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Hare’s To Character

Famille Brunier
(produced by their Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe)
Pigeoulet Rouge 2023
Vin de Pays du Vaucluse
55% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 15%  Carignan, 8% Cinsault, 7% Mourvèdre
Organic, sustainable, hand harvested, & battles the moths (Eupoecilia ambiguella & Lobesia botrana) by sexual confusion
Bédarrides, France
Frédéric & Daniel Brunier (brothers), Nicolas & Manon (Frédéric’s son & daughter), Édouard (Daniel’s son)

Shining cherry/raspberry. Breathing in cherries, raspberries, plums, blueberries, red currants, a tangle of lavender/rosemary/thyme, and a light bit of licorice. All of the scents are in the taste but with even more grace & a sweetness but not overly. On the exhale there’s now more earth and a little peat. Such an easy drinker & so full of vibrant life that can turn a cold grey day into blue skies & rainbows.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: step away from the box

The Famille Brunier has a longstanding & well acclaimed history (over 125 years) in wine; and more than likely at least one of their bottles has crossed your path from such as Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe, Domaine La Roquète, and Domaine Les Pallières (with Kermit Lynch). This fun bunny or aka Pigeoulet (“little one” translation from local dialect) hopped onto my lap when I was browsing wines to relax with while watching the latest season of “Drops of God”. BTW I’m still on the fence on how I feel about season 2…anyone else catching up on it? Would love to hear your thoughts.  Back to the Bruniers, they let their wines speak for themselves. As they say on their site, “Personality and balance are the two key words that guide our decisions and actions.” Well, this hare’s blend is full of that mentioned personality and heartwarming & smooth balance. I’d follow this little joyful character down rabbit holes any day. 🐰🍷

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A Glass To Snuggle Up To

Quinta do Passadouro
Vinho Tinto 2019
55% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Francesa, 10% Touriga Nacional, 10% Field Blend from old vines
Duoro DOC
Pinhão, Portugal

Inky maroon with purple pops. Sniff and a little oak dances through & mingles with dark cherries, black olives, wildflowers, blackberries, black currants, plums, and a pinch of warm spice & anise. Tasting and there’s dark cherries joining the blackberries, blueberries, black currants & plums & a red currant or two with a not quite ripe tart raspberry, licorice, horehound, and the teeny tiniest of vibrating tomato leaf appears & then tells you you didn’t see them…or shhh they were never there it’s all an illusion. Everything smooths out into an elegant, graceful sip. You know…this wine pairs well with a lot, but honestly I prefer just snuggling up with a glass while watching the snow fall.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: this is one of those moments of YES!

Yes, I’ve had my fair share of Passadouro wines over the years, but when I saw this bottle, I knew it was time to revisit this old friend (actually brought 2 home). While the Genetta genetta on the label may look somewhat like a cute kitty you want to rescue, it’s better to leave them in the wild. I think the best description I found was on discoverwildlife.com: “Genets resemble the love child of a cat crossed with a smidgen of mongoose and a touch of marten, with a soupçon of lemur thrown in for good measure.” These nocturnal creatures are also great for natural pest control since they’re generally carnivores and love snapping up rodents, birds, bugs, and other small critters; but they’re also know to enjoy figs, olives & the like. It would be such a wonderful dream to travel to Portugal, sit out in the dark in a vineyard, and get to see one unclose & personal on its agile nightly hunt.

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A Dog’s Tale

Lubanzi Wines
Red 2023
Shiraz
Certified organic Ecocert
Swartland, South Africa
Charles Brain & Walker Brown and their team

Deep purple pour with maroon glints. Sniffing raspberry, rosehips, cherry, blackberries, boysenberry, dried Mission figs, plums & their blossoms, and  a little smoke. Sipping and there’s plums (bright & dark with pits, skin & all), cherries, blackberries, boysenberry, singed orange peel, dates & dried fig, again that smidge of smoke, and at last black pepper tingle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Party time!

You have to love a wine named after a dog. The story told is Charles Brain & Walker Brown (originally from USA) while they were exchange students in South Africa (2014) went on a backpacking adventure. On their second day a “wandering dog” joined their trek. Locals called him “Lubanzi” and he followed alongside them for 6 days/100 miles until one night he just disappeared. Was he really a dog, their protector, or a spirit animal? It’s fitting that their kindred traveling friend’s name is now emblazoned on their wines. In 2016, they moved back to ZA with a plan. They brought the right people & grapes into their lives, and wanted to give back to the country they so loved. Lubanzi Wines “pledged 50% of our net profits to back the Pebbles Project, a Non-Profit that works with the low-income families who live and work on South Africa’s wine farms. They focus on growing families by providing resources and improving access to high-quality health care & educational services.” Charles & Walker are truly not only making great wine, but also making positive impact for people, offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions, and making our planet a better place. As they say, “We believe in the power of business to change the world.” ❤️🍷

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Prehistoric Lessons

Sylvain Bock
Raffut 2023
100% Syrah
VDF
Certified organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeasts
Alba-la-Romaine, Ardèche, France

Dark maroon/purple with a shimmer of magenta on the rim. Breathing in dried figs, deep cherries dried & fresh, strawberries & raspberries that go deep, whiff of cola, briny olives, violets, sprinkle of cinnamon, plums that grow & darken, a little boysenberry, and peaty smoke. All of the scents are in the taste with a lighter touch along with Niçoise olives, and zippy orange & lemon zest that is also a bit singed. Let this baby have a good long timeout, and you will be rewarded as everything blooms.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: it does but it’s better without

Honestly this is my first Sylvain Bock wine. Didn’t know what to expect, but when I saw on the back of the bottle the very recognizable logo of Super Glou (a cat, a dog & in between a bottle of wine) I knew it would be up my alley. They work with “small-production, low-intervention producers from France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Catalunya, Chile and pockets of America”, and Bock fits that criteria perfectly. He’s a zero/zero natural winegrower & maker with a true passion for his craft, wine, vines, and of course land. From an IG post by @super_glou & @glougloumagazine during one of their visits to his vineyards they were not only taught a lesson in “wine growing but in prehistoric geology” which I bet was exciting and inspiring. Sylvain’s knowledge of the soils & what lies beneath & nourishes the lands (limestone, fossils, basalt, etc) guides his decisions on which grape will thrive & where. And if you have a moment to peruse his IG page, you’ll see he also slows down to appreciate & cherish what resides in his vineyards (or maybe they’re just stopping by for a visit)…flowers, ladybugs, and a post from just a few weeks ago of one special moment of finding a “little nest in the middle of the vineyards”. As Sylvain  says, “Nature always finds its place, even in winter”, and I see it as a sign of the beautiful spring & growth yet to come. 🪺❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #winestagram #instawine

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Sharing Happiness

Domaine Beatrice et Pascal Lambert
Bulles Lambert 2022
Sparkling Rose
VDF
100% Cabernet Franc
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested, vines & bottling guided by the lunar cycle
Les Chesnaies, Chinon, France
Winemakers: Beatrice & Pascal Lambert

Light pink gold with fine active bubbles. Immediately wafting up to my nose are strawberries, cream/oreo centers, raspberries, Bosc pears, and delicate tea roses. Sipping away and again there’s strawberry & raspberry, cranberry smidge joined by a lemon bubbly tingle, an exhale taste of that Oreo center again but not as much as in the scent, crisp and tart young pear that eases into the background. It’s clean, dry, crisp, so fresh & fun and don’t overthink it like I am. Just enjoy!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just don’t

At Domaine Beatrice et Pascal Lambert they have a refreshing philosophy:

“Farmers! Tomorrow, let’s cultivate life!!
And the earth will continue to smile.
And a smile produces a lot
Let us share this happiness together and we will guarantee love and peace on our planet Earth!!”

They share their happiness (and wine) with their crew, friends, and visitors alike. As they say a great estate needs a good team, and theirs is diverse. Eric handles business and is great dealing with the public, Fabien maintains the bio treatments for the vines, Paco is hands on with vine training, and not to be left off is Jelly the adorable dog. Now to the extended group of friends, family & others that want to join in the fun whether it’s with shears or hand harvesting. There’s Patrice (wine merchant) who helps harvest, Belgians that visit at the right time of the season, 2 different Jean-Maries, Vincent & Marie who are always ready to jump in, Polo who’s always been with the estate, and Ghislain who is a Michelin-starred chef because who wouldn’t want a fabulous chef by their side. Now I just have to ask, how do I get a chance to be on their team? Have nimble hands & would love to travel. Cheers!🥂

#wine #vin #vino #winestagram #instawine

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A Balancing Act

Alberto Ballarin
Dolcetto d’Alba D.O.C. 2022
100% Dolcetto
Sustainable viticulture
La Morra (CN), Italy
Winemaker & grower: Alberto Ballarin

Shining ruby glass. Breathing in cherry, (Twizzlers too), plum, raspberries, wild strawberry, violets, blueberry, & a light citrus spark on the end that blooms a bit over time. Scents are in the sip joined now with boysenberry, touch of blackberry, & a smidge of orange zest. Absolutely delicious!

Pairs w Cheez-Its: Big YES

Wondering what’s behind the logo on Ballarin’s bottles. Turns out it was inspired by a photo/artwork by Teddy Locquard, & the thoughts/emotions it invoked from Alberto which made him want his own version that would represent his life best. The design depicts a man seated on a tightrope (I can’t imagine how difficult that would be to not fall off) reading a newspaper along w other personal marks of Alberto. This is from his site & sums it all so much better than I could relay. 

“I was able to see myself in that image, suspended between the choices I had to make and those I had already made. Choices that led me to find my personal balance thanks to the possibility that I was given to live through my passions and to love my job. As the Chinese philosopher Confucius reports ‘Do what you love and you will not work a single day of your life’.”

“I therefore decided to include what I consider the essential elements of my life as a producer:

  • the glass of wine: the symbol par excellence of sharing and for me an emblem of leisure, well-being and pleasure;
  • the book: a symbol of knowledge, but above all of the curiosity with which you have to look at every challenge, as the world of wine and its culture are immense and it is impossible to be satisfied with them;
  • the umbrella: representation of the weather and its instability; quality grape bunches and wine cannot be produced without the right weather conditions. Due to its essentiality it could not be missing from my label.”

Means so much more than the steampunk figure, I assumed. Instead it’s is an elegant representation of a passionate, creative & knowledgable winemaker that is Alberto. 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #winestagram #instawine

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Sparking Up The Holidays

Maison Idiart
Nico
Crémant de Loire AOC NV
Brut Blanc
Méthode Traditionelle
Chenin Blanc (mainly), Chardonnay, Grolleau, & Cabernet Franc
Loire Valley, France
Winemaker: Nicolas Idiart

Light yellow/gold with a splash of green that shimmers in and out and very active small bubbles. Breathing in Ggreen apples & pears, faint touch of lemon/lime, and over time there’s a sprinkle of hazelnuts that really sets a holiday vibe. All of the scents are in the very crisp taste along with the lemon/lime a bit more ramped up that has my lips vibrating, also with I do believe a drop of lychee, and almonds join the hazelnuts in a festive dance. It’s fresh, joyful, sparky, and oh so easy to dress up or down at home or out on the town.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: don’t even try or Santa will leave a lump of coal in your stocking.

This is now my 2nd Maison Idiart bottle. 1st was the Pinot Noir 2022, which was quite a delight and a wonderful introduction to Nicolas’ achievements, his “modern day wine company” that works with select natural growers whose grapes sing from where they are born, and passion for reducing carbon footprints with their “keg wines”. Albeit this is not a wine on tap, but it’s a bottled burst of happiness that I think my and I bet your holidays need right now. Nothing says celebrate like a glass of bubbly and especially one as fun as Nico. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #brut #sparklingwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #organic #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #France #naturalwine #sustainable #cwdistributing #maisonidiart #docwinebar #docwineshop

 

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Keeping It Classy

El Piraña
Tarbissana 2023
Vino Blanco
100% Palomino Fino
Organic, hand harvested, native yeasts, direct pressed into 80% stainless steel tanks & 20% into old botas
Trebujena, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain
Juan Francisco Pulido Cabral’s (nickname, El Piraña)

Warm gold that deepens over time. Inhale once, twice, three time (a lady)…it’s all gentle & not overpowering. There’s soft banana, salt, apple (& pie), mineral river rock, and pinch of almond. Sipping and there’s apple, lemony fresh, shake of salt & a dash of that mineral rock again, blend of apricot & white peach, and a sprinkle of almonds. Delightful, dry & honestly addictive and is screaming pair me up with “pescaito frito”.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: oh most definitely

Juan Francisco Pulido Cabral’s family has been in the grape growing business for generations, but they weren’t making their own wine…they were selling the grapes to sherry houses. Times change and so do markets. Juan knew they needed to adapt. His next move was in 2012 to sell their must and evidently it was pretty well received. His musts began garnering awards & acclaim, so it just clicked that the next step was for Juan to make his own wines & create his own bodega. Now here we are with this wonderful bottle of Palomino that really tells the story of the land, the history, the family, and their vineyards which I’ve been enjoying viewing on social media. What truly surprised me was one post from this past summer when an unnamed person intentionally damaged vines in one of his vineyards with pruning shears. Obviously that would make anyone incensed, but Cabral kept it classy and isn’t confronting the individual because as he says, “The best revenge is to be happy and let Karma do its job”. Always in the case of adversity, just keep smiling because in the end you will be on top.

#wine #winestagram #instawine #winetasting #wineoclock #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #Spain #josepastorselections #ElPiraña #ElPirana #vinewinenyc

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Guided By Etna

Sentieri Siciliani
Rosso 2022
Nerello Mascalese 80% & Nerello Cappuccio 20%
Etna DOC
Sustainable
Sicily, Italy
Agronomist: Elisa Trovato

Shining bright ruby. Scents flow out of cherries (all sorts), tart plum, dried Mission figs, drop of cola with a bit of earthiness, juniper berries/pine sap & alpine herbal blend, and fennel pollen. Sipping and there’s the tart plums & cherries again, pomegranate, cranberries, red licorice, shave of orange, mandarin, & kumquat zest, and a smidge of cola again followed by a dry lime tingle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NO

Elisa Trovato is an agronomist who is very in tune to her beloved Etna. She started out renting vineyards prior to finding her way to purchasing her current 3 ha of lands & vines: Vigneti Ammirato, Spallarello, and Lu Meo. Each benefit from the gifts Mt. Etna spews and also from Elisa’s care, passion, and sustainable agricultural knowledge. I love this quote about the vineyards from her site, “I go on walks and end up getting lost in them. Fortunately, there is always you, Etna, guiding me.” How wonderful it must be to wake up to a life of traversing her ancient & rich Sicilian paths; and know that she is weaving her own part into their history. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #organic #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Italy #Sicily #naturalwine #sustainable #cwdistributing #SentieriSiciliani #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Revisiting The Past For Good

Terres Dorées
Beaujolais L’Ancien Vieilles Vignes 2023
100% Gamay
Charnay, France
Organic, sustainable, hand harvested, indigenous yeasts
Winemaker: Jean-Paul Brun

Shining garnet stained glass. Breathing in cherries of all sorts, raspberries, strawberries, white pepper, and something herbal like a teeny sprig of mint or cedar. Sip and tasting again cherries (so fresh), raspberries, wild strawberries, & now blueberries, a citrus mix with singed orange zest, touch of earth, cedar/pine sap & an herbal blend (light rosemary, sage, and something alpine). Somebody please bring me a burger or even better…a roasted duck 🦆.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: even more juicy

I love Terres Dorées’ wines, and this lovely bottle with the very telling name “L’Ancien” comes from some of the oldest vines at Terres Dorées which are anywhere from 40 to 60 years. Nice having a youngster birthed from such aged lineage. Instead of going carbonic with his wines, Jean-Paul Brun has stuck with the traditional Burgundian vinification method where the grapes are lovingly hand harvested, destemmed, and only indigenous yeasts that sprout forth are allowed. Jean-Paul sees this as the way to allow the to Gamay shine and also not to be forgotten the sustainable land where it all started from. Sometimes and more often than not, the natural ways of the past are where we should return.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #instawine #winetasting #naturalwine #redwine #worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #jeanpaulbrun #gamay #Charnay #France #Beaujolais #louisdressnerselections #TerresDorées #terresdorees #docwinebar #docwineshop