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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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Protect & Preserve

Montecariano
La Madonna del Cariano Veneto 2020
Veneto IGT
Corvina & Corvinone 45%, Pelara 20%, Molinara 20%, other varieties 15%
Sustainable, hand harvested
San Pietro in Cariano, Verona, Italy
Owners are mother & sons: Mariella Gini, Marco (winemaker) & Matteo (business side)

Very pale yellow/green starlight…maybe it’s divine. First sniff and it’s fresh rained on slate followed by something floral like orchard blossoms, light white peaches, jasmine, and for  a bit musky in a good way. Kind of sexy for a madonna (not Ms. Madonna). Sipping peaches & full pears, that bit of musk/spice again, apricot, yellow tart plum, minerally river fresh, and a pinch of parsley. It’s a vibrant non bubbly blanc de noir with depth or oomph and is like an album you want to keep on repeat and never let it end.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s smooth but I prefer without

Mariella Gini always had her eyes on the land, whether it be her studies in archeology or return to her family’s in San Pietro, Cariano. They have strong feelings about the integrity of their soil, vineyards & history. She spells it out best, “I work with my sons Matteo and Marco – explains Mariella Gini – to protect this land, wanting to escape the rulebook. My intention was to preserve some natural grape varieties such as Pelara, Oseleta, Molinara, Teroldego, Croatina next to the tradional ones, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, because for us the product must be a reminder of its land “. After even a single glass of their wine, I know their land has made a huge imprint on my tastebuds and my heart. Oh, if you want to see a video on the life of one of their special grapes & their “extraordinary story”, just click. He’s a cute little character.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #frenchwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #Verona #Veneto #petnat #Italy #Madonna @soilairselection @montecariano_wines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Love Is In The Air

Weingut Maximin Grünhaus
Schloss Riesling 2021
VDP. Gutswein
Practicing organic but not certified/sustainable
Mertesdorf, Ruwer Valley, Germany
Winemaker: Maximin von Schubert

Shining gentle golden glass. Sniffing light melon, crisp pear, light cucumber, a touch of tangerine/grapefruit, and a tiny pinch of pie spice. Mmm sipping and it’s fresh and dry. There’s crisp pear blended with green tart apple and ooh a little tingle, honeydew, and a touch of kirby peel. Now this is a riesling I can really get into.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious and clean fruit

I just love finding out the history of lands and this estate is filled with a king, a kaiser (not a roll), an abbey, and the part I love most…the dowry (maybe if I had one of those I’d finally be hitched). When Conrad von Schubert asked for Ida Von Stumm’s hand in marriage, he not only ended up with her but also the whole estate. Passed through the generations, it’s now with Maximin von Schubert, and he and his wife & kids are doing a beautiful job caring for the land, vines & castle. Oh and back to weddings, you can also book your own at stately Schloss Maximin Grünhaus and celebrate with one of their special sparklers. I think that would be a perfectly romantic day (hint, hint)! 💍

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #JohnPaulYoung #loveisintheair #organic #Germany #Riesling #maximingrünhaus #ruwer #mosel @loosenbrosusa weingut_maximingruenhaus @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Pairs With Tryptophan

Tenuta Tascante
Ghiaia Nera 2019
Etna DOC
Nerello Mascalese
SOStain certified sustainable, vegan
Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Owners: The Tasca Family; Alberto Tasca 7th generation
Winemaker: Stefano Masciarelli

Color shining stained glass window ruby. At first there’s scents of buttery creamy cherry that leads to crème de cassis as it opens, plums, a little lavender breeze, with a blend of blueberry, blackberry & strawberry love, a bit of cola soda, and a smidge of peat on day one that later waves bye as it heads out the door. Lovely cocktail of flavors of cherry, cranberry, strawberry, blackberry, a hint of citrus peel, light lavender, a sprinkle of black & white pepper, lick of rock, a whiff of smoke, and there’s just so much going on that I didn’t expect in a good way.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it all smoooooth

The Tasca family found a perfect marriage of Nerello Mascalese and their Mt. Etna soil which keeps the vines healthy even if there’s a very rainy year. Their other major ingredient is also their dedication to the hard work of tending the vineyards and harvesting on the volcanic slopes (and boy are they beautiful). Their Ghiaia Nera (black gravel) is an honest lovely invite to experience and learn about them and their part of Etna. In my book, it’s also a light fresh friend that will help rouse you from the tryptophan induced holiday haze we’re entering into until the end of the year. Happy holidays y’all! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #MtEtna #Etna #Sicily #Italy #NerelloMascalese #Tryptophan #happyholidays @dallaterrawinerydirect @tascadalmerita @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Let It Show You It’s Life

GAI’A
Monograph 2021
100% Assyrtiko
Koutsi, Nemea, Greece
Co-owners: Yiannis Paraskevopoulos (winemaker & Ph.D in oenology) & Leon Karatsalos

Yellow starlight with green gentle shimmer. Breathing in pears, a little green melon ball w peach, apples that bloom into honeysuckle, a citrus blend of tangerine, lemon & more, a little fresh picked cucumber peel, and granite. Wow one sip takes me on a delightful rollercoaster ride! Lovely lemon/lime & lemongrass, pear, papaya, a smidge of pineapple, apple, ripe home grown (well watered) cucumber, parsley in the back, and nicely dry at the end of this tale. This is a lovely glass of wine that everyone will say pairs well with seafood, etc. but I love it alone. Sit alone. Let it open. Let it show you it’s life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: lovely

Gai’a or aka Mother Earth births beautiful wines with one foot in tradition and the other following new experiments in technology and growth. This is all symbolized in their logo of an ammonite/nature’s Golden Ratio which combines the beauty of nature and science. Makes sense having a wine scientist running the show (Yiannis Paraskevopoulos). 🔬🍇🍷After all this education and delicious wine, venture through Nemea to view some of the history left behind. There’s the Temple of Zeus, the nearby archeology museum, learn about their ancient games, and enjoy a relaxing moment in the present.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #Assyrtiko #Nemea #Greece @winebow @gaiawines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Who Doesn’t Love Presents?

Domaine Claude Vosgien
Ratafia
Freshly pressed Gamay must and Marc
18% ABV
Certified organic
Bulligny, Cotes de Toul, Lorraine, France
Owners/winemakers: Alexandre and Stéphane Vosgien

Chilled golden amber magic. As the cork pulls there’s caramel/toffee scent floating up that expands into white raisins, honeysuckle, brown sugar cookies that are fresh out the oven along with pecans and walnuts. Mmmmmm cozy! Sipping a nutty blend with caramels, honey, touch of orange peel, white raisins and dried pineapple. Glass of holiday goodness that brings all sorts of presents which keep popping up as you let it hang out. Who doesn’t love presents!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I just couldn’t bring myself to do it and ruin this beautiful moment. It would make me cry 😿

Also tried Ratafia with cava, kind of like you’d make a Kir Royale. Quite delicious and as time goes by, it became more weighted and honestly I got a bit on the tipsy side and it definitely brought a blush to my cheeks. Be careful on how many you drink. This concoction although powerful has a refined grace. Alexandre and Stéphane Vosgien (brothers) are truly onto a good thing, and this also reaches out to their long established land. They’re the 10th generation but the 1st to bring it to the sustainable/certified organic level. I say bravo, excellent work, and keep ‘em coming!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #frenchwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Lorraine #Ratafia #France #Gamay   @domaineclaudevosgien @steephillwine @antosicurezza @cheezit

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Classy Sassy Primitive

Domaine Sébastien David
Primitif 2020
VDF
100% Chenin Blanc
Pét-Nat
Organic, biodynamic
Grapes from Loir-et-Cher
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France
Winemaker: Sébastien David

Warm yellow golden. Sniffing a little funky nature that needs to breathe and opens to brioche, pears, mellow melon, round apples with a lemon & tangelo sparkle, salt, and a mineral rockiness. Sipping pretty pears, apple, a little chalk that hides and waves back at you here and there, lemon squeeze sizzle, honeydew, and toasted breakfast baguette with a little warm of some comfortable spice that has my lips tingling and plumping. Fresh, crisp, friendly and looking for a night looking toward the moon (you know like what Sébastien does with his wines).

