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Hare’s To Character

Famille Brunier
(produced by their Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe)
Pigeoulet Rouge 2023
Vin de Pays du Vaucluse
55% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 15%  Carignan, 8% Cinsault, 7% Mourvèdre
Organic, sustainable, hand harvested, & battles the moths (Eupoecilia ambiguella & Lobesia botrana) by sexual confusion
Bédarrides, France
Frédéric & Daniel Brunier (brothers), Nicolas & Manon (Frédéric’s son & daughter), Édouard (Daniel’s son)

Shining cherry/raspberry. Breathing in cherries, raspberries, plums, blueberries, red currants, a tangle of lavender/rosemary/thyme, and a light bit of licorice. All of the scents are in the taste but with even more grace & a sweetness but not overly. On the exhale there’s now more earth and a little peat. Such an easy drinker & so full of vibrant life that can turn a cold grey day into blue skies & rainbows.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: step away from the box

The Famille Brunier has a longstanding & well acclaimed history (over 125 years) in wine; and more than likely at least one of their bottles has crossed your path from such as Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe, Domaine La Roquète, and Domaine Les Pallières (with Kermit Lynch). This fun bunny or aka Pigeoulet (“little one” translation from local dialect) hopped onto my lap when I was browsing wines to relax with while watching the latest season of “Drops of God”. BTW I’m still on the fence on how I feel about season 2…anyone else catching up on it? Would love to hear your thoughts.  Back to the Bruniers, they let their wines speak for themselves. As they say on their site, “Personality and balance are the two key words that guide our decisions and actions.” Well, this hare’s blend is full of that mentioned personality and heartwarming & smooth balance. I’d follow this little joyful character down rabbit holes any day. 🐰🍷

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A Glass To Snuggle Up To

Quinta do Passadouro
Vinho Tinto 2019
55% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Francesa, 10% Touriga Nacional, 10% Field Blend from old vines
Duoro DOC
Pinhão, Portugal

Inky maroon with purple pops. Sniff and a little oak dances through & mingles with dark cherries, black olives, wildflowers, blackberries, black currants, plums, and a pinch of warm spice & anise. Tasting and there’s dark cherries joining the blackberries, blueberries, black currants & plums & a red currant or two with a not quite ripe tart raspberry, licorice, horehound, and the teeny tiniest of vibrating tomato leaf appears & then tells you you didn’t see them…or shhh they were never there it’s all an illusion. Everything smooths out into an elegant, graceful sip. You know…this wine pairs well with a lot, but honestly I prefer just snuggling up with a glass while watching the snow fall.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: this is one of those moments of YES!

Yes, I’ve had my fair share of Passadouro wines over the years, but when I saw this bottle, I knew it was time to revisit this old friend (actually brought 2 home). While the Genetta genetta on the label may look somewhat like a cute kitty you want to rescue, it’s better to leave them in the wild. I think the best description I found was on discoverwildlife.com: “Genets resemble the love child of a cat crossed with a smidgen of mongoose and a touch of marten, with a soupçon of lemur thrown in for good measure.” These nocturnal creatures are also great for natural pest control since they’re generally carnivores and love snapping up rodents, birds, bugs, and other small critters; but they’re also know to enjoy figs, olives & the like. It would be such a wonderful dream to travel to Portugal, sit out in the dark in a vineyard, and get to see one unclose & personal on its agile nightly hunt.

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Prehistoric Lessons

Sylvain Bock
Raffut 2023
100% Syrah
VDF
Certified organic, biodynamic, indigenous yeasts
Alba-la-Romaine, Ardèche, France

Dark maroon/purple with a shimmer of magenta on the rim. Breathing in dried figs, deep cherries dried & fresh, strawberries & raspberries that go deep, whiff of cola, briny olives, violets, sprinkle of cinnamon, plums that grow & darken, a little boysenberry, and peaty smoke. All of the scents are in the taste with a lighter touch along with Niçoise olives, and zippy orange & lemon zest that is also a bit singed. Let this baby have a good long timeout, and you will be rewarded as everything blooms.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: it does but it’s better without

Honestly this is my first Sylvain Bock wine. Didn’t know what to expect, but when I saw on the back of the bottle the very recognizable logo of Super Glou (a cat, a dog & in between a bottle of wine) I knew it would be up my alley. They work with “small-production, low-intervention producers from France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Catalunya, Chile and pockets of America”, and Bock fits that criteria perfectly. He’s a zero/zero natural winegrower & maker with a true passion for his craft, wine, vines, and of course land. From an IG post by @super_glou & @glougloumagazine during one of their visits to his vineyards they were not only taught a lesson in “wine growing but in prehistoric geology” which I bet was exciting and inspiring. Sylvain’s knowledge of the soils & what lies beneath & nourishes the lands (limestone, fossils, basalt, etc) guides his decisions on which grape will thrive & where. And if you have a moment to peruse his IG page, you’ll see he also slows down to appreciate & cherish what resides in his vineyards (or maybe they’re just stopping by for a visit)…flowers, ladybugs, and a post from just a few weeks ago of one special moment of finding a “little nest in the middle of the vineyards”. As Sylvain  says, “Nature always finds its place, even in winter”, and I see it as a sign of the beautiful spring & growth yet to come. 🪺❤️🍷

#wine #vin #vino #winestagram #instawine

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Sharing Happiness

Domaine Beatrice et Pascal Lambert
Bulles Lambert 2022
Sparkling Rose
VDF
100% Cabernet Franc
Organic, biodynamic, hand harvested, vines & bottling guided by the lunar cycle
Les Chesnaies, Chinon, France
Winemakers: Beatrice & Pascal Lambert

Light pink gold with fine active bubbles. Immediately wafting up to my nose are strawberries, cream/oreo centers, raspberries, Bosc pears, and delicate tea roses. Sipping away and again there’s strawberry & raspberry, cranberry smidge joined by a lemon bubbly tingle, an exhale taste of that Oreo center again but not as much as in the scent, crisp and tart young pear that eases into the background. It’s clean, dry, crisp, so fresh & fun and don’t overthink it like I am. Just enjoy!

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just don’t

At Domaine Beatrice et Pascal Lambert they have a refreshing philosophy:

“Farmers! Tomorrow, let’s cultivate life!!
And the earth will continue to smile.
And a smile produces a lot
Let us share this happiness together and we will guarantee love and peace on our planet Earth!!”

They share their happiness (and wine) with their crew, friends, and visitors alike. As they say a great estate needs a good team, and theirs is diverse. Eric handles business and is great dealing with the public, Fabien maintains the bio treatments for the vines, Paco is hands on with vine training, and not to be left off is Jelly the adorable dog. Now to the extended group of friends, family & others that want to join in the fun whether it’s with shears or hand harvesting. There’s Patrice (wine merchant) who helps harvest, Belgians that visit at the right time of the season, 2 different Jean-Maries, Vincent & Marie who are always ready to jump in, Polo who’s always been with the estate, and Ghislain who is a Michelin-starred chef because who wouldn’t want a fabulous chef by their side. Now I just have to ask, how do I get a chance to be on their team? Have nimble hands & would love to travel. Cheers!🥂

#wine #vin #vino #winestagram #instawine

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A Different Kind Of Romance

Odfjell Vineyards
Orzada 2020
100% Carignan
Organic, biodynamic, sustainable, native yeasts
Valle de Maule. Chile
Odfjell family’s latest generation: Laurence & Dan Jr.

Deep maroon with a shining rim. Right off the bat I’m sniffing raspberry, blackberry, cherry, followed by boysenberry, rosemary & thyme that turns into sassafras, and a little tingle of gooseberry & wild flowers. Tasting cherries (dark & tart, pits, skins and all), fresh picked blackberries & raspberries, plummy depth blending with a little raisin, boysenberry w lemon zest, dark cured olive pit taste that balances all, smidge of licorice on the back, and a sprinkle of good earth. It’s juicy, lovable and made me smile.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: BIG yes actually it has me craving an old school grilled cheese sandwich

Odfjell Vineyards came to life due to a Norwegian love story. No this is a romance between two lovers but of a man & the land that captured his heart. Dan Odfjell (Norwegian businessman, ship/tanker owner & builder) visited Chile and fell hard. Who wouldn’t? He loved it enough to embark on his wine journey that now includes 3 vineyards, a gravity-flow winery (1st in Chile), and they are biodynamic & organic certified. Now his sons are at the helm ,and they’re also keeping with their inherited nautical theme. This bottle is from their Orzada line which translates into: “To sail against the wind”, and the label is “inspired by the movement of water and its energy” which to me is a lovely way to honor their Norwegian (Viking) heritage and their now Chilean roots. 🍇🍷🇳🇴🇨🇱

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #instawine

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“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

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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

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When Life Gives You Tomatoes

C. Cassis
Green Tomato Aperitif
20% abv
Sustainable agriculture
Rhinebeck, NY
Rachael Petach

A warm amber glow. Sniff and there’s a lovely fragrance of green tomatoes (also leaves, plant, etc.), a floral whiff like tea roses & maybe jasmine that circles around to wild flowers, pinch of fresh picked cayenne pepper, white pepper, rustic herbs (oregano, thyme, basil), and a little purslane. Sipping all of the scents but with a delicate touch & a bit of vegetal/grape sweetness but not overly, so gentle and might I say fancy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: you could but don’t ruin the moment

You know the saying when life gives you lemons…this is what happens when you end up with a whole lot of extra green tomatoes and their tendrils. They let them macerate with sugar & distillate, took the liquid and mixed it with a NY state rosé, and the add it all into an ex-pommeau barrel. After over more than a year of peacefully hanging out & also while someone created these beautiful bottles & designed delightful packaging…you end up with a true piece of art. Consider how happy someone would be to find this in their stocking this Christmas.🍸🥃 ❤️

#wine #winestagram #instawine #vermouth #Aperitif #cocktails #hudsonvallley #wineoclock #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #vermouth #currentcassis #vinewinenyc

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Tell Me Your Story

Pormenor
Ginga
Vinho Tinto 2023
Touriga Franca, Tinta Barocca
Hand harvested, indigenous yeasts, unfined, minimal intervention, natural, vegan friendly
Barcos, Tabuaço, Duoro, Portugal
Pedro Coelho

Cherry stained glass. Sniffing cherry, plums, blackberries, a little bit of fall leaves, an herbal sachet of tarragon, mint & others, red licorice, and a smidge of white pepper. Sipping and there’s a mix of plums & cherries now are bright & tart, gooseberries, young blackberries/raspberries (kind of still greenish pink), green tomato in a good way, touch of lime zest, and a pinch of sour grass. It’s just light, lively and oh so happy.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: so smooth

Coelho didn’t inherit a winery, but he did have connections to some of the essentials. His dad was a cork producer, his grandfather’s a cooper (barrel maker), and he ended up working in wine finance/marketing until the moment came when he decided it was time to give it a go at making wine. He works with old vines, but doesn’t’ adhere to the past usual ways of vinification…his are fresh & can be drunk young yet may also age. They also don’t hit you over the head with high alcohol content which in my book is a very good thing. There’s a quote on his site, “Wine, by the grape” that kept rolling around in my thoughts. He wants Pormenor (translates to details which is something Pedro is very thoughtful about in his vines, environment, etc) wines to tell the stories of his Douro…through his vineyards & grapes, and as long as he keeps making these bottles, I’ll keep listening to their whispers & songs of a place & history that holds a special spot in my heart. 🍷

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #portugal #jdselections #pormenor #pormenorvinhos  #vinewinenyc

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Passing Torches & Passion

Domaine Leccia
Fronda di Leccia 2024
Nielluccio, Grenache
Organic, biodynamic, family winery
Corsica, France
Winemaker & current generation: Lisandru Leccia

Cranberry (you know the one that comes out of the can on Thanksgiving) stained glass. Breathing in cherries, touch of hay wafting in that quickly says bye, tart & dark plums, a little eucalyptus, and pomegranate. Sipping and there’s a blend of cherry, plums, raspberry, cranberry, pomegranate, blackberry, and boysenberry. Everything is light, lively & so easy, and it’s so nice to have something not complicated right now. It actually has me craving a Junior’s Cheesecake.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: Just do it

Lisandru Leccia (the latest gen) grew up in a wine family, but spread his wings to further his vin-education in Dijon, Meursault, and Napa Valley, CA (Opus One). Of course over time home called his name, and his father (Yves) had started another estate leaving the family’s winery in his aunt’s (Annette) hands. As she says on their site, “‘Passing on my parents’ land to their grandson was the culmination of a lifetime’s work; the passing down of the torch is the most important moment in a winemaker’s life.” Lisandru happily took that torch and ran with it. It’s in his blood and you can tell by his words, “When I was a child, playing outside in this magical place was a true joy for me. Today, that’s what I try to do every day: to pass on this passion through wines. I often say that I’m inflating the tires of my tractor where, as a child, I used to inflate the tires of my bicycle…” 🍷❤️

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #organic #France #corsica #lagrenouillewine #domaineleccia #vinewinenyc