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A Greener Breeze

Domaine Martin
Océan
AOP Muscadet
100% Melon de Bourgogne
HVE Certified
Saint-Fiacre-sur-Maine, Nantes, France
Owner & winegrower: Dominique Martin (4th generation)

Pale yellow green pour from the can to glass. Nose tickling melon blend of honeydew & cantaloupe. Ok I have to wait a minute. There’s someone upstairs smoking skunk so letting that disperse. When I get back to it there’s pears, apples that I would probably use for baking, and a citrus mix that gently sparks. Oh this can, can get you in trouble because it is so easy to chug since it’s beautifully fresh and crisp. Flavors of lemon & lime pop out with crunchy apple, pears of all sorts, and on the exhale there’s some limestone and my favorite bit of sea breeze salt. Where’s my fisherman’s sweater and cap?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmm more rich

I know wine in a can is so trendy, but Dominique Martin’s decision to add “Océan” is pretty darn cool and not just for being hip. He’s looking at the environmental reasons and bringing all of us a truly fab wine. Check out this excerpt from his blog, “The wine industry is going greener, and cans can be almost indefinitely recycled (compared to only 15 times for a glass bottle). According to waste professionals magazine Circular, almost 70% of cans are recycled and when it’s done efficiently a beverage can can be back on the shelves in 6 to 8 weeks. Transporting and storing cans is also relatively energy efficient.” So y’all remember, every little thing we can do to help the planet, helps all of us. ♻️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #naturalwine #worldbyglass #wine #Nantes #loire #france #Muscadet #cannedwine #wineinacan @domaine.martin.muscadet @ripewineimports @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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Finally Found!

Chateau Le Payral
Bergerac Blanc 2021
Appellation Bergerac Contrôlée
50% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon, 20% Muscadelle
Organic, biodynamic (Demeter), green fertilizer, indigenous yeasts, and a lot of love
Razac-de-Saussignac, Bergerac, Dordogne, France
Owners and winemakers: Isabelle & Thierry Daulhiac

Pale golden starlight with green shimmers. Sniffing lemon/lime squeeze & zest, young green apples, a small whiff of that green lightly musky honeydew, and an oregano/tarragon shake as it warms up. First sip and it’s crisp and fresh. Tasting crunchy green apple bite including the skin, zingy lemon/lime, a garden herbal bouquet twinge, and a lick of limestone. It’s dry, clean and light on its feet, and makes me think of a bright spring day.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmm good. Kind of kicks everything up a notch

Finally found Bergerac wines in NYC (thank you @all_things_food_nyc)! As some of you know, I am a huge fan of Martin Walker, and have been on the hunt for wines from his neck of the woods (and I’m still excitedly seeking more). His “Bruno Chief of Police” series is what got me hooked. If you haven’t read them yet, I highly recommend you do and get drawn into a world of food, wine, police work, great character development, an appreciation for the small moments in life, and genuine friendship. Each book lures me even further into his fictional St. Denis, but with Chateau Le Payral, I’m able to taste what truly exists. Running out of space so will be investigating them more with their Bergerac Rouge 2020. Cheers!

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

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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

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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

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Nature’s Gardeners

Domaine Philémon
‘Croix d’Azal’ 2020
100% Braucol
Gaillac AOC
Organic, hand harvested,
Villeneuve-sur-Vère, France
Winemakers, growers & owners: Mathieu et Stéphanie Vieules

Deep purple with maroon rim (boy isn’t that fit to be a band name). Scents of earthy cherry & plum, blackberries, raspberries, dried blueberries, teeny hint of shiitake, and back whiff of an herbal tangle with a pinch of licorice. Oh this is delicious! Tasting plums, cherries (and after a while cherry hard candy but not super sweet), raspberries & blueberry jamming in tune together with some earth, and a touch of anise. Not too heavy not too light…it’s just right (ok it’s medium). Oh and I totally should have started with this but better late than never: keep it at good ol’ cellar temp.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Savory

While on the search for wines from Bergerac, I wandered upon Domaine Philémon’s “Braucol”. They’re in southwestern France, around a 3 hour drive outside of my goal, but what a happy surprise for me. Mathieu (who also inherited the Philémon name passed down from his great-grandfather) reshaped and created the Domaine in 2003; and focused on only working with indigenous grapes and some are even old and “forgotten”. As you can expect, I’m getting all romantic about grape rescues, but there’s even more. Over the years he also took the farm and lands and vines to the organic side. There’s grains, lentils, even truffle oaks and as of 2020, they’re kept trimmed and groomed by the old hardy breed of sheep, “Solognote”. From what I’m reading they are very protective mamas, so it’s best not to get in between them and their babies. You might get a headbutt from nature’s gardeners. 🐑 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #Braucol #Gaillac #France #Solognote #sheep #naturalwine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic @domainephilemon @winetraditions @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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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

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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

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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

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How To Love Your Job

Domaine François Chidane
Brut Tradition 2019
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Chenin Blanc
Organic, biodynamic, regenerative agriculture
Montlouis-sur-Loire, Loire, France
Owners and winemakers: François and Manuela Chidaine

Had to wrestle for over 7 minutes to hear that pop! Then poured a glass of warm golden with light bubbles that fade and disappear. Sniffing and there’s apples, pears, guava, and it reminds me of a touch of calvados. Ginger also gently flies out over time with brioche. Sip and there’s pears, a zipping zingy crisp apple, lime, again there’s that ginger (not Mary Ann 🏝), on the back and when you exhale there’s a maltiness like the yeast you sprinkle on popcorn in a pub, and slate, salt, a tad of parsley which all ends in a touch of creamy deliciousness.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings all the lovely bits out so grab a 2nd bag

I think we can sufficiently say, François loves his job. “I am doing a marvelous profession that I have chosen. No one forced it on me. It’s my life! I didn’t want to do anything else…” How many of us wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and can say the same! Imagine getting to wake up to this view and work in harmony with nature all day. Also explains this quote, “I consider the vine as a human being. We must not imprison her and always be respectful towards her.” He’s even branched out to Murcia, Spain with 2 wines (Bullas DO), which greatly intrigues me, but makes sense…his wife Manuela’s family is from there. Now I’m going to have to make this a new mission to track down these bottles, because if they are anywhere as good as this Brut, they are bound to be fab!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #CheninBlanc #Brut #Loire #France #Murcia #Spain #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #domainefrancoischidaine @polanerselections @vinewinenyc @cheezit