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a cider feel

Well, this is a surprise! A Chenin Blanc sparkly from the man known for Cabernet Franc. It may be a different grape but you can feel his winemaking “Hurluberlu” hand (or hands off) in this bottle. So now I wonder about the name, “Primitif”. Is it due to the méthode ancestrale, or the way he  looks back to the past generations (he’s 15th) for guidance and techniques, even though he always has had his eye on the future with going biodynamic and permaculture. Whatever the naming decision, this bottle is pretty darn classy & sassy for a primitive.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #frenchwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #biodynamic #CheninBlanc #PétNat #petnat #Loire #LoireValley #France #SébastienDavid @hurluberluseb @tedward_ws @boboselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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🎶Got My Stretchy Pants On🎶

Terres Blondes
Gamay 2020
Val de Loire IGP
Grapes from organically-farmed vineyards that live up to Domaine de la Charmoise’s (Jean-Sébastien Marionnet) standards, hand harvested
Loire Valley, France

Shining ruby velvet. Buttery start to these scents of cherries, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry mixed up with a little bunch of spring flowers, and after a bit an earthiness that eventually lures in a little pine sap & citrus zest. Take a sip and here’s that blend of raspcherbluestrawberry, plums, a touch of fresh figs, blackberries, and a woodsy earthy walk through the brush with a little pine needle & tiny holiday friendly citrus tang on the back.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm deeper and warmer

This wine is delicious and so fits with the upcoming holidays. Definitely perfect with the turkey day dinner and especially with the following morning’s turkey & sage stuffing sandwiches. Also pairs well with stretchy pants, so take a cue from Carrie Underwood and pull up to the table prepared and pile it on. 🍷

“So bring on the turkey, potatoes, casserole dishes
‘Cause I ain’t messing around with them buttoned up britches
You got them skinny jeans on, girl, I feel sorry for you
‘Cause I just tried everything, and I’m going back for round two
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy pants)
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy, stretchy)
Spandex and Lycra, you better work it for me
‘Cause I’m about to expand this band of elasticity
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy pants)
I got my stretchy pants on (stretchy, stretchy)”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #frenchwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #Loire #France #Gamay  #carrieunderwood #stretchypants #thanksgiving #TerresBlondes @martineswines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Character Reference

Bodegas Hornillos Ballesteros
Mibal 2021
100% Tempranillo
Ribera del Duero D.O.
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested
Roa de Duero, Burgos, Spain
WInemakers: Miguel Hornillos y Javier Ballesteros

Dark purple with a ruby rim. Floating up to my nose is a butter cherry vanilla cream start then just good ol’ fresh cherry followed by plums, blueberry & blackberries with a tiny touch of boysenberry, dried cranberry, raisins, and some wild herbs all tangled up. Now all those wafts are dancing on my tongue like a shaken cocktail of cherries, pomegranate, blueberries, raspberry zip, dried berries of all sorts, some brambly bits and as it opens a pinch of espresso. A glass of evening intrigue. Hey, want me to pour you one? What’s the harm? 💋

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm cozy and juicy

Guess this is kind of a buddy story that ended up a family tale. Miguel and Javier already BFFs came from wine families and became fully related when Javier got hitched to Miguel’s sister. Not sure which came first the wedding or the “garage”, but these two ended up with one cool wine experiment or more apt…it’s a continual experience. Each harvest gives them a new palette to create from, or as they say, “Just as a master chef will never prepare the same dish, our winemakers never act in the same way with each wine and each year. In this way we forge unique wines with their own character.” In my book they get a fabulous character reference from me. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #riberadelduero #Spain #Tempranillo #garagewine #hornillosballesteros @tedward_ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Helping Out Dad

Poderi Vaiot
Lupestre
100% Barbera
Barbera D’Alba DOC
Aged in apricot wood casks
Montà, Cuneo (Roero Hills), Piedmont, Italy
Owners: Daniele and Walter Casetta

Deep ruby with blue pops. At first that gentle butter/caramel whiff that waves bye, then cherries, plums, raisins, sultry dried figs, blackberry, and a nice grind of black pepper. Sip and there’s cherry with some oomph & plums, blackberry brambly, dried cherries & blueberries, raisins, a little date (dinner & movie anyone), black pepper, and a teeny smidge of cardamom the more it opens.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: richer, deeper and dried fruit

Daniele and Walter are the 3rd generation of this winemaking family. Their dad Franco taught them early on how to work with the grapes and care for the land. Daniele recounts in one of their winery videos, memories of when they were kids they would “help” out their dad in the cellar. Even if it is true as Daniele says that they may have been adding to their father’s work, it was definitely not a waste of time. Everything he imparted throughout the years has paid off and these brothers are keeping his memory and dream moving forward.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #barbera #barberadalba #Roero #Piedmont #Italy #poderivaiot @soilairselection @poderi.vaiot @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit