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The Language Of Flowers

Sonshine Vins
Blanksia 2019
100% Colombard
Biodynamic, indigenous yeast
Jujurieux, France
Winemaker: Lisanne van Son

Spun gold. Breathing in and it starts out soft or should I say creamy with mellow peach, pear & apple, a tiny tangerine whiff, pluots, and salt. Sip and it elegantly glides in with nectarine, pear & apple, also those pluots again & green plums, a lime/citrus stabilizing spark, and lick of slate. It’s just fresh, delicious, and full of life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: vibrant joy

Blanksia’s name is taken from Australia’s Banksia flower(s). I had always wondered what these exotic looking beauties were. Turns out they symbolize rebirth and new beginnings which could represent each part of Lisanne’s wine globe hopping tale. Originally from the Netherlands (somm life started there), then on to the stops in the UK & Belgium, next up is France where she set her sights on making her own wine in a troglodyte cave with grapes from reputable organic/biodynamic grapes which she was part of the hand harvesting. She doesn’t stop there either, bc there’s also Australia and another project with other natural wine friends in the Adelaide Hills. I can’t wait to see where or what she has coming up next!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Colombard #France #tessbryantwine @tessbryant.wine  @vinewinenyc @sonshinevins @cheezit

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A Novel Surprise!

Marine Dubard (Famille Dubard)
Sauvignon Blanc
Coeur du Mont 2020
VDF
Sustainable, HEV
Saint-Méard-de-Gurçon, Dordogne, Sud-Ouest, France
Winemaker: Marine Dubard

Twinkling starlight and I made a wish & got it! My nose is wiggling in anticipation! Sniffing a splash of light grapefruit, lively lemon/lime, pineapple, pear/apple smash, and apple blossoms carried on a spring breeze. Sipping lime & zest, pears, apples, that grapefruit again with a dainty touch of musk, a smidge of fresh sliced ginger but not a kick in the pants…just enjoyable, pineapple, and a lick of a rock or should I say limestone.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: didn’t get a chance to try since I was out and about

Oh this is one glass caught in the wild that rocked my weekend. I have such a soft spot for anything Dordogne/Bergerac, sustainable, and to top it off a female winemaker; and did I mention it’s at my local Sugarburg. Seriously what a surprise, when I strolled in last Sunday and found out they had switched to a new blanc(this goes so well with their shrimp tacos) and it is so darn delicious! There’s more than one reason I have affection for Dordogne, but a special one is the writer Martin Walker (I love his books, fictional & non). His “Bruno Chief of Police” series transports me with every page to a region that you can smell, feel, taste and fully immerse yourself in and begin to feel a part of this world. If you love a good mystery, better food, and fabulous wine…please check these out. I didn’t discover them till his “Black Diamond” which isn’t the start of the tales but you can still plunge in headfirst*. Who would have known that the books I’ve been carrying to read while solo would meet their perfect pairing just steps from home. ❤️

*Side note in case you’re still following along this far: “Black Diamond” was a life preserver of a book for me when I was sorting out a diagnosis to why my faulty body was such a hot mess that I now know is Chiari Malformation & Ehlers-Danlos. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have Mr. Walker’s novels while I was dealing with my own physical mysteries. In a way they are part of my life that inspired @worldbyglass. Travel any way you can! 🇫🇷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #SauvignonBlanc #France #Dordogne #bergerac #martinwalker #brunochiefofpolice #marinedubard @skurnikwines @vignoblesdubard @sugarburgbk

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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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It’s In Their DNA

Jean Médeville et Fils
Château Boyrein
Graves Blanc 2019
Graves AOC
Sauvignon 60%, Semillon 30%, Muscadelle 10%
Sustainable, HVE (Level 3), hand harvested
Graves, Bordeaux, France
Owned and run by: Jean, Jacques, and Marc Medéville

Pale starlight with green shimmers. Perfumes of magnolias and peaches, along with pear, grapefruit, cantaloupe/honeydew, and as it builds there’s also some hyacinth, roses, and wisteria; and it all works in harmony together. Sipping and it’s fresh peaches and pears, bit of melon, smidge of grapefruit tang, flecks of dried pineapple, lemon spritz, and grass. It’s an easy companion that has one simple request for you…”Please order us a plateau de fruits de mer. I promise I will make it worth your while.”

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: ack ack ack no…think Bill the Cat

Many generations of the Medéville family have had their hands in winemaking stemming back to a barrel maker named Jerome who bought their first château (Château Fayau) in 1826. Over the years they have acquired more vineyards and kept expanding their lands (including Boyrein in 1877). Through the lineage each new family member made their imprint and advancements from agricultural knowledge, winemaking, and most importantly love. As Jean and Marc say on their site, “From our family history we keep the taste of tradition and the passion for wine. Through our DNA, we always look to the future.”

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #hve #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Sauvignon #Semillon #Muscadelle #Bordeaux, #France #CabernetFranc #boivinselections #jeanmedevilleetfils #châteauboyrein @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Traditional Innovation

Château de Laubade
V.S.O.P.
Bas Armagnac AOC
Blend of more than 20 different eaux-de-vie (mainly Ugni-Blanc & Baco)
Sustainable agriculture: organic manure is produced by 600 ewes in the vineyards, barrels are made from trees of their own forests, and more
Sorbets, France
Estate owned by the Lesgourgues family

Golden light amber pour. Breathing very ripe pears and apples and baked ones too and a bit of pie crust, preserved plums, mellow vanilla, and orange & lemon peels. Going in for the sip and it’s sweet like fresh sugar cane, moments of a deeper pear cider, caramel smooth, orange zest & a simmering spice, and as it lingers it’s warming till there’s a vibrating spark on the back of your tongue to nudge you for another sip.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NOPE!

This little bottle introduced me to a historic Château and a forward thinking family. The Lesgourgues, since 1974, have brought a new creative life into the house and lands working to be as sustainable/green as possible; achieving awards and recognition such as “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant”; and make incredible armagnac. They also cultivate and support artists/artwork and that led me to Jeanne Paquin, who many, many years ago also lived here with her 2nd husband, French diplomat, Joseph Noulens. She was such a trailblazer in fashion! She took black to new heights. No longer the garb of mourning, in her hands it was a fashionable statement. She incorporated music into “défilé de mode” (where would we be now if we didn’t have music on the catwalk?), had an accomplished and successful  fashion house that became an international business, and was the first female designer to receive France’s Légion d’Honneur. In other words just like Château de Laubade, she’s an impressive blend of innovation & classic tradition…which rocks.

#armagnac #wine #spirits #vsop #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #France #laubade #JeannePaquin @baronfrancois.ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @laubade @cheezit

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Romance, Spice & All The Surprises Are Nice

Domaine Philippe Vandelle
Poulsard 2020
Côtes du Jura AOC
100% Poulsard
Jura, France
l’agriculture raisonnée
Winemaker: Philippe Vandelle

Glimmering strawberry cocktail (a little chilled). Those same strawberries are waving hello to my nose along with raspberries, a little blueberries, cherries, and let it open and there’s a pinch of spice with some forest goodness. All those berries are there again but this time they’ve brought cranberries with them, a smidge of citrus zest, and a puff of salty smoke that fades only to gently return. Even with all the fruit, It’s so light, refreshing, crisp and clean.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: bursts of juicy cherry

2nd Vandelle and again you can taste where it’s born, and thank goodness this poulsard has it’s chance in the sun and not blended away. Feels like that spark of first falling in love. It’s kind of like when you meet that special person and it’s all new. There’s romance, spice and all the surprises are nice. Y’all know Valentine’s Day is soon upon us, and I can vouch this bottle would be better than that yearly bon bons default. 🍬

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Poulsard #Jura #France #cotesdujura #naturalwine #domainephilippevandelle #philippevandelle @APWineImports @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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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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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