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Naturally Enchanting

Agricola Foradori
Foradori 2018
Vigneti Delle Dolomiti IGT
Trentino-Alto Adige Italy
Teroldego 100%
Organic and biodynamic

A goblet of total goth deep dark ruby purple. Take a breath of cherries, plums, vanilla, cola, flowers, and some mineral earthiness. First sip and there’s tart cherries that mellow out to smooth. Next there’s plums, raisin, singed orange peel,  I do believe some strawberries, and dark rich earthy goodness. It’s as enchanting as Elizabeth Fraser’s voice.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Everything smoothes out even more. Silky fruity goodness

This deep dark beauty had me thumbing through some of the music from my past, and here are two of my Fraser favorites.  Even now Song To The Siren gives me goosebumps and makes my heart fly, and let us not forget her lush work with Massive Attack – Teardrop.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @agricolaforadori @louisdressnerselections #louisdressnerselections @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #Trentino-Alto Adige #Teroldego #organic #biodynamic #ElizabethFraser #ThisMortalCoil #MassiveAttack

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Fresh and Foxy

Terra di Briganti
Coda di Volpe 2019
100% Coda di Volpe
Benevento Campania Italy
Organic, biodynamic and vegan

Cloudy orange goldness and tiny bubbles cling to the glass. Go in for the sniff and wow, honeysuckle and spring grass, then a hint of vanilla cookie, smoke, and a splash of cola.  This is delightful. Swirl and sip. There’s honey, a light citrus tingle, smoke and light citrusy and tangerine tingle with a dash of smoke and salt. This is one sleek, sly, fun fox.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: tangerine mellowness continues

The more you know: Coda di volpe means tail of the fox, which refers to how this type of grape looks on the vine growing in a long tail-like bunch.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @TerradiBriganti @steephillwine #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #codadivolpe #Benevento #Campania

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Old School

Migrante
Terre Olibani 2015
Cesanese 100%
Olevano Romano Lazio Italy
Organic and biodynamic

Glassful of garnet. Give it a little moment to breathe. Inhale and here comes the cherries, cola, some spice that I’m thinking is cloves, and orange peel. Going in for the sip and there’s tart cherry that turns smooth, raisin, orange, some smoke, a dash of white pepper and rustic earthiness. This is old school.

Pairs w Cheez-It’s: brings out the cherry orange sweetness

And here’s a little more old school: Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – Renegades of Funk

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @migrantevini @migrante.vino @steephillwine @afrika_bambaataa_official @Afrika_Bambaataa #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #biodynamic #organic #Cesanese #Lazio #Italy #OlevanoRomano #AfrikaBambaataa #oldschool

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Strength of a Woman

Sun Goddess 2019
Pinot Grigio 100%
Ramato
Friuli DOC Venezia Giulia  Italy
by Mary J. Bligh and produced by Fantinel

Shimmering light tinged pink orange ramato copper gold. Take a deep breath and there’s a floral perfume of orange and apple blossoms, and roses. There’s also tangerine, orange peel, and finally as it opens grassy salty sea breeze. Now onto the sip…citrus, melon, mineral, and and tiny strawberries, like the small Canadian ones that we got on the side the road when I was a little kid. They were tiny drops of delicious sugar. Finishes nice and dry.

Pairs with Cheez-Itz: strawberries, melon, yet dry. It’s smooth with a kick of citrus.

Also pairs well with a song that always inspires me

@sungoddesswines @vinewinenyc @therealmaryjblige @maryjbligh @FantinelWinery @cheezits #maryjbligh #wine #pinotgrigio #ramato #friuli #italy #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #vinewinenyc @worldbyglass

 

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Surprise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Le Pianate
Un Paio 2016
Rosso
Umbria Italy
Sagrantino 50%, Sangiovese 30%, Merlot 20%
Winemaker Andrea Trulli
Biodynamic and organic

Pour and it’s a shining ruby star. Inhale and there’s cherries, plums, apple blossoms (just like the ones from the orchard I grew up in), orange, and some earth/smoke. Take a sip and here’s the tart cherries, raspberries, strawberries, a touch of orange, some white pepper and a mix of earth, spice, and butter. Fits like a glove and makes me want more. I have to watch myself because I could totally drink this whole bottle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: smooth sweetness with a touch of orange peel and flowers

Full disclosure: I stuck to my usual rules, and did not google the winery before the tasting post was finished because I want to write with no outside influence. Afterward, I always like to find out who the winemaker is, what the area looks like, etc. Oh man, was I surprised. I have known Andrea for years. He always mentioned his grapes, but never ever told me the name of his wine. What a kind, sweet, unassuming, and extremely talented guy. Andrea keep up the good work!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @lepianate #lepianate #AndreaTrulli @indiewineries @cheezits #cheezit #wine #naturalwine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #biodynamic #organic #umbria #Sagrantino #Sangiovese #Merlot

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Tangled Tingle of Fun

Tenuta Belvedere
WAI 2018
Sparkling Rosé
Oltrepò Pavese in Provincia di Pavia Lombardy Italy
Pinot Nero 100%
Organic, biodynamic, ancestral method
Winemakers Federica and Gianluca Cabrini

Pretty, pretty orange pink glass named after a respectful and auspicious Thai greeting. Sniff and there’s a salty breeze, strawberries, orange blossoms, and raspberries. The first taste is a tangled tingle of young strawberries, raspberries and an orange peel dash, a little hay, some mineral/granite and seltzer. Nothing sugary about this glass. It’s clean, elegant, and fresh fun summer love.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: raspberry and strawberry presents but still not sugary. Everything is fresh

Tenuta Belvedere’s wine history dates back to the 19th century, and now it is helmed by the latest generation. Federica Sarchi joined her life with Gianluca Cabrini, he felt the call of the vines, and now they hold the reigns of the winery. From all I find, they are firm believers in the old natural ways and are organic and biodynamic. I really wish I could learn more about them from their website but it is currently under construction, so I will rely on Facebook and Instagram for a little more insight. What I’m finding is a beautiful vineyard with bird nests and ladybugs, a happy family, darn good people, hard work, and a lot of other wines I’m dying to try.

