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Biodynamic Cool

Mas Théo
‘L’imprévu’ 2016
VDF
Syrah (mostly), Grenache & Mourvèdre
Organic & biodynamic
Drôme Provençale , Rhône, France
Winemaker & farmer: Laurent Clapier

Ruby rimmed purple (and later so is my tongue). Breathing in deep and tart cherries, plums, strawberry preserves, and a tiny whiff of what I remember as a kid…the outside of a licorice jelly bean which then fades into herbal mix of juniper, fennel and good funk. Tarty tang and dark cherries again just dancing on my tongue, and in a little bit they’re joined by dried brown Turkish figs, forest floor earthiness with a twinge of pepper and juniper that opens into blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Everything melds together like a beautifully woven tapestry.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: perfect

The vineyards are only one part of Laurent’s organic/biodynamic big picture. Mas Théo has 5 different terroirs over 173 acres which give him an opportunity to diversify. They also have lavender, olives, truffle oaks, and hay which is very important because Laurent uses it as a trade with cattle farmers. Oh it’s not for beef to put on the table, but for manure to go back into nourishing the land. He also acquired the Caves Cathédrales to house his winery…a very smart move since the average temp year round is 57F. One more cool thing about the Caves (and Laurent) is that there is plenty of space, in fact enough to share, such as in space for others to age their bottles and room for new/young winemakers to create their own wines. Now that’s very, very cool in so many ways.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #vinnaturel #vinbio #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #biodynamic #organic #Syrah #Grenache #Mourvèdre #Rhône #rhone #france @tedward_ws @vin_mastheo @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Something Special Going on Here

Weingut Claus Preisinger
Puszta Libre! 2020
Zweigelt, St. Laurent
Organic, biodynamic unfined, unfiltered, spontaneous fermentation
Gols, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee, Austria
Winemaker: Claus Preisinger

Beautiful deep ruby that needs a good chill. Starting with a long whiff of smoke and salt joined with cherry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, orange zest, and a little all spice. Pace yourself because this is another one of those easy drinkers…like can potentially get you in trouble if you keep chugging easy, so beware of “wine goggles”. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you take a sip. There’s tart cherry along with a lemon spark of fresh followed by black pepper. Next up is juicy strawberry (like when you wait for them to hit that dark almost overripe red color and pick it and eat it in the garden), plums, blackberries, blueberries and white pepper on the back along with a bit of smoke. Just lively and lovely!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the citrus zip and blueberries

Everything I’m finding about Claus Preisinger…he is so full of vibrant life (heck he’s a surfer/kitesurfer!) and in tune/connected with nature, and has a “less is more” ethic from the soil, the vines, and in the cellar. The winery and vineyards are settled near Lake Neusiedl, and this very modern architecture popping out of a peaceful lush countryside just somehow beautifully works, feels right and kind of looks magical. He really has something special going on there and knows it, as he said on “The Living Vine”, ‘I don’t have to go to an office; don’t have any traffic jams; am outside in nature and the vineyards as much as I want (and the vines demand); I just look across the landscape and feel the weather. All of this is a privilege that I appreciate (more and more).’ 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #redwine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Zweigelt #StLaurent #organic #biodynamic #glouglou  #Austria #Neusiedlersee #ClausPreisinger @c__laus @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Just One More

Lapati Wines
Kidev Erti
Tavkveri 2019
Natural sparkling wine rosé
60% Tavkveri & 40% of Chinuri (both from Shida Kartli region)
Natural, organic, & environment friendly, 1 month fermentation in qvervi
Sagarejo, Kakheti, Georgia
Winemakers: Vincent Jullien and Guillaume Gouerou

Pale salmon with active white bubbles dancing in patterns on the surface. Breathing in tiny strawberries and cherries (and an underlying hint of cherry Twizzlers), a little plum, yeasty bread, and all of this is super light. First sip and it’s a tart cherry seltzer, a lemon tingle blended with a little underripe apple, and just a smidge of strawberries (green and ripe). Very, very vibrating on the lips and easy drinking that you don’t have to overthink (so don’t do what I’ve been doing.) Just follow the instructions in its name “Kidev Erti” because it says for you to have “one more”.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yeah it works. Really doesn’t change much.

I could start with the good ol’ joke, 2 Frenchmen walk into a bar…or in this case into Georgia, but its a bit more than that. Vincent was on the scene first already investigating sparkling, and Guillaume showed up for an art residency. They found mutual conversation and ground (now literally in Sagarejo) and embarked on creating Lapati Wines. They blend Georgian and French/European natural ways of winemaking and even though they’re not certified biodynamic they follow the practices because they respect nature, the environment, and very importantly the final outcome in their wine.

