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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

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Everything Everywhere All At Once

Maison Marchand-Tawse
Morgon AOC 2021
113/3998
Sustainable
Nuits-Saint-Georges, Bourgogne, France

Pascal Marchand & Moray Tawse & team

Shining garnet ruby. There’s scents growing of red currants, a little earth & puff of smoke/peat, cherries, boysenberries, a raspstrawberry combo, and a blend of tomato leaves & tobacco. Sip and there’s raspberries, cherries, pomegranate, boysenberries, blackberries (seeds & all), strawberries, blueberries, a tiny twangy orange zest, and a tobacco tingle.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: better without

After reading the background on Pascal Marchand, my head is spinning. He’s originally from Quebec but became quite a traveler before landing in Burgundy, taking a viticulture & enology course (Beaune), and started learning from & working for the best. As he, his talents, and grape intuition grew, so did his acclaim & desire to work more natural, organic & sustainable with the wineries where he was working/consulting. That spilled over into his own “garagiste” wines where he developed good relationships with growers that were of a natural like mindset. Oh and before I forget he’s one of the “flying winemakers” who work with wineries all over the world. I swear with all he has his hands in, it was like he’s everywhere everything all at once minus the hotdog fingers. Now back to the wines he was personally making…not far down the road, his friend Moray Tawse (also Canadian & of Tawse Winery in Canada) joined Pascal in his wine venture and Maison Marchand-Tawse was born. Working together they could expand their winemaking spaces in Nuits-Saint-Georges and pick up plots for their own vines, albeit they still work with the previously mentioned trusted growers. The two men also let the grapes speak of their terroir and recognize how “each wine is different and must be nurtured in a different way, so as to help it express its full personality” which is very cool, smart, and delicious. 🍷

To my dear friend who gifted me this bottle, THANK YOU! You’ve started me down a new wine path.

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #winetime #organic #naturalwine #Burgundy #Bourgogne #France #tedwardwines #vinewine #vinewinenyc #MarchandTawse @tedward_ws @vinewinenyc @marchand_tawse

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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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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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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

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Hidden Treasures

Domaine L&C Poitout
A.O.C. Bourgogne Blanc 2021
Chardonnay
Organic, HVE since 2018, hand harvested, keeping it as natural as possible
Burgundy, France
Louis and Catherine Poitout

Straw yellow golden with a green pop. Sniff and there’s easy going apples & pears with a touch of cream, honeydew & a little cantaloupe, orchard blossoms, a salty shake, and a spice I know but my brain is not working…maybe nutmeg…yeah it’s nutmeg. All of the scents are there with a citrus squish of lemon, lime, grapefruit, a little tangerine, and a refreshing bit of summer ripe cucumbers…all in all very clean and bright.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO!

I ❤️ stories like Louis and Catherine’s. Childhood friends with family histories in vines & wine, who fall in love, grow together, leave the nest only later to return to Chablis & join their inherited plots to create their own winery…or as they say on their site, they’re “two destinies” growing as one. So it’s not only their tale of romance for each other but also their passion for their lands & vineyards. They also bought another parcel in 2012, that came with a bit of a surprise. After some pruning and investigating they realized (and verified) these were own-rooted vines and possibly 150-200 years old, and due to the soil are phylloxera resistant. Now that is quite a cool hidden treasure to find!

#wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #winelover #winetasting #Chardonnay #Burgundy #winetime #organic #naturalwine #Chablis #Bourgogne #France #vinotasselections #lcpoitout #vinewine #vinewinenyc @cheezit @vinotasselections @vinewinenyc @lc_poitout_officiel