Posted on

Intriguing Melody

Cascina I Carpini
Rosato Frizzante Pet Nat NV
Barbera
Organic, holistic, vegan
Pozzol Groppo, Piedmont, Italy
Founder/winemaker: Paolo Carlo Ghislandi

Late sunset warm red and orange electric with tiny bubbles. It’s like breathing in a glass of fun. There’s a squeeze of blood orange, salt rim, a touch of natural funk that merges to a mineral vibe with depth, and raspberries and strawberries grooving together with white pepper, and as it warms and grows  tiny rose blooms. Those strawberries and raspberries are still dancing but this time on my tongue joined with a little young gooseberry pucker & smidge of lemon spritz spark, and that white pepper pinch again. My lips are tingling from this crisp/vibrant party.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bleh goes too tangy. Leave it solo.

It’s all about watching, listening, and waiting for Paolo Carlo Ghislandi. Before he even chose where he would establish his winery and vineyards he considered the perfect spot, the right grapes, how to get it to work together naturally, and let it guide the path to wine. His site details his vision & process (and boy is it well designed and beautifully written). Just read this little passage because anything I write will not do it justice to his creative eloquence. “In wine I always look for the fruitiness typical of the single grape varietal and the expression of the territory where is harvested. I imagine the must is the assembly of all the strings inside the grand piano case. Experimenting over the years, I noticed there is big difference in the sound output when the “must” is performed using selected yeast rather than indigenous yeasts. The indigenous yeasts, being heterogeneous and different from each other, are able to play from lower to higher tones with all semitones, providing a melody not immediately recognizable, but more complex and intriguing. And that’s why I choose to use only indigenous yeasts and spontaneous fermentations.” ✨

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #petnat #winestagram #instawine #Barbera #winemaking #pairswithcheezits #italy @icarpini @SkinContactWines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

So Easy To Love

Mad Med
Le Rouge 2021
Dry Red Wine
VDF
Grenache Noir 50%, Carignan 10%, Vermentino 40%
Organic (working on certification), native yeast, unfiltered
Provence, France
Grapes selected, vinified, aged & canned by Harry et Max

Please chill before popping this can. I know it’s sometimes hard to wait, but trust me it’ll be sooo good. Pomegranate cranberry stained glass. At first there’s a butter glazed whiff that fades. Scents then emerge of strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, dark cherry, and yummy brioche. Sipping and here’s a cocktail of all those berries & cherry with a granite zing. It’s a fun bunch of juicy and dry all at the same time. Throw it in the cooler and crack it out on a mountain trail while checking out the turning leaves.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: refreshing and deeper

Ok Mad Med, once again you have really surprised me on how good a wine in a can, can be. This red & white grape blend (vin gris?) rocks my world. You make it so easy to love you, and so easy to take you anywhere…well, anywhere that is legal. Still awaiting word on if you’re related to my favorite “party pig” #bobsinglar  Also take note this can is kind of like the Tardis, and you may consume more wine than you realize, so beware of 🍷 goggles.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #vinnature #wineinacan #cannedwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #vermentino #grenache #carignan #organic #Provence #France #lamongestine #harryetmax #madmed @madmedcans @SkinContactWines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Nature’s Gifts

Domaine Marc Portaz
Tête de Cuvée 2020
Vin de Savoie ‘Apremont’
100% Jacquère
hand harvest, indigenous yeasts
Apremont, Savoie (AOC), France
Winemaker: Jean-Marc Portaz

Light golden shining beacon. Breathing in bit of lemon-lime creme pie and spritz, round flintiness as it opens, and a smidge of tarragon. Now onto the taste and there’s honeysuckle, lemon/lime spark and a bit of key lime, pear, a limestone lick, pinch of white pepper, and a little of that bit of tarragon again (hey its been in my csa box a lot lately so we’ve become close friends).

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smoooooth

When I was a kid, during summer vacation from school, dad would pack up our station wagon and drive us across country and through Canada. He wanted me to see nature in all it’s beauty and power. I was fascinated by the glaciers we saw, their history, and what may be in and under them. Portaz’s vines in their ‘Apremont’  vineyards were born from an avalanche and the soil fed from what it left behind (debris from glaciers and limestone bits). Gives me a nostalgic warm feeling knowing I’m drinking a creation formed from that icy natural history that still fills my heart and brain with awe, and reminds me how grateful I am to have a father that cared enough to show me how beautiful and powerful nature can be.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #vindesavoie #winestagram #vinblanc #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #glacier #beautyinnature #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Jacquere #Apremont #Savoie #france #MarcPortaz #DomaineMarcPortaz @wilsondaniel @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Oh Those Dancing Bubbles

Bujonis
(produced and bottled by Bodegas Sumarroca)
Cava Brut
Parellada 41%. Xarel·lo 27%, Macaque 23%, Chardonnay 9%
Sustainable, estate bottled, family run
Subirats, Alt Penedès, Catalonia, Spain

Cool straw with bouncing bubbles. Smells crisp all around of apple, pineapple (smidge), and citrus blend, with wet granite, and a tiny crumb of buttery brioche. First sip and it is so ALIVE! Again crisp, green and red delicious apples that wake up your cheeks, a squeeze of lemon and zest, and a lick of mineral rocky seltzer. Just so bright and refreshing.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: pretty good. Kind of like how cheddar and apples meld

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is to kick back with a glass of cava. In fact, it’s a ritual of mine in the evening. There’s just something about all those dancing bubbles of a good crisp pour that takes my mind well…on vacation. It gives me that same feeling as the first day we’ve set down in Spain and are about to start a new adventure. It’s the simple things that sometimes awaken the best memories. ✈️🥂❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Cava #sparklingwine #brut #winestagram #vinblanc #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #AltPenedes #Penedes #catalunya #catalonia #Spain #bujonis @bsumarroca @vinoslibres @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Tout Est Art

Château de Jau
Le Jaja de Jau
IGP Côtes de Gascogne
100% Sauvignon
Organic, HVE 3, beekeeping, & 2 of my fave ways to deter pests: “sexual confusion” & nesting boxes for birds & bats
Cases-de-Pène, France
Jean et Bernard Dauré & now Simon (Bernard’s son)

Shimmering starlight with a touch of super light green. Sniff and a friendly grapefruit waves hi, next up is a swirl of lemon, lime, and orange along with yellow plums, peaches, and a honeysuckle breeze. Sip and here’s that grapefruit again with lemons, limes, gooseberries (I only encountered them in person & fresh over the past 10 years and that was quite a surprise), a very green crisp apple bite with a bit of not overpowering peach and mango thrown in that all of a sudden you realize hey there’s bell pepper in here. Theres also a mineral lick of a rock. It’s bright and has me craving jamón croquettes.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: nice but doesn’t rock my boat

Little did I expect this bottle to introduce me to such a long history (since 12th century) filled with monks, pirates, wine, and a silkworm farm. After an assortment of previous owners, Château de Jau is now a part of the Dauré family. They embraced everything about the property, what lives and grows there, and the creative spark that has been ignited within their walls. Actually, remember that silkworm farm…since the 70s they turned it into an exhibition space of some quite renowned contemporary artists and also workshops for budding ones. Even their “La Jaja de Jau” labels have the handiwork (literally) of Ben (Vautier). As his painting says, “Tout est art.” 🍷

Oh and side note, there is something about this artistically magical place that makes me think Wes Anderson.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #vinblanc #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #WesAnderson #accidentallywesanderson #art #Sauvignon #Sauvignonblanc #cotesdegascogne #france #benvautier @vinoviawinegroup @chateaudejau @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Graceful Composition

Georgas Family
Retsina of Mesogia
Black Label
100% Savatiano
Biodynamic, organic, hand harvested, unfined, unfiltered, skin contact & fresh local pine resin
Spata, Attica, Greece
Family winery in the hands of latest generation: Dimitris Georgas

