherry, a whiff of hay and a touch of something herbal like maybe thyme. Take a sip and there’s massive berries, a little of that same hay, and some tart cherry. It’s bright and dry and juicy at the same time. It’s a glass of celebration!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: the strawberries explode

Let’s harken back to my one of my favorite Strawberries

@vinewinenyc @MasCandí @cellermascandi @trumpetwine #wine #petnat #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #vinewinenyc #mando #spain #Penedes #Catalunya #biodynamic #glouglou @worldbyglass #StrawberrySwitchblade

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Surprise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Le Pianate
Un Paio 2016
Rosso
Umbria Italy
Sagrantino 50%, Sangiovese 30%, Merlot 20%
Winemaker Andrea Trulli
Biodynamic and organic

Pour and it’s a shining ruby star. Inhale and there’s cherries, plums, apple blossoms (just like the ones from the orchard I grew up in), orange, and some earth/smoke. Take a sip and here’s the tart cherries, raspberries, strawberries, a touch of orange, some white pepper and a mix of earth, spice, and butter. Fits like a glove and makes me want more. I have to watch myself because I could totally drink this whole bottle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: smooth sweetness with a touch of orange peel and flowers

Full disclosure: I stuck to my usual rules, and did not google the winery before the tasting post was finished because I want to write with no outside influence. Afterward, I always like to find out who the winemaker is, what the area looks like, etc. Oh man, was I surprised. I have known Andrea for years. He always mentioned his grapes, but never ever told me the name of his wine. What a kind, sweet, unassuming, and extremely talented guy. Andrea keep up the good work!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @lepianate #lepianate #AndreaTrulli @indiewineries @cheezits #cheezit #wine #naturalwine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #biodynamic #organic #umbria #Sagrantino #Sangiovese #Merlot

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Tangled Tingle of Fun

Tenuta Belvedere
WAI 2018
Sparkling Rosé
Oltrepò Pavese in Provincia di Pavia Lombardy Italy
Pinot Nero 100%
Organic, biodynamic, ancestral method
Winemakers Federica and Gianluca Cabrini

Pretty, pretty orange pink glass named after a respectful and auspicious Thai greeting. Sniff and there’s a salty breeze, strawberries, orange blossoms, and raspberries. The first taste is a tangled tingle of young strawberries, raspberries and an orange peel dash, a little hay, some mineral/granite and seltzer. Nothing sugary about this glass. It’s clean, elegant, and fresh fun summer love.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: raspberry and strawberry presents but still not sugary. Everything is fresh

Tenuta Belvedere’s wine history dates back to the 19th century, and now it is helmed by the latest generation. Federica Sarchi joined her life with Gianluca Cabrini, he felt the call of the vines, and now they hold the reigns of the winery. From all I find, they are firm believers in the old natural ways and are organic and biodynamic. I really wish I could learn more about them from their website but it is currently under construction, so I will rely on Facebook and Instagram for a little more insight. What I’m finding is a beautiful vineyard with bird nests and ladybugs, a happy family, darn good people, hard work, and a lot of other wines I’m dying to try.

Oltrepò Pavese is the largest wine producing area of Lombardy and they seem to be really into Pinot Nero. This comune is a foodie’s dream. Not only are there amazing wines of diverse native grapes, but there’s also their much loved and revered salame di Varzi. Oh what I wouldn’t do for a slice right now. Another find from the area is their truffles! They range from white to black and are oh so wonderful. Take a tour with a dog and maybe you’ll win the lottery. You can also rent a Vespa (and score a picnic basket), cruise along city streets or roll through the countryside in style.

Venturing outside of Oltrepò, yet not really that far is the Castello di Montesegale (still in Pavia). The site may have had a foothold of a tower as far back as the 11th century, but the Castello was officially built in the 14th century and over the years destroyed and rebuilt to it’s regal medieval status. Now the ancient architecture houses a museum of contemporary art that was launched back in 1975, and has exhibited the likes of Ernesto Treccani (who founded Corrente) and Julian Schnabel.

On to one more thing outside of Oltrepò, but still in Pavia. This I truly stumbled upon and had no idea this was possible, but you can test drive a Ferrari on a real race track for an hour or two. You can let that baby just go and go and go. Does it make me a little scared to think of trying it, YES! Would I do it if I could…hell YES!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @TenutaBelvedereVini @belvederewine @steephillwine #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #naturalwine #petnat @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #Oltrepo #Pavia #Lombardy #pinotnero #vespa #ferrari #biodynamic #organic