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Wine By Candlelight

Domaine de la Bergerie
La Cerisaie 2019
Anjou Rouge
AB certified
Champ sur Layon, France
Winemaking Guégniard family: Founded/bought in 1961 by Marie-Scolastique and has passed through the generations

Deep dark goth cherry velvet with a purple shimmer. Swirl and here comes scents of dried and fresh cherry, plums, fresh green bell pepper, olive pit, a bouquet garni of thyme & rosemary, and lilacs as it opens and later expands to a big bouquet of flowers. Nice juicy sipping here of plums, cherries, and here comes that bouquet garni again with coriander added in, a little oil cured black olives, and then here come running some elegant roses and lavender.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: juicy and smooth

Domaine de la Bergerie was purchased in 1961, through an auction known as vente à la bougie, which ok call me ignorant, but I had never heard of that before. Actually it’s a very cool, fair and civilized way of bidding (dating back to the 15th century) timed by the burning of candles. Each are around 30 seconds and the holders/candelabras are pretty cool. When the last candle is out, the auction is over. How exciting that moment must of been when Marie realized the property was now hers! The domaine has continued to be a family driven venture, and they’re in the 8th generation with daughters Anne and Marie. They’ve also brought a chef into the fold too (Anne’s husband David). So when you visit, you can also dine in his Michelin star restaurant, La Table de la Bergerie.

#wine #holidaywine #holidays #bougie #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Anjou #France  #DomainedelaBergerie #sustainable #organic @domaine_de_la_bergerie @martineswines @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Everybody Wants To Be A Cat

Domaine de Saint Pierre/Fabrice Dodane
Le Dos D’Chat
Trousseau des Corvées 2019
VDF
Organic, native yeasts
Mathenay, Jura, France
Winemaker: Fabrice Dodane

Dark shiny garnet. Take a breath and here comes strawberries, cherries, blueberries, and raspberries tumbling out and followed by irises, tiny green shoots, and as it grows there’s raisins, pinch of earth, and a tiny zip of lemon zest. Tip back and dancing on my tongue are cherries, plums…and boy is this smoooooth! Keep going and there’s strawblueraspberry with a little blackberry bite, Valencia orange zest, and an earthy underside that plays back on the fringe with a stray strand of hay (and maybe a little pine needle) that wave hello and hide. Now I’m exhaling just a little white pepper (achoo). Give it day of rest and it’ll embrace you with a little bit darker, deeper oomph.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: more berries and soooooo smooooth

This is one happy smooth jazz cat that makes me smile, laugh, and shimmy around the room. He’s not the Cheshire one but more of a whole other clowder. You know like that exuberant, jumping, grooving scene from “The Aristocats”. I’m sure I drove my parents insane playing that song on repeat because you have to know “Everybody Wants To Be A Cat” (Electro Swing Remix by Dave Wave).

#wine #jazz #vino #vin #winelife #redwine #葡萄酒 #ワイン #naturalwine #trousseaudescorvées #organic #Jura #France #TheAristocats #cats @worldbyglass @dave_wave_official #pairswithcheezits #fabricedodane @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Living Freely in Harmony

Lindenlaub
En Liberté 2020
Pinot Gris Pét-nat
Organic, unfined, unfiltered
Dorlisheim, Alsace, France
Winemaker: Christophe Lindenlaub

Brilliant cloud filled sunset streaked orange with pink undertones…think a beautiful watercolor with tiny crystals. Scents run out and bounce around (like the happy leaping Shiba Inu on the label) of oranges and orange blossoms, lush flowers, and a hint of pink grapefruit. Tasting slightly light fizzy orange/citrus but definitely not my childhood Nehi more Orangina, smoke and white pepper, light peach, a splash of tangerine, and a lick of granite.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: delicious and super smooth

Everywhere I look, I keep reading about Christophe Lindenlaub and his abundant energy, positivity, and enthusiasm (he’s even compared to “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”). Is this why his wines are so delightful? Sounds like it’s part of the reason, but I’m betting it’s also due to his patience. He’s “Mr. Natural” and low-intervention, which means he knows how to listen and how to wait which leads to harmony in the vineyards and all the way into the bottle.

#wine #naturalwine #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #PinotGris #petnat #Pétnat @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #Dorlisheim #Alsace #France @vinewinenyc @christophelindenlaub @super_glou @cheezit

 

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Magical Cranberry Memories

Domaine Philippe Tessier
Chemin Noir 2020
VDF
100% Pineau d’Aunis
Organic (Ecocert certified), native yeasts
Cheverny, France
Winemakers: Simon (son) Tessier and Philippe (father, who handed over the reigns in 2020)

This color reminds me of those oh so coveted antiques “cranberry glass”. Breathing in cherries, wild plums and a touch of their blossoms, some earth/forest floor that flees, then there’s a little mace and black pepper. Tasting those cherries and plums again joined by cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, squish of lime, orange zest and very welcomed pinch of black pepper. There’s also a little earthy funky with snap of picked by the roadside blackberries and their seeds. You know when you’re rambling through the brambles and getting stuck all over but it’s so worth to just eat in the sun and the juice streaming down your chin. Yet all of it is light and dancing and magical like something brought to you by a wood sprite.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: meh, I like it better without…some of the magic is dampened.

So pleased to meet you Pineau d’Aunis (sometimes called “Chenin Noir” even though DNA now shows y’all are not related). Your personality has jogged so many childhood memories from staring at the “cranberry glass” in my mother’s glassware cabinet (that I was not allowed to even breathe on) to the idyllic days of wild berry picking. Glad that Philippe Tessier decided to experiment and add you to a little plot back in 2011, and his son Simon is tending to you now. As the Tessier family believe, “We defend peasant, artisanal, honest and sincere viticulture. A wine must be the expression of the place where it comes from, the reflection of the climatic conditions of the year and a little of the winegrower”. If you want to find an honest snapshot of the vintages through the years check out their notes on their site: https://philippetessier.fr/notre-savoir-faire#lmv

#wine #winelover #redwine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #pineaudaunis #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #Cheverny #Loire #France #domainephilippetessier #philippetessier @zevrovineselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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A Little Birdie Told Me To Give This A Try

Domaine Brana
Ilori ‘Les Jonquilles’ Blanc 2016
Irouléguy AOC
Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng & Petit Courbu
Biodiversity, HVE level 3 certified (and that means a lot)
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Irouléguy, France
Spirits and winemaking family: Jean and Martine Brana (brother and sister)

Spring flower (daffodil) yellow with a green glimmer. Oh this is lovely. Breathing in pears, musky honeydew but the musk fades and honeydew is still hanging around, just rained on sidewalk/concrete ( I love that smell), a light citrus blend, and pineapple. Sipping and here’s those pears again, honeysuckle nectar, pineapple, a tiny citrus (grapefruit) back pop, and it’s a glass of grace and joyous laughter all at once.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: eh…why ruin a good thing

At Domaine Brana, it’s not just wine but spirits too. Jean and Martine’s father, Etienne, first planted their pear orchard back in the 70s, and embarked on setting up a distillery. By the 80s, he saw the potential in this gorgeous steep diverse terroir to plant vines and a build a winery. Sadly Etienne passed in 1992, and his wife and children carried on his dream. I love their passion for nature and biodiversity, and putting in all the hard work to be HVE level 3 certified. With their 110 nesting boxes, they’ve brought back birds (and buggies) that hadn’t been seen in the area for ages. You can find these feathered friends gracing some of their labels too (just not this 2016).

#wine #naturalwine #whitewine #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #eaudevie #spirits #Irouléguy #irouleguy #France @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram @brana_officiel @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Best Present Ever!

Domaine de la Charbonnière
Côtes du Rhône AOP 2019
Grenache, Syrah
organic, sustainable, hand harvested and sorted twice
Rhône Valley, France
Family run winery
Winemaker: Veronique Maret

Shining ruby star. Give the glass a little personal time out and then scents of earth climb out along with cherries, blackberries, a bit of strawberries, black pepper, and a pinch of dried sage. First sip and it’s cherries and pits, then poof a big ol’ mix of berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries with caps & boysenberries), pepper (black & white), fresh farm grown red apple skin bite, prunes, and a little smoke exhale. This may be a medium but it’s as comforting as a plush robe. Fall has fully kicked in and it’s time to start snuggling up. Anyone want to join me?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: smoooooth

Back in 1912, Eugene Maret bought what I think is one of the best presents ever for his wife which is this Domaine. How do you even put a bow on something like this! Sure beats out a Lexus (I’m sure you’ve seen their “December to Remember” ads) and so much better to pass down through the generations. Veronique and Caroline (4th generation) are managing the winery, and Veronique after working with her father, took over as winemaker in 2012. She also breathed in new life by initiating going organic and it sure looks like the critics approve.

#wine #winelover #whitewine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #Grenache #Syrah #Rhône #Rhone #RhoneValley #France #naturalwine #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #DomainedelaCharbonniere @baronfrancois.ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Loving the Flip Side

Face B
Pif Paf
Brut Nature NV
Blanquette de Limoux AOP
Mauzac  & Chenin Blanc
Organic, hand harvested, Méthode Champenoise, bottle aged for 18 months
Calce, Roussillon, France
Winemaker: Séverin Barioz 

Pale pretty yellow. Ooh breathing in sweet wisteria, magnolias, honeysuckle, apples, and creamy mellow pears. Those apples and pears reappear in taste and also a creamy feel. Next comes some honey but not overly sweet because there’s fresh crisp citrus bits with a little hazelnut, and grass.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s an ideal pairing

From what I’m seeing the name Face B comes from the B-side of a single. You remember those…right? Well, can you believe the Smith’s “How Soon is Now” was a B-side? Seriously, it was on the back of “William, It Was Really Nothing” in 1984. See just because it’s the flip side, doesn’t mean it’s 2nd tier. Just like this bottle of bubbly give it a chance and you’ll find that your “B” is really an “A”.

#wine #naturalwine #winelife #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Mauzac #CheninBlanc #Calce #Roussillon #France @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #thesmiths #methodechampenoise #facebcalce @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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A Golden Island Cocktail

Vinícola Taro
Blanco 2019
Malvasía
DO Lanzarote
Organic, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Winemaker: Pablo Matallana
Label artist: Carlos Matallana

Pure spun gold. First sniff and something a little wild jumps out to say “hello!”, then follows singed brioche, smoky goodness along with a citrus blend w an IPA grapefruit floating in and out and after time warm honey follows…also some freshly rained on concrete and a salty breeze (yeah it really does, I’m not quoting a cheesy greeting card). Drinking a cocktail of orange, tangerine, and lemon with an IPA twist, melon, pears and apples, serious smoke as time goes by with a kiss of salt, and a granite/mineral (volcanic soil fed) lick. This is crisp yet complex and damn wonderful!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: digging it!

As much as I love this bottle, just looking at it and all I can think is of La Palma’s volcano which is causing evacuations, destruction and terrible air quality. I know Vinícola Taro is from Lanzarote which is fortunately one of the eldest islands (technically dormant) and placed far enough away that so far they are currently safe, but according to El Pais is eventually (far, far in the future) “destined to sink under the effects of erosion”. If you are interested in the birth of the Canary Islands, their growth, and what is currently happening, check out their very informative article/infographics.

#wine #naturalwine #winelife #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Malvasía #Lanzarote #CanaryIslands #Spain #cheezit @worldbyglass @el_pais #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #PabloMatallana @matallana_man @taro.vinicola @matallana.pablo @josepastorselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Gravity’s Pull

Nicolas Arnou
Chouette! 2020
VDF
100% Chenin Blanc
Organic, natural wine, no filtration or pumps, gravity cellar, and following lunar patterns
Les Champ-sur-Layon, Pays de la Loire, France

Deep gold warmth. Scents of apples, oranges, pops of hay, all spice, hazelnut hints, and honeycomb (my great-grandfather was a beekeeper and oh how I love those bees…nothing like chewing the comb). There’s also an underlying funk that fades. First sip and dang that’s natural! Here comes hay, apples, apricots, green pluots, orangina and a light taste of circus peanuts…hmmm. Just lively moon-dappled vibrance!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmmmm crisp

Turning from the life of an electronics engineer to winemaker, now that’s a nice career change. Nicolas definitely doesn’t have bats in the belfry, but he sure does in the cellar. When he took on his 10 hectares of vineyards (part of Domaine de la Raimbaudières) there was also an old 3 level gravity cellar housing his new bio beneficial friends. More new buddies can be found inhabiting (and assisting in) the organic grounds from the small ladybugs to the haunting owl on the label. So, I have to say this is a first for me, another of Nicolas’ wines “Le Canon à moutons” makes an appearance in a comic book (“Sauvages!!!”). Ok, this isn’t like L&R or Deadpool, but the artist Otto T. depicts Thomas Ferrand collecting wild edible wonderments and what is better to pair with a foraged finds menu than natural wine? 🥂

#wine #naturalwine #winelife #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #CheninBlanc #Loire #France #cheezit #organic #owls #Chouette #bats #loveandrockets #deadpool @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #nicolasarnou @terrestrialwine @nicolasarnou @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Elbow Grease Guarantee

Julie Karsten
Métaphysique des Cuves 2019
AOP Côtes du Rhône
Grenache, syrah, cinsault
Organic
Castillon-du-Gard, France

Deep dark rubylicious. Plum and cherry scents weave their way out followed by something a little buttercream frosting that blends in citrus and cedar. Slowly sipping those cherries and plums again along with prunes, Fig Newtons, raspberries, cranberries, tangerine and orange peels, and a mixed bag of spice like cloves, anise, cardamon and more. This is going to be a beautiful binge worthy paring. Yeah, I’ll admit, I’m finally getting around to watching all of “The Closer” and this is a wine I could see Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson pouring post case. “Yoohooooo! Please pass me those chocolates. Thank yooouu, thank you so much!”

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a lot of dried fruit like raisins, prunes, and blueberries and also pine sap. I like it better without but I have to admit “with” is quite fun

Julie’s wines come with an “elbow grease guarantee” and “100% happy vines”. Just take a gander at her IG account for proof. Alert roses stand guard at the end of the rows. There’s also all sorts of critters enjoying and roaming the fields and farm from spiders, snakes (and their skins), toads, sheep, praying mantis, a beautiful black cat, dogs, and a majestic horse. Her passion for her “living soil for living wines” is all there captured in perfect snapshots of “work in progress” from vine to cellar. 📸

#wine #naturalwine #winetasting #perfectpairing #vino #vin #winelife #葡萄酒 #ワイン #Grenache #syrah #cinsault #CôtesduRhône #CotesduRhone #France #cheezit #organic @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #winestagram @julie.karsten @vinewinenyc @cheezit