Allô, Wine Calling

Domaine Les Foulards Rouges
Octobre 2023
VDF
Syrah, Grenache
Organic, indigenous yeast, hand harvested, unfined & unfiltered
Montesquieu-les-Albères, Rousillion, France
Jean-François Nicq

Shining garnet stained glass. Breathing in a big bowl of mixed fruit like raspberry, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, smidge of figs, plums, and next up are irises, white pepper, a tiny puff of smoke/earth & tomato leaf. Taking a sip and wow! All of the aforementioned is there including tomato leaves, now joined with green tomato (fresh not fried) & tart young cherry tangy, a little sizzle on the back, and it’s light, bright, fresh and obviously young in a good way.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: more flowers emerge

When I first saw this label, my brain went straight to Pet Shop Boy’s “My October Symphony”, but it actually refers to the month it’s released each year. The Domaine’s name was a what I should have been paying more attention to…Jean-François Nicq and Bijan Mohamadi (childhood friends) originally bought the vineyard property back in 2001, and decided to dub it with the name of the Prix Maison de la Presse winning historical/thriller/adventure novel “Les Foulards Rouges” (The Red Scarves) by one of their favorite authors, Fréderic Fajardie (also known for his political leanings, works of noir, and screenplays). Let’s just say learning about him took me down a rabbit hole this past weekend. Then I stumbled into another one or should I say a whole prairie dog burrow, when I found out about the documentary “Wine Calling” that includes Les Foulards Rouges along with other like minded natural winemakers. Check it out, there’s a Bourdain soundtrack vibe, it’s free on Tubi, and also it’s “Un film produit sans sulfites.”

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #organic #naturalwine #winecalling #France #worldbyglass #winecalling #lesfoulardsrouges #docwinebar #docwineshop #LesFoulardsRouges @zevrovineselections @docwineshop @docwinebarny

Drink Life Slowly

Esporão
Monte Velho Tinto 2021
Vinho Regional Alentejano
Aragonez 40%, Trincadeira 35%, Touriga Nacional 20%, Syrah 5%
Alentejo, Portugal
Winemkaers: Sandra Alves & João Ramos

Deep goth dark ruby with a light ruby rim. There’s scents of cola, prunes, dark plums & cherries, mission figs, raspberries, over time blueberries wave hello, a pinch of earth & iron. Sipping raisins, prunes, dark plums, tart & dark cherries, dried mission figs, also some rustic tangy young cherry, and a welcome burn that fades and smoothes.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: everything goes more rich and smooth so YES

When I took my first few sips, my hands just took over and typed, “I want to be on vacation”. Well, Esporão wants that for us too, or actually more than just a quick break but to learn to move forward slowly, to breath deeply, to care for our environment, enjoy silence, and live in the moment. Here’s their manifesto and it’s definitely worth a read.

The world moves at a faster pace than ever.
But to many of us, it looks like we’re going nowhere fast.
Fast is surrendering our privacy for instant access to memes.
Fast is downing a double espresso while rushing to work.
Fast has us watching five seasons of a show on Netflix in one gulp.
Fast has made the week speed by because we were too busy
to stop and look around.
Fast isn’t forward.

We’re from the slow country.
We have a different pace of life.
And it makes life look pretty good.
Slow is smart. Slow is a skill. Slow is progress.
So if you’re in a hurry, drink wine slowly.
Drink life slowly.

There are many ways to move forward. This is ours.
Esporão.
Slow Forward.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #redwine #winetasting #winetime #naturalwine #portugal #Alentejano #Alentejo #slowforward #thisisEsporão #Esporão #Esporao #vinewine #vinewinenyc @esporaoworld @vinewinenyc

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Domaine Pélaquié
Côtes du Rhône
Rouge 2021
Grenache noir 50%, Syrah 50%
Sustainable, HVE certified
Rhône, France
Luc Pélaquié and team

Stained glass garnet with a bluish rim. Sniffing and at first creamy followed fast by cherries, dark plums, raspberries, a little oak & smoke that I bet will fade & it does, next up is cranberry, boysenberry, and a light mandarin orange zest. Everything I’ve been sniffing is right there in the taste along with dried Sumatra figs, blueberry, very ripe strawberries, pomegranate, and a fruity, delicious & happy zing.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: absolutely delicious

The Pélaquié’s have worked with the vines since 16th C, passing down traditions, embracing modernity, and breaking free from the coop in 2008 to claim their full independence. This leads me to their icon of the cigale/cicada which as some know I’ve had a great affection since childhood. My grandfather (mom’s dad) used to help me collect their husks/shells post molting. They absolutely fascinated me with their cycles of “rebirth/resurection”. He taught me just where to find the staggered broods and await (imagine a little pigtailed girl running around with a plastic loaf bread bag full of them). They’re noisy little things but the weirdo bug girl I was, quite like that chorusing. From what I read in France, there’s a tale that they were given by God to tell everyone to “WAKE UP!” from their afternoon breaks and get back to work. Check out their beautiful sounds here.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting  #Rhône #Rhone #France #cigales #cicadas #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #bowlerwine #docwinebar #docwineshop #Pélaquié @bowlerwine @docwineshop @docwinebar @domaine_pelaquie

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

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

It’s All About The Altitude

Vinsnus
SiurAlta
Morat 2017
Monsant DO
Syrah 90%, Viogner 10%
Biodynamic, as little of intervention as possible, native yeasts
Cornudella de Montsant, Tarragona, Spain
Alfredo Arribas

Deep ruby maroon purple pour. Breathing in dark plums & cherries, pomegranate with a funky depth, and a light sprinkle of cinnamon,  allspice and I think a little black pepper. Sipping and thankfully the funk has danced it’s way out the building, again those plums, cherries, pomegranate & a splash of raspbluecranberry with a bit of blackberry & orange zest (adding a splash of tart) thrown in, and at last a grind of black pepper.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: gives it a bit of more tart sizzle

Alfredo Arribas is one busy bee. Where do I even start…he’s an architect, a designer, and also a winemaker (from what I’ve heard this artistic/natural nurturing urge came from time spent in his youth with his winemaking grandfather). In 2001, he purchased Clos del Portal in Priorat. (I encountered a glass of their Somni back in 2016 at La Vinya del Senyor on a wonderful trip to Spain. Delicious!) Now he has his hands in vineyards from Priorat & Monsant with a differing lines/labels, and his Vinsnus wines are where he gets to let his natural creativity & experimentation roam free. SiurAlta is all about the altitude (780 m for these grapes), embracing nature, less is more, and as he says, “Looking back, walking forward”. 🍷

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #Montsant #Spain #SiurAlta #Forevertedward #Vinsnus #vinewine #vinewinenyc @cheezit @tedward_ws @vinewinenyc @vinsnus

A Gentle Caress Of Peace & Love

Anne Pichon Wines
“Sauvage”
Gris Montagne 2022
Ventoux AOP
Grenache 50%, Cinsault 30%, Syrah 10%, Carignan 10%
Organic, biodynamic, sustainable, indigenous yeast
Ventoux, Rhône, France
Winemakers & nature lovers: Anne Pichon & Véronique

Very light orange pinky rose. Nothing is overpowering in the scents. It’s fresh yet a little creamy with cherries, plums, some mellow melon, and sea breeze & wet stones. Sip and it’s delicate yet vibrant at the same time, plums (red & yellow with the fruit, skins & all), cherries, pomegranate, that touch of cream feel, a strawberry/raspberry blend with salt & lick of rock, and a lemon zing slides in toward the end.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: absolutely delicious

Every bottle of Anne Pichon’s wines that I’ve had fill me with different emotions. Some have been passion, others pure joy, and this one a gentle caress of peace, love & and a dreamy slow moving time in the countryside. Now back to how this wine came about. Anne & Marc (her husband, who sadly passed away) Pichon found a perfect place to make wine in an already organic yet left behind domaine that came with quite a romantic name in my bee & bug loving book, “Mur-Mur-Ium” (the buzzing song of bees). Aptly named since they even have a beekeeper that’s placed his hives in the vines, which is a sheer delight for me. As I’ve babbled about before, my great-grandfather was a beekeeper & these beneficial creatures fascinate me. There’s a video “The T Edward Morning Show with Véronique of Anne Pichon” & her description of her brother Marc as a nature lover full of passion & a free spirit was so beautiful; how they as a family decided to continue with the winery even after his death is so touching. After listening to Véronique’s words, their “Sauvage” wines seem to me to be like a love letter to nature, it’s complexity, strength & beauty. ❤️🐝

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #Rhone #France #organic #sustainable #annepichon  #annepichonsauvage @tedward_ws @docwinebar @docwineshop

A Sultry Night In The Heart Of The City

Swick Wines
City Nights
Rosé
44% Mourvedre, 36% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah
Bring it.
Conley Vineyard
Columbia Valley AVA
Yakima, Washington
Certified organic situated at 1600-1700 feet elevation
Bottled & produced Newborn, OR
Winemaker/Proprietor: Joe Swick

Sunset salmon. There’s scents of strawberries (green & pink & red & wild), wild sour grass, lemon spritz, fresh running spring or creek where you turn over rocks looking for crayfish, yellow cherries & plums, a little forest funk, as it opens there’s mild watermelon, and a bit of torn fresh basil. All of the scents are right there in the taste with a whiff of smoke & that lick of rock, salt, and a brighter lemon spark with some orange zest. Lovely and a stand out star!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: berg way too tart…just don’t

I’ve lost track of how many Swick wines I’ve had and honestly each one has brought me joy in one way or another, albeit thoughtful, expressive, or just happy. Their site says this rosé is, “Inspired by the opening track on Allan Holdsworth’s 1989 album Secrets” which I can totally see…well hear and feel, but last night when I was relaxing with a glass in the sultry heat of this city night, I couldn’t help but switch to a heartfelt Mark Eitzel mix. Is he a poet, is he a singer/songwriter or is he just a pure artistic soulful siren? Kind of like Joe’s masterful creative intuitive winemaking touch that always draws me in, so these two just vibe together oh so well or should I say they both “Bring it”. Here’s a set to enjoy while keeping cool on another hot evening with another glass. Cheers!

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #winelover #wineoclock #markeitzel #winemaker #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #Rosé #organic #washington #oregon #swickwines @cheezit @swickwines @swickjoe @docwineshop @docwinebar

All Abuzz

Anne Pichon Wines
“Sauvage” 2020
Ventoux AOP
Syrah 80%, Grenache 20%
Organic, indigenous yeast, night harvest, concrete tanks
Ventoux, Rhône, France
Handcrafted production and bottling from Anne Pichon Estate at Mormoiron, Vacluse
Winemakers and nature lovers: Anne Pichon & Véronique (sister-in-law)

Deep purple with magenta/ruby rim. Sniffing at first buttery vanilla, dark prune & plum along with homemade blackberry jam, dates, all sorts dried figs, dark cherry as it breathes, and black pepper. As it all blends together that buttery turns into a vanilla butter cream with (don’t laugh) at some points those fun cupcake sprinkles. Here goes the first sip and oh this…this is good and better than I even expected (and was told). There’s dates, dried figs (brown and black that remind me of my Granny’s trees and cakes), deep plums & prunes, cherry, dried & fresh blueberries, blackberries & the seeds, a touch of raspberry flair, and a dash of that pepper again. BTW after a glass, go look in the mirror and check out the color of your tongue.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: tart! I like it better without

Anne & Marc (her husband, who sadly passed away) Pichon found a perfect place to make wine in an already organic yet left behind domaine that came with quite a romantic name in my bee and bug loving book, “Mur-Mur-Ium” (the buzzing song of bees). Aptly named since they even have a beekeeper that’s placed his hives in the vines, which is a sheer delight for me. As I’ve babbled about before, my great-grandfather was a beekeeper and these beneficial creatures fascinate me. I’ve been watching a video “The T Edward Morning Show with Véronique of Anne Pichon” and her description of her brother Marc as a nature lover full of passion and a free spirit was so beautiful; and how they as a family decided to continue with the winery even after his death is so touching. After listening to Véronique’s words, their “Sauvage” wines seem to me to be like a love letter to nature, it’s complexity, strength and beauty. Yeah, I’m tearing up, and am realizing how much this bottle is than just a lovely wine, but a part of this family.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #naturalwine #syrah #grenache #organic #france #rhone #annepichon @tedward_ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Do You Believe In Magic?

Domaine de Thalie
Plutonic 2020
Saône-et-Loire IGP
Gamay 50%, Syrah 50%
Organic, biodynamic, sustainable, hand harvested
Bray, Saône-et-Loire, France
Winemaker: Peter Gierszewski

Ruby stained glass with purple glints and rim. Breathing in cherries, plums, a woodsy forest filled earthiness, and a slight bit of cherry blossoms/lilacs waft  out later and flow back and forth. The more it breathes the better it gets. Very happily tasting juicy cherry, cherry jolly ranchers, & also tart cherry zing, strawberries, blackberries, plums (tart & mellow blend), and a tiny grind of black pepper with a pinch of coriander (or wait is it ajwain? Nope it’s coriander). Refreshing and a good summer red that still has a backbone and can stand up to whatever you throw at it, so give me a burger or a fried chicken sandwich or queso fundido. This may sound crazy but how about give me all three! Restrain yourself from guzzling the whole bottle because trust me you’re going to want to do it.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yep it goes with everything including this bag

This is the Domaine that Peter built, and boy did he pick the right place (terroirs). Of course, he didn’t go into this without a wine education and the garage wine route. This man knows his stuff and knows how to listen to nature, follow its lead, snd have patience. It’s like he has a hand in a bit of moonlight magic too. Hard to explain until you experience his wine…then you’ll know exactly what I mean, and your senses will be enchanted.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winemaking #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #syrah #gamay #Plutonic #saoneetloire #France #kylieminogue #magic #domainedethalie @communalbrands @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit