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Refined & Rugged Treasures

Terra di Briganti
Aglianico 2020
Benevento IGT
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, and indigenous yeasts
Casalduni, Campania, Italy
Winemakers: Toni and Romeo De Cicco

Dark maroon ruby. Sniff and there’s cherries, a smooth cream moment, plums, tiny prunes & dried figs, smidge of mom’s chewy’s (kind of like a caramelized brown sugar blondie) that heads into a cured black olive & pit but still smooth, and a sprinkle of oregano. First swig and there’s cherries (freshen & dried), dried cranberries, dark & tart plums, again those oil cured black olives & pits with oregano, as time goes on raspberries & young blueberries, a welcome dark earth bitter depth bite…refined, rugged, and just delicious.

Pairs with Cheez-Its:So darn good

I have officially lost count on how many Terra di Briganti wines I’ve had (in fact I think I’ve tried every single one from Steep Hill Wines), and each has been such an enjoyable treasure. Toni & Romeo’s grandparents held the land in Sannio. but the brothers were actually born in Dortmund, Germany and resided there until their family decided it was time to return to Italy. I’m so glad they did and became so intuned to their land & its history (land of the brigands), vineyards, and the surrounding & nourishing nature. Their wines make the world a brighter, fun, and at times a more elegant place (like this bottle). Now my question for them is who do they cheer for in futbol? Dortmund or….?

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #redwine #winestagram  #instawine #winemaking #organic #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #futbol #Italy #Aglianico #Fiano #steephillwine #terradibriganti #docwineshop #docwinebar @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @terradibriganti @cheezit

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Keeping The Tradition

Encostas de Alqueva 
Piteira
Alentejo DOC
Vinho de Talha Branco 2017
Roupeiro 60%, Diagalves 40%
Sustainable
Douro, Portugal
José Piteira

Amber orange golden pour. Scents of Valencia orange & orange blossoms start out and next up is lemon lime zest & a little singed, roasted pears, something a little green with a touch of wild tiny onions I used to pull as a child and end up with grass stains on my jeans, round apples, and a smidge of sherry. Sip and there’s a whole lotta love/everything, touch of caramel but not overly sweet, a tiny nut, again those pears & apples & some baked, touch of honey and pinch of brown sugar glaze reminding me of cracking the top of a savory creme brûlée I had that was a special made lightly with chive blossoms and I loved it so much I had seconds. Again a touch of that smooth Valencia orange, blossoms & nectar again, blend of zest, tiny almond sliver, and salt.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Brings out all sorts of juicy fruit

Talha wine is more than just the vessel it’s created in…it’s a tradition & natural recipe passed through Alentejo’s generations. All you need is the clay talha (design varies from town to town), grapes (red, white or both), some pushing, patience, trust that everything aligns, and anticipate November 11th, Dia de São Martinho. It’s celebrated like Beaujolais Nouveau day in France, so it’s a time of friends, family, sharing, conversation, chowing down on petiscos & other local eats, checking out each other’s vinho, partying, and maybe even getting down to some dancing. So I’m raising another glass of this Talha Branco to next year’s celebration. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #amphora #Talhawine #Alentejo #portugal #tedwardwines #EncostasdeAlqueva #vinewine #vinewinenyc @vinewinenyc @tedward_ws

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A Borrowed Planet With Living Wines

Domaine Frederic Brouca
L.A. Picturale 2019?
Languedoc AOC
Grenache 45%, Syrah 30%, Mourvèdre 25%
Organic (certified since 1997), unfined, unfiltered
Faugères, France

Deep shining ruby with even deeper purple points. Breathing in cherries, deep plums, a vanilla cream moment that is ever so gentle, raspberry & strawberry jamming together, a warmth of spice blend like nutmeg, cinnamon, etc, and a touch of earth or small good masculine funk. Sipping a smooth blend of all of the scents with more of that strawberry/raspberry blend with blackberries & blueberries joining in along with some jolly rancher medley roaming in, a small bitter bite of earth and maybe a little iron. As time goes by everything heightens…becomes stronger (like as in will step up for you with the schoolyard bully but instead of punching them out will outwit them verbally) and more delicious yet so silky and carries a lilt in its step.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Nah, pass

Globetrotters, farmers, and winemakers…Frederic & his wife Elaine, as many other natural winemakers are dedicated to looking back to the past, and following the steps of forefathers in growing & vinification. Quoted from their site, “In his modest winery in the village of Laurens, Frédéric is creating a new vision for Faugères wines; fresh, vibrant and made without artifice. Nothing revolutionary, simply returning to our grandparent’s ideology of farming and winemaking to craft ‘Vins Vivants’.” They also make steps to protect their earthy wormy beneficial friends which always makes me smile. They have another endearing quote that stood out to me from first glance, and made me know this is a wine for me. “We do not inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children”. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. So, so true and I wish more people took that into consideration in all walks of life.🍷❤️🌍

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #France #DomaineFredericBrouca #vinewine #vinewinenyc @vinewinenyc

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“The Curse” Is Really A Gift

Bodegas Cinco Leguas
La Maldición
Malvar en Bota 2019
Malvar 100%
DO Vinos de Madrid
Organic practices & sustainable
Project located in Chinchón
Madrid, Spain
Winemaker: Marc Isart

Deep 0range amber with a bit of golden that keeps turning a bit deeper over time. Breathing in honeysuckle, spring flowers & apple blossoms followed by a nuttiness & honey, dried orange & lemon zest, tarragon & thyme, later a hint of pine sap. First taste and it’s so many things at once…like a light sherry with dried apple, hazel nuts & a few other nutty bits, mellow orange, lemon & a little lime, in the end a little chalk like those ol’ time Valentine’s conversation hearts, and bit of a welcome burn.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Step away from the box

“The Curse” is more a gift. Yes, the land Marc has acquired and started out with is rough, rocky, and a small harvest, but these grapes are precious. He did pick up some more parcels but still kept everything natural and as hands off as possible in the winemaking process. Pretty inspiring honestly that he is going after his dreams with his own productions/projects. It shows a true passion not only to his vines, but also to letting the Madrid region terroir gain more and more of  its own voice through each bottle.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #malvar #Madrid #Spain #bodegascincoleguas #vinewine #vinewinenyc @tedward_ws @vinewinenyc @bodegas_cinco_leguas

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Time To Shake Some Trees!

Dewey’s Wines
Syrah 2020
Sumu Kaw Vineyard
El Dorado County
Organic, unfined & unfiltered
Santa Rosa, CA
Charlie Miller & Emma Rosenbush

Inky dark purple with a maroon rim. Give this bottle a moment and then scents of raspberries w some cream pop out at first followed by blueberries, boysenberries, a warm smokiness, black pepper, cedar & coriander and other spice rub, dried cherries, cranberries & prunes, and over time a touch of dainty flowers. Sipping away and all of the scents are there with a little more pine & herbiness, dried dark figs, even deeper dried cherry that turns into dark raisins, the pepper & spice come forward over time, a smidge more of pine needles on the exhale with some singed Mandarin orange zest (love this fruit so much). I’m betting my tongue will be very purple later.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out cherry and strawberry Starbursts

Don’t know why I so often pass over California wines. So glad I ended up at a tasting for Dewey’s because it reminded me of how special they can be. Emma (originally from NY) & Charlie (native Californian) are making their own form of magic with their single vineyard wines and Sweet Vermouth (grabbed one of those up too ❤️). Once home, checked out their IG and turns put they have picked up roots, are now in NY, changing their name to “Dew East”, and not only are they continuing in wine but also cider which makes me giddy! Time to shake some trees!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #syrah #SantaRosa #California #vinewine #vinewinenyc #deweyswines @vinewinenyc @deweyswines

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Sometimes Father Knows Best

Domaine du Bel Air
Jour de Soif 2021
Cabernet Franc
Bourgueil AOC
Organic, hand harvested, native yeasts
Touraine, Loire Vally, France
Pierre & Rodolphe(son) Gauthier

Maroon with a ruby rim. Scents start growing of deep cherry, vanilla, prunes/dark plums, raspberries, black currants, touch of earth, dark bitter chocolate (my favorite), mix of peppercorns, and a few tiny violets. Tasting all the scents dancing on my tongue joined with boysenberries, orange zest, bell pepper & a smidge of warmth too, and at first I thought caraway seed but then realize it’s rye but no hot pastrami (ooh that would be so good). Just simply delightful and will be on my repeat list!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: mmm even more juicy

Pierre’s great-grandfather was a potter that decided he wanted to change careers and go into mixed farming. After a while he branched out and picked up land for vineyards and it all grew from there. By the time André Gauthier (Pierre’s father) was ready to pass the land to him, “he only had one wish: that I do the same thing. He was the last winemaker to work his vines with a horse, so I started working with a horse.” In the 80s, Pierre as he said “listened to the sirens of ‘progress’, the weedkiller, the fertilizer” because at the time it was being sold as a timesaver & an easier way, but thank goodness he realized he had lost his way and returned to the natural past, his father’s training, and what truly made him happy. By 2000, the Domaine was certified organic and the quality shows. 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #petnat #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #Bourgueil #LoireVally #France #vinewine #vinewinenyc #polanerselections #DomaineduBelAir @vinewinenyc @polanerselections

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Jazzy Holidays

Porter & Plot
Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Mendocino County
Grapes from Cox Vineyards located in Ukia, CA (certified organic)
Produced & bottled by WINC
Buellton, CA

Ruby with purple/blue pops. Sniffing and there’s dark cherry followed by an easygoing vanilla cream, raisins, black currants, a bit of dried fig, coriander, and a just right very light bunch of violets. Sip & swish and again there’s deep cherries, dried cranberries, golden raisins, dried figs, black currants, very light orange zest, blackberries, a little raspberries, boysenberries, a chocolate warmth & a velvet touch, smidge of a licorice jelly bean (yeah I’m probably the only kid that loved them), and a tingle of warm spice on my lips.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: smooth and juicy

Oh it’s that time of year again! Holidays are even closer than we all think. Anyway, if you haven’t started picking up wines for the gatherings, or in my case just for moi (yes, I’m working while the rest of you will be lounging in comfy clothes)…anyway, this Cab is for you. You can dress it up with an elegant meal (think steak, venison, lamb chops, wild boar, some fun funky cheese…etc.) and get out the good glasses meant only for company; or follow my kicked back menu of a more rare than medium-rare cheeseburger while spinning some “Pithecanthropus Erectus” and relishing in a multitude of Mingus memories. Either route you take, wishing y’all’s upcoming holidays will be happy and of course jazzy! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #redwine #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting  #wineislove #CabernetSauvignon #winetime #worldbyglass #Mingus #charlesmingus #califonia #CA #porterandplot #winc #docwinebar #docwineshop @docwinebar @docwineshop

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Raised To Appreciate

Frank Cornelissen
Susucaru 2022
Rosato
Terre Siciliane IGP
Malvasia, Moscadella, Cattaratto, Nerello Mascalese
Organic, unfined
Etna (North Valley), Sicily, Italy

Deep magenta rose with a cork that gave me a battle, but I won. Scents start emerging of a blend of raspberry, strawberry & cherries, and it has a lot of depth. There’s also a straw of hay (that fades), smoke, black pepper, and orange & lemon squeeze and zest. Sipping and tart fruit flavors of cherry, blood orange & lemon, along with yellow plums, young strawberries, raspberries, red currants, watermelon Jolly Rancher, and a shake of white pepper. It’s crisp and glou glou worthy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: NOPE

Frank Cornelissen’s father is who led him to fall in love with wine by letting him take a sip (at a young age), taught him to appreciate a good glass, and eventually let him start picking bottles at their local shop. Makes total sense that this Belgian would land in Sicily and purchase hectares of ungrafted vines on the slopes of Mt. Etna, and dedicate himself to working obsessively organic and as natural as possible. In fact, he’s so committed to his environment and all that live in it that his site also has instructions on how to go about recycling everything from the bottle, the closure, label, case and pallet. His “Susucaru” Rosato is a very special wine, not only for how delicious it is but also for its name. Turns out in their local Sicilian it translates to “they stole it” which happened to a good part of the grapes from Frank’s first vintage. I wonder if the thieves were 2 footed, 4 or of the winged variety. Hmmmm? 🤔

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #rosato #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting  #wineislove #organic #winetime #worldbyglass #Sicily #italy #zevrovineselections #Susucaru #FrankCornelissen #docwinebar #docwineshop @zevrovineselections @frankcornelissen_winery @docwinebar @docwineshop

 

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When Dão Happens

Freire Lobo
Sardanita 2022
Pét-Nat
Encruzado, Bical, Fernão Pires, Barcelo, Cerceal & Malvasia Fina
Organic, hand harvested, natural fertilizer from Bordeleira sheep
Oliveira do Hospital, Dão, Portugal
Owner, winemaker & very resilient: Elisa Freire Lobo

Yellow hazy gold with a shimmer of green and very active fine bubbles. BTW take care when opening. It can be a bit explosive. Now it’s time to relax and give this glass a sniff. There’s honeydew, cantaloupe & other white melons, pears, a lemon/lime spritz, Golden Delicious apples along with baking spices, a salty breeze, and also a lovely creaminess. Now onto the taste filled with a citrus blend of lemon, lime, & kumquats, white pepper, persimmon, fresh honeycomb, and salt. So crisp & alive that’s leaving a tingling vibration on my lips.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: crisp and fresh

As it says on Freire Lobo’s site, “When Dão Happens!” Well it’s been a tale of ups & downs & then back up again. Elisa is the first female winemaker of the region, and getting there took studies, working in wineries in other regions, and finally back full circle to her parents land in Dão where she knew to make her wine great she needed to take it back to a more natural/organic past. Then in 2017, the nightmare happened of losing half of her vineyards to the blasted fires that break my heart. She was resilient, and plowed on with what was left. Maybe it wasn’t the original plan but you work with what you have, and what she has created or let nature create is wonderful. Would this pet-nat have existed without this upheaval? I don’t know, but I do know I love it. Thank you for finding a solution or a way to forge forward, continue to naturally grow, and “take it to the next level.”

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #petnat #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #Dao #portugal #fleetstreetwine  #vinewine #vinewinenyc @cheezit @fleetstreetwine @vinewinenyc @freire_lobo_wines

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Leaving An Imprint

Casa do Valle
Homenagem
Rosso 2016
Reserva
Vinho Regional Minho
Sousao, Touriga Nacional, Merlot, etc
Organic, hand harvested
Cabeceiras de Basto, Portugal
Sousa Botelho family: Luis Botelho Cameira

Inky deep purple with a maroon rim. Trust me don’t accidentally spill this on your shirt…don’t be me. After the clean up, breathing in plums, prunes, deep cherries (dried & fresh), a little creaminess like an Oreo center, nutmeg & allspice, tiny bit of black pepper, and as time goes by a mix of berries tumbling through, and a woodsy oak touch that is one I can go with because it’s like Goldilocks would say “just right”. Sip and all of the scents are here with a smooth operator feel, orange zest, and what I at first think is just a creaminess that for a bit is a little coconut. Berries pop out including raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, black currants, and probably others too; a touch of alpine herbal (Ricola), and a single pine needle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: delicious and brings out an orange sizzle

Each vintage of Homenagem, is a lovely way for this winemaking family to pay homage & honor their father & grandfather, who passionately paved the way for their winery’s growth, developed their expansion through exporting, and overall success. What a delicious way to be memorialized! Cheers to all the generations and raising a glass to your future! 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #redwine #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting  #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass # Portugal #docwinebar #docwineshop #casadovalle @massanois @docwinebar @docwineshop