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Kakheti #Georgia #winestagram #instawine #Tavkveri #Chinuri #biodynamic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #Lapati @lapatiwines @vinewinenyc @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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Birds & Bacchus In The Vines

Domaine Des Rouges-Queues
Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc 2018
Vin de Bourgogne
100% Chardonnay
Organic, biodynamic, dry farmed, hand harvested, spontaneous fermentation
Burgundy, France
Winemakers: Isabelle and Jean-Yves Vantey

Shining warm medium gold. Breathe in and a glass of springtime, says “hi did ya miss me?”. There’s apricots, nectarines, pears, a little honeysuckle and as time ticks along there’s a perfume droplet of spring flowers along with a little smoke that merges into the background and ends in salt. Sip and those pears appear, apples and also apricots but now dried and fresh, salt, thyme, a lick of granite, a tiny pinch of white pepper…and it all goes silky.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: ooh this is like putting cheddar cheese on a hot apple pie…delicious

Isabelle and Jean-Yves Vantey fell in love with each other and then with Sampigny-lès-Maranges. You know what you do for land you love (and the wild things that live there too)…you care, nurture, and give it your organic/biodynamic best like Isabelle & Jean-Yves. Hence the homage to their feathered friends in their name “Rouges-Queues” and the Redstarts on their labels. BTW Isabelle seems to be quite the nature photographer too. Check out her IG page for a little of their enchanted wonderland, and if you swipe down far enough you might catch Bacchus in the vines.

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Bourgogne #Burgundy #France #winestagram #instawine #Chardonnay #organic #biodynamic #redstart #bacchus @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #domainedesrougesqueues @isabellevantey @mfwwineco @vinewinenyc @cheezit

 

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Earth Rebirth

Domaine Giachino
Giac’ Potes
Red Savoie Wine 2018
Gamay & Mondeuse
Organic & Biodynamic
Savoie, France
Winemaking family: Frédéric Genton, his brother David, and David’s son Clément

Shining glistening garnet. First out the gate are whiffs of spring flowers and then a touch of mountain herbs and earth. Next up are blackberries, dried cherries and give it a little time as the strawberries and raspberries grow. Pow, pop, wow and the tastebuds are way awake. Those herbs are still there and it’s full of juicy raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, and a pucker up tart cherry accent. It’s very fun and easy to hang out with and as a wise and witty wine woman told me, “If your favorite Beaujolais went to college in Paris and came back all sophisticated and full of backbone, that would be this wine.”

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bleh

Way back on the night of November 24th 1248, Mount Granier’s massive limestone and mud landslide took out villages, but a church in Myans was saved (as the tale goes) by the parishioners devotion and prayer to their “Black Madonna”. Now from this centuries old tragedy came a rebirth. This terroir is perfect for the vines of Domaine Giachino. Albeit rugged, rocky and a lot of hard work, brothers Frédéric and David have brought their grandfather’s vineyards back to the natural organic/biodynamic ways. They’ve even introduced “natural predators” (wondering if these sport feathers, fur or exoskeletons) to ward off pests. It’s this type of devotion, love and connection they have with the land and vines…it’s well…something pretty special. You’ll know what I mean when you have your first glass, and take the advice on the label and pair it up with a baguette and saucisson (ditch the Cheez-It).

#wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #organic #Savoie #France #winestagram #instawine #Gamay #Mondeuse @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #domainegiachino @domainegiachino @jeffreyalpertselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Where’s My Sequin Dress?

Domaine de la Renaudie
Touraine Chenonceaux AOP 2019
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Terra Vitis and HVE certified
Mareuil sur Cher, Loire Valley, France
Winemaking Family: Charlotte (daughter that is now at the helm), Patricia and Bruno Denis

Light golden straw. Delicious scents of tangerine, grapefruit (not whack you over the head like some IPAs but gentle), apricot, pears, and of all things…Mom’s lemon custard pie, wow what a weird memory (sans the meringue). I’m realizing there are so many of her recipes that I need to reinvestigate and maybe even attempt. Back to the taste and there’s pears, apricot, kumquot, pineapple, honeysuckle and some of that smooth lemon pie filling is still there with a thin slice of fresh zest on top, and a smidge of herb like rosemary on the back and exhale. As it opens it grows into a more sophisticated encounter or rather a date night, and I think I need to switch up outfits from comfy casual. Now’s time for that sequin dress but still rocking my old favorite La Canadienne nubuck knee boots. You never know when you may have to hit the dance floor!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s nice, like a picnic…but I’d rather stay on my date in the sequins

Domaine de la Renaudie’s wines (including this one) have racked up the awards and accolades, but none of that is as important as the care this family has for their land and what they produce. There’s a lovely video of Charlotte giving you the quick tour, and you can see that passion and love in her eyes as she speaks of their soil, climate and her great-grandfather’s special Côt wine. Please check it out because my words do not do it justice, so I will end with their quote, “Like those who came before us, we remain humble and modest in front of Nature, we take the time to observe and respect.”

#wine #holidaywine #holidays #SauvignonBlanc #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass @lacanadienneshoes #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Touraine #LoireValley #France  #domainedelarenaudie #sustainable @charlotte_dnis @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!

Populis Wine
Made in partnership with and farmed by Les Lunes Wine
Pétillant Naturel
Sparkling Wine 2020
Sonoma County
Zinfandel 75%, Pinot Noir 20%, French Colombard 5%
Organic, old vines, no intervention
Orinda, CA
Winemakers: Shaunt Oungoulian and Diego Roig

Shinny plummy cranberry. Take a whiff and there’s a little bit of natural funk/depth and hay that merges into cherries, plums, raspberries, a tiny crush of Sweettarts, and blood orange zest. Sip and poof and magic explosion…bibbidi bobbidi boo…berries and smoke all at once and a bit of a roll in the hay. (Oops, I think I lost my glass slipper!) Throw in some cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, jolly ranchers, and a little citrus spritz with a dash of raspberry vinegar. It’s a glass of fun!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: absolutely delish and fresh

Shaunt and Diego’s Populis (they also have another wine line “Les Lunes”) is their more affordable gift to the world. Grapes are sourced from amazing old & organic vineyards and as they say other site, “And once we hunt down these special vineyards we do all we can to not screw it up — and by that we mean no additions, no intervention, no tomfoolery– just straight up“. Well, they must be doing it right because they are all sold out in their online shop and also Les Lunes  too (shhh…Les Lunes also has a wine club)! So if you want to track one down asap, head out to your local brick & mortar and hope they’re not all snatched up.

#wine #holidaywine #holidays #petnat #Pétnat #sparklingwine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Zinfandel #PinotNoir #Sonoma #CA #california @zevrovineselections #Populiswine @lesluneswine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Holiday Wine? Look No Further!

Grosjean Vins
Gamay 2020
Valle D’Aosta DOC
No pesticides or herbicides, organic, biodynamic, natural yeasts
Quart, Valle D’Aosta, Italy
Winemaking family

Ruby stained glass that reminds me of an old chapel window of the Virgin Mary and her sacred heart (we used to have years ago…man, I wish we had never needed to sell that piece). Smooth buttery scents in the beginning that head into warm earth & spice, orange zest, strawberries, and dried cherries. This is going to grow into a really fine sip. Tasting strawberries, a jumble of raspcranblackberries, golden raisins, Brown Turkey figs, a twinge of oranginess, a sage leaf and a grind of black pepper. It’s medium-light, and you can pair this baby with so many holiday treats and meats.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: deeper and delicious

So this now 12 hectare estate (originally 3,000 square meters) got its start all from a friend nudging Dauphin Grosjean to bottle his wine for the “II Exposition des Vins du Val d’Aoste”. Dauphin also got the early organic ball rolling around 50 years ago by banning all pesticides. Now the grandsons and a son-in-law are also following in their grandfather’s path with their Solar PV system. As they say on their site (google translated), “Perhaps our home, with its products and its riches, is really the place to start building something more beautiful and healthier.”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #redwine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Italy #ValleDAosta #italianalps #Gamay #organic #biodynamic #madrosewine @docwineshop @docwinebar @grosjean.vins @cheezit

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Roses, Satin, and Romantic Notions

Forti del Vento
AltoFhrà 2018
100% Dolcetto
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested, and native yeasts
Ovada, Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy
Owners and winemakers: Tomaso Armento, Marco and Manuela Tacchino

Light red and somewhat plummy. Fragrances of cherries, cranberry, raspberries, a dozen roses, lilacs, and some natural forest funk that runs out the door. First sip and there’s a little exciting tingle on my tongue. Next are strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and all so deliciously juicy. Also a tangy spark in the very back of my mouth. Smooth easy sipping…like relaxing back on a satin pillow.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Ack! No!

Their name alone conjure up dreams of castles, period dramas, and winds fleeting over the hills of Castelletto D’Orba (as I’ve said before, I’m a hopeless romantic). Guess that’s why I love the stories of the young taking on the mantle of the old and recreating their inherited land (from their grandparents) and winemaking skills into natural, organic, bio, and have been proudly accepted as a member of Vinnatur. They (Tomaso, Marco and Manuela) have such high standards and most importantly respect for their part of the world, and have a very important rule of their cellar, “Do not remove or add anything to the wine, so it can be the expression of the vineyard.” Sounds simple, but it takes a lot of patience, knowledge, practice, and of course the best ingredient…love.

#wine #winelover #vino #vin #organicwine #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #dolcetto #pairswithcheezits #wineinfluencer #winestagram #Piemonte #Italy @fortidelvento @docwineshop @docwinebar @steephillwine @antosicurezza @cheezits