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Bubbling Romance

Château de Minière
Bulles de Minière
100% Cabernet Franc
Sparkling Red Wine
Organic Agriculture Ecocert, HVE
Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France
Kathleen Van den Berghe & Sigurd Mareels

Deep maroon purple with pretty in pink bubbles. At first sniff there’a a bit of creaminess (kind of Oreo center) followed quickly by raspberries, fresh picked pink & red strawberries, boysenberries, spring house mineral fresh, cherries, tiny tarty plum, and after a bit a bouquet of spring flowers pop up. Sipping raspberries, blackberries & seeds, blueberries, strawberries, dried cherry & cranberry, a touch of lemon spark in the back and a crisp end. This bubbly is pure romance, so go ahead and shoot that arrow…through my heart!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a bigger depth of berries

Well, this is truly a bottle of romance…after honeymooning Kathleen & Sigurd (originally from Belgium) began searching for a vineyard to call their own. Once they saw Château de Minière, well just take a look at the site for yourself, the home and grounds are just gorgeous (it’s like living in a fairytale setting), and has centuries of history with women at the helm of the manor. Kathleen has joined that line, not only with rejuvenating the castle while keeping it true to its historic roots, but also tending to the environment and all that resides in it. Even with the organic & biodynamic you would expect for the vines, there’s also a LPO bird sanctuary, bee hives, rainwater recovery, and more. Oh and not to be forgotten, “Careful thought has been given to the bottling of the wine, for instance: lightweight bottles, unbleached cardboard, strict traceability of corks, nothing is left to chance.” What started out in my mind as a bottle of romance, I now see as a beautiful passionate labor of love. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #organic #naturalwine #worldbyglass #winelover #winetime #sparklingwine #bubbly #loirevalleywines #loirevalley #France @cheezit  @chateaudeminiere @communalbrands @docwineshop @docwinebar

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A Wild Frisky Bounce

Clos Kixhaya
“Pet by Nat” 2021
Vin mousseux de France
Méthode ancestrale
Brut nature
100% Cabernet Franc
Natural, biodynamic, sustainable
Chinon, Loire Valley, France
Winemakers: Béatriz Papamija & Étienne Le Blanc

Amber salmon streaked sunset with fine bubbles tracing designs on the surface. Breathing in young strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate, a squeeze of lemon, a sprig of hay, little apple cider tart tingle in a good way & natural forest floor that fades, and a pinch of shortbread cookie. Sipping and there’s a jumble of all the berries including goose, pomegranate, little lemon, a mellow scone moment, and as it opens a bit of Georgia peach with a mineral lick of a rock & a wild frisky bounce. Just delightful!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: step away from the bag, this is a full on NO

Béatriz & Étienne are a very well rounded couple with backgrounds in everything from economics to architecture and now wine. Sure looks like these two can do just about anything when they make a decision, listen to their intuition, and make sure they end up exactly where they feel they should be. Turns out their home base in the wine world is in Chinon and includes not only the 4.5 ha of old 50-90 year old vines (only Cabernet Franc) but also a house & cellar which is perfect for raising a family & a farm (that also benefits the vines). If you want to see some beautiful images of their labor of natural love, pop over to their IG page. I love the pinned video of Béatriz spraying the vines with “valerian flower extract dynamised in water”. I had no idea that what helps us with stress also works for plants. As said, “We love the idea of healing plants with other plants!” 🍇🐇

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #vinnaturel #PétNat #petnat #kixhaya #closkixhaya #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #worldbyglass #organic #France #Loire #Chinon #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #vinnature #naturalwine #loirevalley #loirevalleywines @cheezit  @vinewinenyc @clos_kixhaya @terrestrialwine

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Precisely Mature

Domaine Couly-Dutheil
Blanc de Franc 2020
100% Cabernet Franc
Sustainable farming
Chinon, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Winemaker: Arnaud Couly Dutheil (4th gen)

Shining gold with a tiny warm blush. Scents of strawberries, cream or an Oreo center, and later green strawberry garden grassiness with the little smidge of lemon hint. Drinking in lovely strawberries (red and the whole range to green), raspberries, lemon/lime squeeze, and a touch of that Oreo cream…but is definitely dry. Elegant, smooth and like a magical kiss from a woodland nymph.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: pretty good. I was expecting to channel my inner Bill the Cat pfffft

Franc Blanc…huh? What a beautiful surprise! I know you may think beautiful an overused term, but truly it best describes what I see when I taste this wine. It’s a painting of delicate colors of rounded shapes woven within intricate lace and moments flecks of gold & magenta. Domaine Couly-Dutheil, a long time star of Chinon and Loire, celebrates their Cabernet Franc (it takes up 98% of their 90 ha of vines). They are so focused on just the right maturity for harvest which gives them only a few Goldilocks days (4-5). This is part of what makes them stand apart from so many other Cab Francs. “For many decades, a catchphrase has highlighted the vegetal notes or the green pepper taste of Cabernet Franc… we consider these notes to be a reflection of a lack of maturity. This is why we are convinced of the importance of a good maturity of the grapes which gives the wines notes of ripe fruit, silky and supple tannins while keeping a great freshness.” See…beautiful.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #CabernetFranc #Loire #Chinon #France @coulydutheil_vin @cynthia_hurley_french_wines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Bergerac By Bottle

Chateau Le Payral
Bergerac Rouge 2020
Appellation Bergerac Contrôlée
50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Organic, biodynamic (Demeter), green fertilizer, indigenous yeasts, and a lot of love
Razac-de-Saussignac, Bergerac, Dordogne, France
Winemakers: Isabelle & Thierry Daulhiac (7th generation)

Elegant maroon/ruby. Very first scent after the pour is butter that starts to fade and at moments gently lingers. Next up to bat are cherries (deep fresh ones and also dried), plums, an earthy warmth, and as time goes by a squeeze of raspberry & blackberry juice. Sipping and boy is this fresh. There’s cherries (again fresh and dried) & plums, a cocktail of blackberries (seeds & all)/raspberries/strawberries/blueberries, and that earthy oomph again with a little black olive pit. It’s a very easy drinker that’s perfect for a fall evening staring up to the stars, sitting near the grill and listening to the sizzle of the fat as it hits the coals from a giant steak and plump sausages. Delicious, romantic, and comforting all wrapped up into one.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: lovely. Brings out all sorts of berries

Ok, here’s my 2nd Chateau Le Payral and their rouge is equally delightful as their blanc, and it’s probably due to how they care and work with their terroir. In 2000 Isabelle & Thierry had a survey of their land, so they could see how best to proceed in the future. What should be planted and where, how should the vines be cared for and more; and that was when they decided it’s time to go truly organic. Wonderfully forward thinking for not just the well being of their holdings but also what will fall into the hands of the next generation and the future of everyone’s environment. Now, I just need to track down one more of their wines ‘La Bise’. If anyone out there knows where I can find it, please let me know! Once again thank you @all_things_food_nyc, Martin Walker, and Chateau Le Payral for helping me on my travel to Bergerac by bottle. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #redwine #France #Dordogne #bergerac #martinwalker #brunochiefofpolice @martinwalker346 @saviosoaresselections @chateaulepayral

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Happy As A Lark

Domaine de la Chanteleuserie
Cuvée Alouettes 2020
Cabernet Franc
Bourgueil AOC
HVE certified
Benais, Bourgueil, Loire, France
Winemaker: Thierry & Christine Boucard

Chill it…more than just a little bit. Lovely dark ruby with maroon and bluish rim glass. Hover a bit and out floats fragrances of strawberries, raspberries, plums, currants, and buttercream smooth that fades in and out as it warms and turns into a creamy berry scent like a bit of a mixed berry smoothie, and there’s also a touch of green bell peppers, and lively white pepper. First sip and it’s a tart zip and then cherries, red and green strawberries and their caps, raspberries, blackberries, young yellow plums, and a peppery edge. It’s refreshing and begging for a hot day to head down to the river with friends and a cooler full. Who wants to push me on the tire swing? 

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a more mixed bag of fruit

Oh this wine and the Domaine are just happy as a lark! You can’t escape it…from their name to this cuvée, and it even greets you with our feathered friend’s melodious song when you pop onto their website. So why is this little birdie so chipper and chirpy? I’m betting it’s due to the Breton (Cabernet Franc) in it’s pure beautiful form, and also the fact that the Boucards respect and care about their land and everything in it. That’s something to tweet about!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #lark #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Loire #France #CabernetFranc #Bourgueil #chanteleuserie #domainedelachanteleuserie @kermitlynchwine @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Listening to the Vine

Domaine Les Hautes Noëlles
hého le Rouge 2019
Val de Loire IGP (PGI)
45% Cabernet Franc, 45% Grolleau Noir, 10% Gamay
Organic, hand-harvested, indigenous yeast
Saint-Léger-les-Vignes, Loire, France
Owner & winemaker: Jean-Gabriel Tridon and his wife Juliane

Ruby pool with garnet rim. Delightful strawberries and raspberries greeting my nose, and as it warms citrus zest, black pepper & a warm spice like a bit of nutmeg (which I found the hard way, I am allergic to… It’s not pretty. It sucks because I love that holiday flavor), and a puff of vanilla. Those strawberries and raspberries are back in the sip and they’ve brought along cherries, and something a little dark rugged edgy, then a vanilla droplet appears, orange rind shave liveliness with a grind of pepper. Try it chilled, or try it slightly chilled. Either way pick up two because you’ll not want them to end.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smoooooth yeeeesssss

Juliane & Jean-Gabriel Tridon embarked on what looks like a second act or new adventure in life with Domaine Les Hautes Noëlles. I love the fact they committed themselves fully to wine and Jean-Gabriel went back to the books and hands on experience and education (especially on working and growing organic). I’m just going to let their words from their site speak for them because there is no way I could do it better. “In a world where Man seems to want absolute control of everything, the vine gives those who dedicate themselves to it a wonderful lesson in humility. There is what we understand about Nature. There is what we know about it without being able to explain it. And then there is the great unfathomable unknown. The vine demands constant attention. In particular, it requires us to think ahead and even to prepare, today, for the generations of tomorrow. As for the wine quietly and slowly developing in the silence of a vat, it takes its time. It takes the time it needs. This is now our lives, our daily lives within this unspoilt setting; this is what we wish to share with you.” 🍷❤️

#wine #winetasting #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #hého #heho #CabernetFranc #GrolleauNoir #Gamay #Loire #France #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram @vinewinenyc @skurnikwines @domaineleshautesnoelles @cheezits

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A Watermelon Moon

Sébastien David
Lisounette 2020
Vin de France
70% Cinsault & 30% Cabernet Franc
5 months aging in concrete tanks
Organic, biodynamic, wild yeasts, unfined and unfiltered
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France
Winemaker: Sébastien David

Pretty, pretty salmon color. First whiff out of the gate is buttercream, quickly followed by cherry pie, watermelon, and a smidge of funk with some interesting good depth. This ain’t your mama’s rosé. Ooh this tastes so good! Here’s that watermelon again, then a squish of lemon and also orange zest, and a salted cherry Starburst…you’ve never thought about doing that? C’mon we all do it with Snickers minis. why not? Wait, am I the only one? Back to the wine…there’s also a pull off the end of a croissant with a dab of clotted cream. Delicious!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oof so tart. Just put them away

So I’ve learned a new word that I never would have thought of hearing: “Hurluberlu” which from what I’m finding is “one who looks at the stars and planets to show him how to grow” and in some cases just an “eccentric man”. Hmmmm, well evidently this is part of Sébastien’s magic. He not only looks back to the past generations (he’s 15th) for guidance and techniques but also to the future with going biodynamic and permaculture. Another part of the future or branching out is when he took his first steps toward a rosé in “Lisounette”.  Well, as you can read above, the 2020 rocks! If it’s due to following celestial bodies, then I say lets all break out our telescopes and go moon bathing!

@docwineshop @docwinebar @hurluberluseb @tedward_ws @boboselections @cheezits #vindefrance #pairswithcheezits #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #wineinfluencer #winestagram  #Cinsault #CabernetFranc #saintnicolasdebourgueil #France #SébastienDavid #Hurluberlu #Lisounette #loirevalley

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An Empty Nest Filled with Vines

Old Westminster Winery
Franc Fizz 2020
Sparkling Cabernet Franc
90% Cabernet franc, 10% marquette
Handcrafted with minimal intervention, spontaneously fermented, unfined & unfiltered
Westminster, Maryland
Siblings: Winemaker Lisa Hinton, Farmer Drew Baker, GM Ashli Johnson

Hazy dark violet ruby natural bubbly. Let this fizz breathe and give it some space and your nose will be rewarded with strawberry, blackberry, that mellow smell of unwrapping a Jolly Rancher, and a walk through a fresh spring flower garden where someone has been digging in the dirt. Drinking in again strawberries, blackberries, and now plums (taking a big bite of the whole fruit and pit), a splash of cranberry freshness, a drop of balsamic reduction, tingle tangle fun, and as it opens more there’s a green sprout, and a pinch of dark earth, and late in the game smoke. 

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Brings more tarty to the party

This is more than a family winery, it started as empty nester winery. Jay & Virginia Baker started their family farm back in 1985, but it wasn’t till 2008, when the kids were all at college that they decided to turn it into a winery. The kids thought this was a fab idea and are now all in and in charge and their parents get to enjoy watching them work together. Note that none of this was realized overnight. The family put their heads together and carefully researched and sorted the best way to make “chasing the dream” a reality, and the first vines were planted in 2011. This is my first wine from Maryland, and what a fool I have been for not trying one before. Or maybe I’m a fool for not trying one from Old Westminster Winery, that just as the Baker’s kids, was raised with love.

@vinewinenyc @oldwestminsterwinery @cheezits #wine #bubbly #sparklingwine #fizz #vinho #vino #vin @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #cheezit #vinewinenyc #organic #winestagram #instawine #naturalwine #CabernetFranc #Westminster #Maryland #emptynest #emptynesters

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Fasten Your Seat Belt!

Swick Wines
Bring It
American Red Wine 2019
fbib
33% Pinot Noir, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 15% Graciano, 4% Syrah, 4% Nebbiolo, 4% Mourvèdre, 4% Grenache, 4% Cabernet Franc
Columbia Valley, AVA Willamette Valley AVA
Oregon/Washington blend. Fermented separately and blended. Whole Cluster ferments (except for Cab Sauv).
Organic & practicing organic
Bottled & produced Newborn, OR
Winemaker: Joe Swick

A lightly chilled shining ruby glass, and fasten your seat belts because you’re about to go on a ride through your senses. Fragrances of roses and natural funk to start leading into strawberries, smoke, salt, plums, tangy cherries, and the whole is dark/smooth and changing fast…vanilla pops up and funk fleeing but there’s still dark and some forest floor. A taste explosion! It’s lighter than smells, but still has weight. Here’s cherry, lots of multiple citrus zest, smoke, strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, a touch of the dark side (embrace it) and as it grows…blueberries and fun natural funk and bleeping vibrant.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smooths out the funk

Yes, it FBIB! This super drinkable Swick drops the mic. It’s smashable, mashable, and hard to put down. I’ve had a lot of Swicks, and they always leave me so happy. Maybe it’s because of, well in Joe’s own words: “Our philosophy is to make our wines as naked and raw as we possibly can while having them be fun and delicious.” Naked and raw…I like that! “Bring It” covers two states worth of grapes exclusively sourced from organic growers. It’s like you’re on a little road trip visiting all the vineyards in a single glass, and it’s all brought to you by Joe’s low intervention cellar. You don’t even need to worry about filling the car up, but you can always bring along snacks for the ride!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @swickwines @swickjoe @cheezits #pairswithcheezits #wine #cheezit #redwine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #organic #winestagram #instawine #oregon #washington #FBIB #PinotNoir #CabernetSauvignon #Malbec #Graciano #Syrah #Nebbiolo #Mourvèdre #Grenache #CabernetFranc #joeswick

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Making My Wish

Celler Pardas
Aspriu Negre 2009
100% Cabernet Franc
Penedès DO
Torrelavit, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Organic & sustainable (but they didn’t know that back then)
Winemakers/Viticulturists: Ramon Parera (oenologist) & Jordi Arnan (agronomist)

Gorgeous deep purple. Breathing in dark cherry, black pepper, chocolate, hazelnut, allspice, and vanilla cookie or should I say whiskey peat. Oh I’m so excited to taste, I’ve been sitting on this bottle for years. Darkness and depth is looming in a good way. There’s tart cherry, coffee and chocolate, black peppercorns, and again a hint of vanilla and plush love. Memories of December Spain visits are flooding in.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: darker, deeper, and a weird sweetness that verges on antique cola candy

You don’t need to let this gift breathe long. Maybe 45 minutes and it is on its way. 2009 was Pardas’ third vintage of Aspriu, and honestly I’m so happy to have been introduced to it by La Vinya del Senyor in 2014. Ramon Parera and Jordi Arnan pride themselves in letting the terroir reveal itself through their wines. This special Cabernet Franc came from a single vineyard “La Barraca”. You can taste their hard work, dedication, and emotional connection with this area, the vines, and the whole environment. As in their quote, “The desire of being reunited with nature, and establishing bonds which fulfill us is only human nature after all, though very often forgotten.” Nothing is forgotten with this bottle. Everything is celebrated.

Even though I can’t travel this year for my birthday, I can feel myself sitting in La Vinya del Senyor sipping a glass of Aspriu, with one of their foie i cep meatballs and like I usually do afterwards, wander into Lurdes Bergada & Syngman Cucala and if I’m lucky find, something beautiful to wear that night. God, I miss Barcelona, Alicante, Cadaqués, well all of Spain. I find when you really get down to knowing the citizens of anywhere and especially Europe and get past the point that they see you as a freaking tourist, but that you want to know their reality, then you can have the most wonderful conversations. We all melt down to the same caring giving family. People talk of Southern hospitality, but I have never seen more kindness than all the good souls from Europe (and yes, NY, we are the big melting pot) that I’ve encountered and happily now call my friends.

Spinning & celebrating to Katy Perry’s – Birthday!

@pardasceller @vinyadelsenyor @vilaviniteca @lurdesbergada_syngmancucala @cheezits #cheezit #wine #naturalwine #redwine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #biodynamic #katyperry #CabernetFranc #Penedès #Barcelona #Catalonia #Spain #Aspriu