Oltrepò Pavese is the largest wine producing area of Lombardy and they seem to be really into Pinot Nero. This comune is a foodie’s dream. Not only are there amazing wines of diverse native grapes, but there’s also their much loved and revered salame di Varzi. Oh what I wouldn’t do for a slice right now. Another find from the area is their truffles! They range from white to black and are oh so wonderful. Take a tour with a dog and maybe you’ll win the lottery. You can also rent a Vespa (and score a picnic basket), cruise along city streets or roll through the countryside in style.

Venturing outside of Oltrepò, yet not really that far is the Castello di Montesegale (still in Pavia). The site may have had a foothold of a tower as far back as the 11th century, but the Castello was officially built in the 14th century and over the years destroyed and rebuilt to it’s regal medieval status. Now the ancient architecture houses a museum of contemporary art that was launched back in 1975, and has exhibited the likes of Ernesto Treccani (who founded Corrente) and Julian Schnabel.

On to one more thing outside of Oltrepò, but still in Pavia. This I truly stumbled upon and had no idea this was possible, but you can test drive a Ferrari on a real race track for an hour or two. You can let that baby just go and go and go. Does it make me a little scared to think of trying it, YES! Would I do it if I could…hell YES!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @TenutaBelvedereVini @belvederewine @steephillwine #steephillwine @cheezits #cheezit #wine #naturalwine #petnat @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #Oltrepo #Pavia #Lombardy #pinotnero #vespa #ferrari #biodynamic #organic

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Basking in the Sun

Cascina degli Ulivi
Semplicemente
Bellotti Bianco, 2019
Cortese 100%
Piedmont Italy
Biodynamic and organic

A glass of spun gold…breath in and embrace the orange, lemons, and maybe a touch of rosemary. Sip and there’s apples, peaches, lemon, some tangerine tart tingle, and a bit of mineral. It’s a fun friendly wine that asks you to take it out on a boat and bask in the sun.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: brings out the lemon and adds some smoke. Very smooth.

Side note: This weekend, I’ll have to revisit Jonathan Nossiter’s Natural Resistance to reflect back on Stefano Belloti’s life and how while he was here on this earth, broke the rules and championed the natural ways. Louis Dressner Selections has a lovely post honoring him and an interview with Belloti from 2011.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @cascina.degliulivi @cascinadegliulivi @louisdressnerselections @nossiterJonathan @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #Stefano Belloti #JonathanNossiter #cortese #piedmont #biodynamic #organic

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Honeysuckle Love

Cantina Su’entu
Su’aro 2018
Bianco blend of native grapes
Marmilla IGT
Sardegna Italy

A bright bold glass of gold. At first whiff there’s citrus, like tangerine and lemon with a splash of grapefruit. As it goes on, out comes hibiscus, honeysuckle,  rich melon, apricot, a dash of salt, and just deep beautiful flowers…whew that’s a lot and we haven’t even had a first sip. Here we go! Luscious melon and honey and all sorts flowers, a little orange peel tang, and a nice touch of salt.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: makes the honeysuckle and melon go wild. Where’s the prosciutto?

Here’s another bit of smooth sweetness with Sarah Vaughan, Honeysuckle Rose

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @cantinasuentu @WineTwistImport #winetwistimport @cheezits #cheezit #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #marmilla #sardegna #sardinia #sarahvaughan #honeysuckle

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A Little Friulano Slang

Borgo Savaian di Bastiani Stefano
Aransat 2019
Friuli Orange Wine
Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc
Cormons Italy

Color is gold like a bar from Fort Knox. Let it breathe a little before the whiff. There’s dark tangerine or grapefruit peels (that have been flamed), orange blossoms, and wet concrete after a cleansing rain, and wait…a hint of pine needles. Swish and swirl and take the first sip. Again there’s orange blossoms and now flamed orange peel. It’s heady, and then takes my memories back to an orange jolly candy from my childhood. I think there’s also a bit of kumquat, definitely salt, and some granite. This is a beautiful clean wine. Oh and the more you know: Aransat is Friuli slang for orange.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it oh so sweet gold. Brings out the orange oil. Burn that peel!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @aransatwine @communalbrands @cheezits #aransat #wine #StefanoBastiani #BorgoSavaian #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #italy #cormons #friuli #pinotgrigio #sauvignonblanc #orangewine

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Deep Velvet

Cantina Tondini
Taroni 2016
Isola dei Nuraghi IGT 
Calangianus Sassari Sardegna Italy
Cagnulari 20%, Cannonau 20%, Carignano 20%, Nebbiolo 20%, Sangiovese 20%

Holding up my glass next to the window, and the color is deep shining ruby. Swirl and sniff…pine and cedar syrup, then smoke, cherries, prunes, cola, and old book leather. You all still remember books, right? Reading digital books just doesn’t have the joy of holding a real physical book that has a gentle on the eyes font. Now for the taste, and there’s cherries, blueberries, plummy, spice and some smoke. This is soooo smooth, and deep dark richness. As much as I hate using this term, but I can’t think of anything better, this is one sexy wine.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: This is deep velvet underground.

@docwineshop @docwinebar @CantinaTondini #CantinaTondini @WineTwistImport #winetwistimport @cheezits #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #Calangianus #Sassari #Sardegna #Italy #Cagnulari #Cannonau #Carignano #Nebbiolo #Sangiovese #thevelvetundeground