Posted on

“Here The Magic Is Born”

Adega Manuel Formigo
Finca Teira Blanco 2021
Treixadura 70%, Godello 15%, Caiño blanco 10%, Torrontes 5%
DO Ribeiro
Minimal intervention, organic, hand harvested, family run winery
Beade, Ourense, Galicia, Spain
Manuel Formigo de la Fuente & family

Yellow brick road gold. Sniff and there’s pears from my granny’s trees, white peaches, apples, light touch of honeysuckle, wild flowers & greenery, lemon on the soft side, and a mineral rock/gravel. Everything I’m sniffing is in the taste with a brighter splash of citrus (a little grapefruit, clementine, kumquat blend), bright zing combo of lemon/lime zest & lick of granite, touch of salt, and a blade of grass. It’s the whole bright and easy package.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: surprisingly yeah

Ants often symbolize hard work, perseverance, patience, and teamwork; so it’s no wonder they grace Manuel’s bottles…well, also “Formigo” translates to “ant”. Coming from a wine family, he pulled back from the big industrial scene and returned to old traditions, natural ways and most importantly quality (or as I say damn good) wine. His project or viño reboot started back in 2006, and was originally housed in his grandparents’ basement. In 2013 the winery moved into their Miñoteira estate where as it says on their site, “Here The Magic Is Born”. Another enchanting & historic aspect of their vines are that they are the oldest native varieties (including the rare Albilla de Avia his grandfather protected & cultivated) in the Ribeiro region, which is a testament to how much care & passion Manuel & the past generations have for their grapes and what will end up in your glass. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winetasting #wineoclock #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #Galicia #Spain #vinotasselections #ManuelFormigo #vinewinenyc

Posted on

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

Posted on

Listen, Learn & Adapt

Avinyó
Petillant 2024
Vi d’Agulla
Xarel.lo 15%, Muscat de Frontignan 60%, Macabeo 25%
Organic, hand-madem artisanal sparkling wine house
Avinyonet del Penedès, Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
Esteve-Nadal family (latest gen: Xavier, Luis, Pedro Juan, and Mercé)

Starlight pale yellow with dainty bubbles. There’s scents of lemon/lime & actually Sprite, mandarin, apples, pears, and a ittle cane sugar mixed with honeysuckle. Everything I’m sniffing is here with I think mango & lychee, and a fun bubbly sizzle. Grab 2 bottles because you’re going to want to share this cheerful bottle filled with joy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: yes please

The Esteve-Nadal family have a long viticultural history dating back to 1597, when the original family last name was the Fontanals but that all changed with a wedding in 1847, uniting Esperança Fontanals & Adjutori Esteve. BTW you know how you often hear about winemaking families being so passionate about their vines, land, estate, etc. Well, this family is passionate but also resourceful. They weathered the phylloxera epidemic along with losing their savings due to a bank collapse. Well, to salvage & keep moving forward Joan Esteve Marcé (1889) embarked to France to learn about grapes resistant to phylloxera, and upon return replanted one vineyard with “new American rootstock”. Now dubbed La Mirona (The Watcher) this plot was a new hope for not just them but also other local growers. Over the generations they continued to listen, learn, and quickly adapt. In another case of need when hailstorms brought them a few financially bad years they turned to the artistic endeavors of their matriarch…ceramic tiles, plates & murals that are still a beautiful part of their heritage and cava & vino success today. 🥂

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #sparklingwine #bubbly #cava #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #Spain #demaisonselections #Avinyó #Avinyo #vinewinenyc

Posted on

Naturally Magical

Casa Balaguer
Tragolargo 2021
100% Monastrell
Organic (CAECV certified), biodynamic, self-regenerating ecosystem, hand harvested
Villena, Alicante, Spain
Andrés Carull & Marta Ribera

Deep dark cherry with magenta blips. Breathing in cherries ripe & dried, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, smidge of black pepper, and something I thought was lavender that turns into eucalyptus but not overly forward. All of the scents but so much more fresh strawberry & raspberry, cranberry, lick of a mineral rock, and in the back there’s a Cerignola olive hint that balances all.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: I’m on the fence

Casa Balaguer is Andrés Carull & Marta Ribera’s small family winery, and boy is it all natural (my 3rd by them). After a surprising encounter with a natural wine during a trip to France in 2008, they were hooked or as they say seduced by its magical power. They only work with local varieties to enhance the true feel and taste of their lands, and keep it biodynamic and organic. And their own words sum their passion beautifully, “Immerse yourself in a world, from which you have no escape. When you enter the world of natural wines, wines made with nothing but fermented grape juice, no additives and no makeup, you won’t want to escape. There is no way back. We can tell you from experience. The lasting memory of these wines is not stored in the mind, but in the heart.” They also say that wine has a way of “teleporting” you so you can “travel by glass” to visit their wonderful part of the world, which is hey, a statement as you can tell…I fully believe. One more special thing to add is they are part of an international community/movement that is pretty special and you truly have to prove you deserve membership. La Renaissance des Appellations (founded by Nicolas Joly) & it’s a “collective that champions wines with soul, honesty, and deeply connected to their origin”, and Balaguer is 1 of 11 from Spain. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #wineoclock #redwine #cheezit #worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #sustainable #biodynamic #organic #Alicante #Spain #selectionsdelavina  #casabalaguer #vinewinenyc

Posted on

Loving The Rural Life

Abadia da Cova
Cepa Vella 2023
100% Mencía
Organic
Ribeira Sacra, Spain
Winemaking family – current generation: Paloma & Adrián Rodríguez & their cousin José Moure

Deep purple with flashes of cranberry. Breathing in raspberry, cherry with at first something cream like that eases into the background, dark plums, a touch of good funk depth (not poopy) that mellows, and black pepper & other pepper that I can’t quite define. Sipping all of the scents with a little bell pepper, smidge of sorrel, pomegranate, blackberries with seeds & all that lead to juicy, fresh fruit yet finishes with a mineral lick & a cherry pit moment. It all deliciously levels out.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: so good

Adegas Moure & Abadía da Cova’s history starts back with a single man, Baldomero Moure Pérez. Born in 1892, he wanted more and left A Cova, Spain for Cuba. There he found employment with the railway & a way to save for his future. After his return to Galicia, he settled down with Carmen López Moure, and this led to pave a way toward wine. With her inheritance of land in A Cova and his savings, they continued to buy surrounding farmland, and then lay the foundations for their vineyards, the wines, and their spirits. Through the generations, the winery grew and refined their trade. Now it is the 4th gen (Paloma, José y Adrián) who continue the traditions and passions of the vines and grow forward organically to preserve the lands for their future generations. “Cepa Vella” is also a bond between Abadia da Cova and their neighbors by assisting them to go organic/sustainable which “encourages people to stay in the Ribeira Sacra and create an economically and ecologically sustainable model of rural life.” In my book that is pretty darn cool and I raise a glass to them. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #demaisonselections #abadiadacova #vinewinenyc

Posted on

The Rhythm Of Nature

Vinyes Tortuga
Fruita Analogica
Comfortably Numb 2023
Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Roja, Garnacha Blanca
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested
Rabós, Alt-Empordà, Cataluña, Spain
Dido Voorma & Jurriaan Morsink

Raspberry/cranberry cocktail minus the umbrella. Sniff this chilled pour and over time it’s a swirl of raspberry, a little wild hay/funk that will fade, pomegranate, cherry, a citrus tingle with a plummy depth, white pepper, and a small poof of smoke. First sip and the funk has left the room. There’s also cherries & cherry Jolly Ranchers, pomegranate, raspberry, blackberry, tart plum, even a little gooseberry with a little citrus sizzle on the lips followed by white pepper. Such a fun, crunchy, easy drinker.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: yeah man

Dido & Jurriaan (originally hailing from Amsterdam) had been all over learning about & making wine until they found their little space in the world in Empordà near Rabós. Those 9.5 ha were their dream vines and instead of waiting any longer they crowdfunded the purchase of the plot. Now they are working natural or as they say, “we farm with the rhythm of nature, transforming grapes into living, breathing wines that pulse with energy”. They want their bottles to tell a tale of where they’re from, a touch of history, and to spark conversations…and part of that whole picture is also their love of all sorts of music which feeds their wines names. There’s “Hunky Dory”, “Juicy”, “Cloudbusting”, “Little Fluffy Clouds”, etc., and the one I brought home, “Comfortably Numb”. Now, I want to know the secret behind this particular lyrical pairing; so if by chance Dido & Jurriaan happen upon this post…please do tell.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #Garnacha #Spain #selectionsdelavina #vinyestortuga #vinewinenyc

Posted on

A Chill Love Note

El Mas de l’A
Tot-Ú 2020
Blend of Garnacha Peluda, Garnacha Gris, Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Tinta, Trepat, Cariñena
Organic, bio
Priorat, Spain
Alfredo Arribas

Cheery stained glass cherry. Sniff once…twice…three times a…wait I just got stuck in a song. Back to the glass, there’s scents of raspberries, cherries, pomegranate, young strawberries, and a little dragged through the forest floor with a dried pine needle. Sipping and this is so lovely and lives up to all I’ve been told. I could drink this blend all day.

There’s again those raspberries, cherries, pomegranate, sweet & tart strawberries, and hanging out in the back and shyly waving a blueberry or two. Pinch of earth lingers but the funk has left the building and again this is awesome. Chill it a little, chill it a lot (my fave)…either way you will have some very happy tastebuds.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: absolutely not

Every time I find a “new to me” wine, it’s not just a tasting experience but a chance to learn about the person behind the bottle. It’s even more of a delight going in blind and discovering it’s by a winemaker I already ❤️ but just under a different monicker. First encounter with Arribas’ was in Barcelona (at La Vinya del Senyor) with a glass of his Somni and over the years others have happily dropped in my lap (bottles not glasses bc that would be quite a mess). His wines are truly fabulous but that’s just scratching the surface of this creative fount…he’s also an internationally acclaimed (award winning) architect & interior designer, who also has a recurring thread of sustainability across his ventures. Alfredo’s “El Mas de l’A” project lets Garnacha varieties (red & white) mingle, shine and reflect his personal spot of Priorat, and (to me) this Tot-Ú is like writing a love note not only to these grapes but also to everyone that gets a chance to share in this experience. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #Garnacha #Spain #josepastorselections #portaldelpriorat #alfredoarribas #vinewinenyc

Posted on

Don’t Miss Out On The Summer Breeze

Galgo Wines
La Brisa Blanco 2023
Field blend of 85% Treixadura, and 15% Godello, Albariño & Loureira
Biodynamic & organic
Galicia, Ribeiro, Spain
Project between Ezequiel Sanchez-Mateos & consultancy of Sentiviño Wines (Diego y Álvaro Diéguez)

Sunshine shining yellow. Breathing in pears, green apples, something a tad nutty/woodsy, yellow nectarines, over time grapefruit grows but not at all overpowering, and a small mix of celery & wild fennel. All of the sniffs are in the taste with a good splash more of grapefruit & a pinch of salt, the pears/apples are fresh yet luscious at the same time, and a small bitter bite like a citrus seed with a squeeze of oranges. It’s mouth awakening and so begging to be dropped into your cooler for a day at the beach. I love this wine so much!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Yes please bring the whole box & also grab the Bugles

As I’ve said before, I truly think Sanchez-Mateos has the best job in the world. Galgo Wines gives him the chance to meet with interesting people from small producers, other distributors, local (and not so local) enthusiasts, writers, etc (who doesn’t love conversation with kindred spirits), and utilize his financial background education into the mix. Oh and he also gets to travel far and near all while living his wine life to the fullest. He and his cohorts in vine (Sentiviño Wines) also care about what goes into the ground, the plants, and in us. They don’t use any pest or herbicide in their 20 year old vineyards (Avia Valley) and are keeping the whole process as natural as possible or as they say “least intrusive”, and these bottles are vegan friendly. BTW if you find one scoop it up ASAP to add to your drink list because you don’t want to miss out on this cool & refreshing Spanish summer breeze.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #winelover #winetasting #Spain #Ribeiro #Galicia #steephillwine #SentivinoWines #galgowines #docwinebar #docwineshop

Posted on

Do The Math…Or Not

Bodegas Más Que Vinos
5/4 Clarete 2022
Malvar 20%, Airen 20%, Garnacha 20%, Cencibel (Tempranillo) 40%
Working sustainably, certified organic, indigenous grapes, vegan friendly, co-fermented in amphora
Cabañas de Yepes, Toledo, Spain
Margarita Madrigal, Alexandra Schmedes and Gonzalo Rodriguez

Ruby deep purple (now I have “Smoke On The Water” stuck in my head). Breathing in cherries & plums dried & fresh, oddly a bit of tomato plants with bit of bramble, dash of herbal tea (old school smell from back in the Celestial Seasonings college days), red currants & reminder of a Christmas citrus vibe, cranberries, and a puff of smoke that fades. Sipping and there’s cherry, blackberries, tart plum, an herbal blend of thyme, rosemary, etc.; red & black currants, lime/orange citrus zest, lick of limestone, and a pinch of anise. It’s fresh, juicy and oh so good.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: this is a good thing

Not long ago I posted about Más Que Vino’s “Los Conejos Malditos” or as I called them “Bad Bunnies” who have a penchant for grapes and ransacking a harvest. This addictive bottle’s name 5/4 luckily doesn’t come from destructive critters but from the ingredients for this whole cluster co-ferment: 2 parts Cencibel (Tempranillo), 1 part Garnacha, 1 part Airen, 1 part Malvar. 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5 and then the 4 comes from the varieties. You may be eye rolling at me for the explanation but just looking at the front label it flew right over my head until I turned the bottle around. Yes, I can be that oblivious at times. 🤣 BTW this wine is very delightfully addictive so pick up two and don’t even bother thinking about the math.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Spain #clarete #badbunnies #valkyrieselections #BodegasMasQueVinos #vinewinenyc

Posted on

“Listen & Feel”

Anima Mundi
Gres 2023
100% Xarel-lo
Biodynamic, organic
Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs, Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
Agustí Torello Roca

Light gold starlight. Breathing in scents that are all delicate bits of pears, lemon pie, mango, pineapple, and Golden delicious apples. Sip and there’s all of the scents with lime sizzle, a dry salty mineral rock lick, sliver of green tomato, and on the back a dry bitter bite combo kind of like parsley, oregano & citrus zest.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Delicious & lively

I knew something looked familiar about this bottle and then it hit me, Agustí’s also the winemaker for his family’s winery AT Roca (I love their sparklers). He started Anima Mundi back in 2015 as a side project, and his view is in order to make “vibrant wines” you have to “listen & feel…to connect with nature in order to understand the life cycles that link us to it” and to nurture the soils as a living being with keeping check of its biodiversity. It’s also all about respect for his environment & minimal intervention during the winemaking aspect. To me that’s a beautiful way of living & working, and he truly lets the grapes sing and express their little place in the world. I think Mr. Roca & this Gres may have made me fall even more in love with Spain. ❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Spain #josepastorselections #atrocawines  #animamundi_celler #animamundi  #vinewinenyc