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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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Easy As A Beer

INT3GRAL3
Rosé Frizzante (Pet Nat)
Raboso, Marzemina, Corbinella, and Turchetta
Organic, indigenous grapes, hand picked
Indigenous grapes are from an area between Asolo and Valdobbiadene, Italy

Pinky orange rhubarb pale with dainty white bubbles. Breathing in bouncing strawberries, raspberries, and a cherry-vanilla creaminess (frosting). I can already tell this is going to be a splash of fun. Sipping cherrstrawraspberapplernilla cocktail with a little creme de cassis, salty seltzer, some fresh and oh so crisp tiny bit of rhubarb. This is a bottle to pop for your party.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Sharpens everything

When I saw this bottle I knew I was going to be in for a bit of fun, and from what I’m reading about the young team creating this beautiful bubbles so are they. Their story all started with a wonderment for natural wine and a love for craft beers. Their own words sum it all up, “We are young but we know what we want. We produce a good quality wine in a sustainable way. We respect our land, we respect life and the future generations. We will leave a better world after ourselves. We don’t stick to rules and we don’t perceive limits while producing our wines. We are convinced that wine should always be drinkable and pleasing for anyone, easy as a beer.” Now doesn’t that make you want to give them a try? Makes me want to head back to the store for another bottle. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #PétNat #petnat #Rosé #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Asolo #Valdobbiadene #Italy #organic #naturalwine @integrale.wine @brand_italia @docwineshop @docwinebar @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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Enjoy The Silence

Companyia Vitícola Sileo
Sileo 2020
Grenache 90%, Carignan 10%
Organic
Cornudella de Montsant, Montsant, Catalunya, Spain
Winemaker: Agustí Torelló Sibill

Maroon crayon with cranberry shimmers. Breathe in and there’s a gentle creamy start, cassis, cherry, raspberry, and a little oak chip that adds a bit of rugged oomph that leads to back cherry, and a tiny eucalyptus lift. Sip and cherries, raspberries, blackberry, blueberries and it’s at first a rugged in a good way that turns into a suave velvet song. Also all that berry goodness gets mixed in with that eucalyptus that now am realizing is more hyssop and a lick of limestone.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it sooo smooth, so go on and grab a wedge of really good sharp white cheddar

When I grabbed this bottle, I honestly wasn’t paying a lot of attention except that Monstant D.O. was on the label. Well, well…we meet again Agustí Torelló Sibill. Last time was a lovely AT Roca sparkler. Sileo is a whole other delicious nurtured creation, that means to be still or silent (Latin). Silent isn’t exactly what I feel about this wine. It’s so alive and develops the longer you spend the evening with it. Maybe that’s what the label is telling me to do…stay still…enjoy the moment and let the the flavors whisper you the tale of their land.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #Montsant #Spain #Grenache #Carignan #naturalwine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #galacticwines @josepastorselections @viticolasileo @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Graceful Composition

Georgas Family
Retsina of Mesogia
Black Label
100% Savatiano
Biodynamic, organic, hand harvested, unfined, unfiltered, skin contact & fresh local pine resin
Spata, Attica, Greece
Family winery in the hands of latest generation: Dimitris Georgas

Yellow gold that deepens over time. Tickling my nose upfront is citrusy (lemon, tangerine, valencia orange) pine, yellow roses, wafts of wintergreen, eucalyptus and a bit of Ricola. It totally clears your sinuses in a good refreshing way. All of the smells are in the taste and it really wakes up my mouth, and the citrus blend becomes more prevalent. It’s a unique and delightful glassful that is full of surprises, and right now I’m thinking there’s some smoked piggy this would match well with and heck even a hot pastrami on rye.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO

Filled with tradition, the Georgas Family winery has been passed through the generations. The latest, Dimitris, originally followed another path with degrees in geology, oceanography, and environmental management, but returned after inheriting from his father. My guess is that his studies had a bit of influence on where their vineyards, wines, etc. are now with organic and biodynamic. So, the more good retsinas I try, I’m discovering they are at times fun & delightful and also can be structured & full of depth but always bursting with creativity. In this bottle it’s reverberates and vibrates like a Zoë Keating composition filled with passion and emotion. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #savatiano #Spata #Greece #Retsina #organic #biodynamic #zoekeating @georgas_family @eklektikon @docwineshop @cheezit

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Special Enough For A 2nd Look

Lectores Vini
Pomagrana Red 2021
100% Trepat
Conca de Barberà
Organic, hand harvested, native yeasts
Penedès, Cataluña, Spain
Winemakers/Owners: Fredi Torres & Marc Lecha

First and very important…chill this baby! Deep shining rose with blue pops. Creamy plush scent start that heads into raspberries, strawberries, pomegranates, cherries, and nice shake of white pepper. This is a lovely flavorful fruit cocktail of strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate, and a citrus splash of lemons & blood oranges. It’s juicy with a little granite/cement floor and shall I say flirty “you hoo, hey there!”…that makes me give a 2nd over the shoulder glance, turn around and go back for more. It’s just delicious, not too sweet/just the right fit, and easy drinking,

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it even more juicy

Well I got my wish…the 2nd Pomagrana. It’s a whole different beast (ok beast really isn’t the right word because it’s more of a glammy, fun beauty). Mr. Torres & Lecha bring their talent to the party again (see Artistic Expression By Bottle & Street), and also the design work of Goho Studios. The labels for the Red & Blanco gracefully guide you to the secrets that await, and I’m going to have mention Goho Estudio’s film “BCN Rise&Fall” again, because just like these wines, you’re going to want to revisit it again. I always love giving art/wines a 2nd gander to find something special I might have overlooked. Check it out, bc it’ll give you an insight on Barcelona’s street art history, the zines, shops for cans, the culture, the govt. that at times wipes it out and “penalizes genuine artistic expression”, and most of all the human side of it.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Xarello #Cataluña #Spain #Barcelona #streetart @SelectionsDeLaVina @gohoestudio @lectoresvini @docwineshop @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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Pure Naked Force Of Nature

Galactic Wines
Saravá
Loureiro 2020
Vinho Branco
Sustainable, indigenous yeast, unfiltered, and very natural
Minho, Portugal
Winemakers: MIguel and Leli Viseu

Warm medium golden starlight. Breathing in white peaches, hyacinth wafts, mango, salt, and clean slate…just fresh.  Sipping and here comes those white peaches joined with apricot, citrus blend spark, a rocky sort of salt, and it’s bright and full of life. It’s not like beer or cider, but If you’re into crisp beer and cider, then I think you’re going to like it. Does that make sense? I love this wine for it’s honest, pure beauty inside and outside the bottle. Seriously, doesn’t this slender tall bottle just scream, “take me home!”.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: actually pretty darn good

In the whole universe these two stars found each other and created their own galaxy or should I say Galactic in Portugal. Every time you globe trip for work/life, you bring a part back with you and in Miguel’s case he brought back Leli from Brazil (along with making way through France, Italy, Napa, and Mozambique). Their combined passion for wine, healthy food, nature, humanity (children’s education rights in particular), and now family help drive their natural Saravá (Force of Nature) and a shared project with friends Nua (Naked) Cider and I sooo love cider! Hoping that I can find a bottle and try their indigenous rare Portuguese apples. I bet they are absolutely delicious.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cider #winestagram #instawine #Minho #portugal #Loureiro #naturalwine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #galacticwines @louisdressnerselections @sarava.wine @vinewinenyc @cheezit

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Breaking The Cycle

Gabernik 23
Pét-Nat 2020
Sparkling Wine
100% Rumeni Muškat
Sustainable, organic, vegan, hand harvested
Štajerska, Slovenia
Small family owned winery passed down from father to son
Owner: Janko Bogatic
Winemaker: Nicholas Gee

Hazy warm gold with super active white bubbles dancing on the rim. Breathe in and there’s a puff of a “big fat yeast roll” (If you’re a child of the 90s you’ll remember), limes, lemons along with a little lemon hard candy, ginger liveliness, and naturally effervescent water with a little mineral sniff. Sipping and oh all the scents are here in flavor! It’s crisp lemon lime spritzy, more of that ginger, a smidge of a bit of greenery, slivers of mango & banana, and a seltzer dry feel. Yeah, this is good, and it takes me on a refreshing vacation.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: crisp cocktail and fine but prefer without

I love how Gabernik 23 keeps bringing bottles of happiness! They’ve brought me out of my overthinking funk that last week presented me with a ridiculous writer’s block. Just like how this pét-nat coaxed me out of my hamster wheel cycle of banging my head against my desk, Janko and Nicolas finessed a dry & vivacious bubbly from Yellow Muscat. As a kid picking our muscat, I would have never have thought they could be turned into something this fresh, poppy, and crisp. Bravo! 🥂

Oh and side note…Janko, love your “Zero Fs Were Given” t-shirt…seems we are of the same mind.

#wine #PetNat #PétNat #sparklingwine #bubbly #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #RumeniMuškat #rumenimuskat #winestagram #instawine #zerofucksgiven @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #sustainable #Slovenia #gabernik23 @vsiwine @gabernik23 @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

 

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Right Here, Right Now!

Terra di Briganti
Benepop Vol. I 2021
Pét-Nat
50% Falanghina, 50% Fiano
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts
Sannio, Campania, Italy
Winemakers: Toni and Romeo De Cicco

Very orange golden and active white bubbles tracing cryptic designs on the surface. So many scents all at once! It’s s blend of creaminess & citrus, bananas (Stuart why are you looking at me like that?), papaya, lemon/lime breeze in with apples and orchard blossoms. Taking a sip and BOOM…again it’s everything! No wonder I keep hearing people love this pet. There’s a creamy feel, citrus soda (not sweet), mango, apple cider, sharp apple/pear with a twinge of bitter bite of skin, fresh, crisp & still fragrant goodness, a touch of white pepper, and a smidge of a stripped young apple tree branch (it just popped out of a childhood memory). This just vibrates of life and fun! Could I please have a fountain of this?

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh this is the sweet spot! Buy a box

So this is my 6th Terra di Briganti, does this make me a superfan? Benepop now takes the top spot on my list, unseating my oh so loved, Sciascinoso. I have ordered glasses of that wine so many times I’ve lost count. Well, this is definitely going to be the soundtrack of my summer. There’s so much going on with this beauty, I can’t pick just one song to sum it up. It deserves a whole DJ set from the ageless Norman Cook. This one’s an hour and a half so grab a few bottles and get ready to groove…Right Here, Right Now!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #benepop #worldbyglass #fatboyslim #righthererightnow #minions #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Italy #Falanghina #Fiano #steephillwine @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @terradibriganti @cheezit