Yellow gold that deepens over time. Tickling my nose upfront is citrusy (lemon, tangerine, valencia orange) pine, yellow roses, wafts of wintergreen, eucalyptus and a bit of Ricola. It totally clears your sinuses in a good refreshing way. All of the smells are in the taste and it really wakes up my mouth, and the citrus blend becomes more prevalent. It’s a unique and delightful glassful that is full of surprises, and right now I’m thinking there’s some smoked piggy this would match well with and heck even a hot pastrami on rye.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO

Filled with tradition, the Georgas Family winery has been passed through the generations. The latest, Dimitris, originally followed another path with degrees in geology, oceanography, and environmental management, but returned after inheriting from his father. My guess is that his studies had a bit of influence on where their vineyards, wines, etc. are now with organic and biodynamic. So, the more good retsinas I try, I’m discovering they are at times fun & delightful and also can be structured & full of depth but always bursting with creativity. In this bottle it’s reverberates and vibrates like a Zoë Keating composition filled with passion and emotion. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #savatiano #Spata #Greece #Retsina #organic #biodynamic #zoekeating @georgas_family @eklektikon @docwineshop @cheezit

Posted on

Special Enough For A 2nd Look

Lectores Vini
Pomagrana Red 2021
100% Trepat
Conca de Barberà
Organic, hand harvested, native yeasts
Penedès, Cataluña, Spain
Winemakers/Owners: Fredi Torres & Marc Lecha

First and very important…chill this baby! Deep shining rose with blue pops. Creamy plush scent start that heads into raspberries, strawberries, pomegranates, cherries, and nice shake of white pepper. This is a lovely flavorful fruit cocktail of strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate, and a citrus splash of lemons & blood oranges. It’s juicy with a little granite/cement floor and shall I say flirty “you hoo, hey there!”…that makes me give a 2nd over the shoulder glance, turn around and go back for more. It’s just delicious, not too sweet/just the right fit, and easy drinking,

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it even more juicy

Well I got my wish…the 2nd Pomagrana. It’s a whole different beast (ok beast really isn’t the right word because it’s more of a glammy, fun beauty). Mr. Torres & Lecha bring their talent to the party again (see Artistic Expression By Bottle & Street), and also the design work of Goho Studios. The labels for the Red & Blanco gracefully guide you to the secrets that await, and I’m going to have mention Goho Estudio’s film “BCN Rise&Fall” again, because just like these wines, you’re going to want to revisit it again. I always love giving art/wines a 2nd gander to find something special I might have overlooked. Check it out, bc it’ll give you an insight on Barcelona’s street art history, the zines, shops for cans, the culture, the govt. that at times wipes it out and “penalizes genuine artistic expression”, and most of all the human side of it.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Xarello #Cataluña #Spain #Barcelona #streetart @SelectionsDeLaVina @gohoestudio @lectoresvini @docwineshop @cheezit

Posted on

Drink Well, Live Well

Domaine Chasselay
Quatre Saisons 2020
Appellation Beaujolais Controlée
100% Gamay
Organic
Châtillon d’Azergues, France
Family winery: Jean-Gilles & Christiane (parents), Fabien & Claire Chasselay

Give this one a nice cave chill. Ruby with a little bluish coating kind of like those questionable yet so loved rubber coated jeans I had from the 80s. I wish mom hadn’t put them out at a yard sale. Sniffing a pretty bouquet of lilies, lilacs, iris, violets & a sprinkling of other flowers, cherries, raspberries, a fennel frond, snd give it a little time and here comes that welcome forest floor. Wait a bit more and there’s salt cured black Morrocan olives and their pits, and then the flowers creep back in with orange zest. Tasting a blend of cherries, raspberries & orange zest (not heavy at all but full of flavors), that bunch of flowers again, alpine herbal, elderflower, anise, and that olive pit comes back to even it all out.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: darker deeper funkier, yeah!

How far back can you trace your family tree? The Chasselays, at least in wine growing date back to 1464, which is pretty darn old…in fact they’re one of the oldest wineries in Beaujolais, and one of the early ones going organic (certified in 2006). Obviously there’s no weedkillers and those other nasty chemicals, but plenty of natural love for their vines through cultivating beneficial flora and fauna. I love their “Drink Well, Live Well” part of their site because it just shows that this family truly cares for their friends. You’ll find not only the Domaine’s goodies in their cellar store, you’ll also find wine and beers they’re promoting for their friends. Now that’s just beautifully neighborly.🍻

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #beer #instawine #winemaking @worldbyglass #Gamay #Beaujolais #France #drinkwell #livewell #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @martineswines @docwineshop @docwinebar @domainejgchasselay @cheezit

Posted on

Butterfly Kisses

Famille Bonnin
La Croix des Loges
Anjou Blanc Sec 2021
100% Chenin Blanc
Anjou Blanc AOC
Sustainable, Terra Vitis certification, HVE 3
Martigné-Briand, Loire, France
Winemakers: Jean-Christian and Sophie Bonnin

Pale or even icy yellow green (Can you tell I’m still in the middle of a heatwave? Embracing anything icy even if in color.) Cool and fresh scents of apricots, peaches, little spring blossoms, wet granite, and mellow pear. Sip and it’s light, easy and not overly well everything. Kind of like butterfly kisses…it just gently wakes your tongue to those apricots again, peaches, pear, some honeydew straight from the cooler, a fresh twinge of citrus/tangerine spark, and a lick of that wet granite again. Just simply beautiful…

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Gives it a kick! I like this one both ways.

The Famille Bonnin have deep roots (ok bad vine pun) to Martigné-Briand, dating back to 1920, and they’ve stayed on the wine track all these years. The current generation has kept up their momentum and passion through traditions, modernizing, and proving their love for their environment with certification & transparency. As it says on Steep Hill Imports’ site, their manifesto is “Life is beautiful!“, and this bottle will melodically remind you by each glass. On a personal note, this was a much needed nudge because I’ve had some crazy things thrown my way lately. Famille Bonnin, thank you for turning my vision back to the simple elegance of finding happiness in the little things in life. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking @worldbyglass #cheninblanc #anjou #Loire #France #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #lifeisbeautiful #steephillwine @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @famille_bonnin @cheezit

Posted on

Breaking The Cycle

Gabernik 23
Pét-Nat 2020
Sparkling Wine
100% Rumeni Muškat
Sustainable, organic, vegan, hand harvested
Štajerska, Slovenia
Small family owned winery passed down from father to son
Owner: Janko Bogatic
Winemaker: Nicholas Gee

Hazy warm gold with super active white bubbles dancing on the rim. Breathe in and there’s a puff of a “big fat yeast roll” (If you’re a child of the 90s you’ll remember), limes, lemons along with a little lemon hard candy, ginger liveliness, and naturally effervescent water with a little mineral sniff. Sipping and oh all the scents are here in flavor! It’s crisp lemon lime spritzy, more of that ginger, a smidge of a bit of greenery, slivers of mango & banana, and a seltzer dry feel. Yeah, this is good, and it takes me on a refreshing vacation.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: crisp cocktail and fine but prefer without

I love how Gabernik 23 keeps bringing bottles of happiness! They’ve brought me out of my overthinking funk that last week presented me with a ridiculous writer’s block. Just like how this pét-nat coaxed me out of my hamster wheel cycle of banging my head against my desk, Janko and Nicolas finessed a dry & vivacious bubbly from Yellow Muscat. As a kid picking our muscat, I would have never have thought they could be turned into something this fresh, poppy, and crisp. Bravo! 🥂

Oh and side note…Janko, love your “Zero Fs Were Given” t-shirt…seems we are of the same mind.

#wine #PetNat #PétNat #sparklingwine #bubbly #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #RumeniMuškat #rumenimuskat #winestagram #instawine #zerofucksgiven @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Slovenia #gabernik23 @vsiwine @gabernik23 @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit