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

Can You Blow Out 100 Candles?

Bodega Finca Abril
Alhambra Malbec Reserva 2020
Single Vineyard
Valle De Uco
Sustainable, organic, hand harvested
Mendoza, Argentina
Founders: Gustavo and Maria Laura

Deep purple with ruby shimmers. First scent up…vanilla cream center that later sticks around in the background, but let it keep breathing and then there’s raspberries, cherries, plums, baker’s chocolate, and a warm spice & smell from what I remember from my grandfather’s woodworking shop. Oh even in the first sip this has all the scents and more…blackberries (seeds & all), prunes (in a good way), deep darkest bitterly good chocolate, drop of singed citrus peel blend & a shave of cedar.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: deliciously juicy smooth

Finca Abril was started by Gustavo and Maria Laura in 1996, but they have vineyards far older…back to 1922, which means some had a massive birthday last year. Who blew out the candles on that cake? Now that would be quite a set of lungs. This bottle does come from some of the younger vines, and is called one of their entry level wines, but honestly if this is a “starter kit” for learning about what they have to offer, then bring on their “Art Collection”! Not only do you get limited edition blends (some of the senior grapes mingle with the teenagers), the labels also have artworks by select Argentinian artists, so get a wall mount to keep it on display because you’re not going to  want to put that bottle in the recycle bin.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #Mendoza #Argentina #organic #winetime #redwine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @cheezit @tedward_ws @bodegafincaabril @docwineshop @docwinebar

Classy Sassy Primitive

Domaine Sébastien David
Primitif 2020
VDF
100% Chenin Blanc
Pét-Nat
Organic, biodynamic
Grapes from Loir-et-Cher
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France
Winemaker: Sébastien David

Warm yellow golden. Sniffing a little funky nature that needs to breathe and opens to brioche, pears, mellow melon, round apples with a lemon & tangelo sparkle, salt, and a mineral rockiness. Sipping pretty pears, apple, a little chalk that hides and waves back at you here and there, lemon squeeze sizzle, honeydew, and toasted breakfast baguette with a little warm of some comfortable spice that has my lips tingling and plumping. Fresh, crisp, friendly and looking for a night looking toward the moon (you know like what Sébastien does with his wines).

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out a cider feel

Well, this is a surprise! A Chenin Blanc sparkly from the man known for Cabernet Franc. It may be a different grape but you can feel his winemaking “Hurluberlu” hand (or hands off) in this bottle. So now I wonder about the name, “Primitif”. Is it due to the méthode ancestrale, or the way he  looks back to the past generations (he’s 15th) for guidance and techniques, even though he always has had his eye on the future with going biodynamic and permaculture. Whatever the naming decision, this bottle is pretty darn classy & sassy for a primitive.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #frenchwine #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #worldbyglass #organic #biodynamic #CheninBlanc #PétNat #petnat #Loire #LoireValley #France #SébastienDavid @hurluberluseb @tedward_ws @boboselections @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Character Reference

Bodegas Hornillos Ballesteros
Mibal 2021
100% Tempranillo
Ribera del Duero D.O.
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested
Roa de Duero, Burgos, Spain
WInemakers: Miguel Hornillos y Javier Ballesteros

Dark purple with a ruby rim. Floating up to my nose is a butter cherry vanilla cream start then just good ol’ fresh cherry followed by plums, blueberry & blackberries with a tiny touch of boysenberry, dried cranberry, raisins, and some wild herbs all tangled up. Now all those wafts are dancing on my tongue like a shaken cocktail of cherries, pomegranate, blueberries, raspberry zip, dried berries of all sorts, some brambly bits and as it opens a pinch of espresso. A glass of evening intrigue. Hey, want me to pour you one? What’s the harm? 💋

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: mmmm cozy and juicy

Guess this is kind of a buddy story that ended up a family tale. Miguel and Javier already BFFs came from wine families and became fully related when Javier got hitched to Miguel’s sister. Not sure which came first the wedding or the “garage”, but these two ended up with one cool wine experiment or more apt…it’s a continual experience. Each harvest gives them a new palette to create from, or as they say, “Just as a master chef will never prepare the same dish, our winemakers never act in the same way with each wine and each year. In this way we forge unique wines with their own character.” In my book they get a fabulous character reference from me. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #organic #riberadelduero #Spain #Tempranillo #garagewine #hornillosballesteros @tedward_ws @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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

Biodynamic Cool

Mas Théo
‘L’imprévu’ 2016
VDF
Syrah (mostly), Grenache & Mourvèdre
Organic & biodynamic
Drôme Provençale , Rhône, France
Winemaker & farmer: Laurent Clapier

Ruby rimmed purple (and later so is my tongue). Breathing in deep and tart cherries, plums, strawberry preserves, and a tiny whiff of what I remember as a kid…the outside of a licorice jelly bean which then fades into herbal mix of juniper, fennel and good funk. Tarty tang and dark cherries again just dancing on my tongue, and in a little bit they’re joined by dried brown Turkish figs, forest floor earthiness with a twinge of pepper and juniper that opens into blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Everything melds together like a beautifully woven tapestry.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: perfect

The vineyards are only one part of Laurent’s organic/biodynamic big picture. Mas Théo has 5 different terroirs over 173 acres which give him an opportunity to diversify. They also have lavender, olives, truffle oaks, and hay which is very important because Laurent uses it as a trade with cattle farmers. Oh it’s not for beef to put on the table, but for manure to go back into nourishing the land. He also acquired the Caves Cathédrales to house his winery…a very smart move since the average temp year round is 57F. One more cool thing about the Caves (and Laurent) is that there is plenty of space, in fact enough to share, such as in space for others to age their bottles and room for new/young winemakers to create their own wines. Now that’s very, very cool in so many ways.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #vinnaturel #vinbio #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #biodynamic #organic #Syrah #Grenache #Mourvèdre #Rhône #rhone #france @tedward_ws @vin_mastheo @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

An Enticing Siren’s Call

Forlorn Hope
Queen of the Sierra
Estate Red Wine 2018
Zinfandel, Barbera, Tempranillo, Trousseau noir, and Mondeuse
Rorick Heritage Vineyard
Calaveras County, CA, USA
Organic, hand-harvested, spontaneous fermentation, native yeasts, unfiltered and unfined
Winemaker: Matthew Rorick

Shimmering raspberry color like a piece of a stained glass window. Fragrances emerge immediately and continue to grow of raspberries, cherries, gooseberries, lemon zest, some Mediterranean spice, blueberries, and a bit of earth. Here comes a delicious sip of raspberries and cherries (again, and juicy splash of summertime watermelon, It’s light and fun! Next is citrus zest with a tiny burn in the back of my mouth, a waaaay easy drinker that also has that bit of earth but not heavy, and at end there’s some surprising radicchio. This bottle is like a siren’s call luring me to summer, tank tops, shorts, and a day traipsing on the beach and listening to the waves.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Just don’t do it. Don’t ruin your beautiful day!

As I mentioned on my last Queen post, Forlorn Hope pulls for the outsiders and long shots. They also believe in great causes and now sport a list on their site, if you want to join them in their support of human rights. As they say, “Neither our industry nor our country will be great until ALL people are treated fairly with compassion, empathy, love and equity. Keep fighting.” Choose love, choose hope, and while you may not be able to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes; you may be able to learn and show you care.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @forlornhopewines @tedward.newyork @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #winestagram #instawine #Calaveras #california #Zinfandel #Barbera #Tempranillo #Trousseaunoir #Mondeuse #matthewrorick

All Hail the Queen

Forlorn Hope
Queen of the Sierra 2017
White blend
Verdelho, muscat, and chardonnay (mostly, but there may be some others thrown in too)
Calaveras County, CA, USA
Organic, hand-harvested, spontaneous fermentation, native yeasts, unfiltered and unfined
Winemaker: Matthew Rorick

Crystal shining light yellow. Wafting in citrus, melon, something a little musky, slate/mineral, and light grapefruit. Tilting the glass back and tasting honeydew, muskmelon, and citrus. Nice acid and there’s that mineral again…you can taste the limestone from the land. It’s a feisty and fun wine.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: sharpens the wine and tones back sweet

I was really surprised when I looked up their site. Love the rockstar font and really love what I’m finding out about the winemaker Matthew Rorick. What a man of all trades and accomplished at all! At first glance you see this tatted, white-beard and mustached rocker dude. Then you read about his past and whoa, he repaired submarine telescopes for the U.S. Navy, ridden skateboards for a living, and built electric guitars. That is really cool. Also cool is that Forlorn Hope pulls for the outsiders and longshots. That’s something near and dear to my heart. Ok, have I had too much of this lively wine, because I’m tearing up right now. All hail the little guy that survives and thrives in any circumstance. Definitely pleased to meet you, Forlorn Hope!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @forlornhopewines @tedward.newyork @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Calaveras #california #verdelho #muscat #chardonnay #matthewrorick