Champagne Abel Jobart Brut Reserve
Gold medal winner from Concours des Féminalise, an excellent QPR Champagne Abel Jobart Brut Reserve The Abel brothers took over the 13 hectare estate in vallée de l’Ardre. This tasty cuvée is a blend of multiple vintages from 2015-2017 with a minimum of 15 months ageing. HVE certified, the blend is comprised of 60% Meunier with the balance of Chardonnay. Disgorged 09/2019. Pours into the glass a bright yellow gold. The aromas are lusciously ripe -citrus and stone fruit, toasted bread, nuts, creamy butter. Oozing with with fruity richness, zippy acidity and creamy bubbles. This Brut style is all fresh and bright in the nose as well as the palate – pink grapefruit, strawberry, peach, peach, almond paste, tasty pastry cream, toasted bread finish. A tasty apéro.
Desperada Arclight Rosé
A wine is a reflection of the #winemakers personality. Desparada Wines is a product of winemaker Vailia From’s ideas and imagination brought to life through wine. 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓭𝓪 𝓐𝓻𝓬𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓡𝓸𝓼é 𝓸𝓯 𝓢𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓲𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓮 2022 Desparada Wines embody the spirit of Vailia. Her #womenonly #winemaking team make artisanal wines that embody her energy and sense of adventure. Her craft winery is located in Paso Robles’ Tin City, an industrial park meets wine magic who’s vibe is experimental, eclectic and full of personality. The creativity continues through the labels, a mix of Renaissance art and doodles- this one is the creation of a team members doodle over a picture of Cupid (the first dude to grace the Desparada labels). This 100% Sangiovese is from Hawk Hill Vineyard in Santa Barbara County AVA. Fermented and aged in neutral oak for 4 months, 22 cases made (that’s all folks). The color should tip you off at the electricity waiting for you on the other side. The blood orange color glows in the glass, it’s mesmerizing. A stunner of tangy red plum, strawberry, cherry, watermelon, tangerine zest, violets blooming with freshness and springtime sunshine. Its palate has presence, a tangy pithy start leading to bright red fruit, chalky grip and acidity all shouldering it’s roundness. The savory sun dried tomato & oregano lengthy finish. This rosé has character, a stand up and notice grace with attitude
Tantara Single Vineyard Pinto Noir
“Blame it or praise it, there is no denying the wild horse in us.” – Virginia Woolf 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗭𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝗶𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟳 Hailing from Sta. Rita Hills, the single vineyard Zotovich grapes are hand sorted and 100% destemmed. Fermentation with ambient yeast for 16 months in French oak (used once).Unfined and unfiltered. 1,200 bottle produced Pours into the glass a glistening ruby red, rich to the core. Sweet floral and baking spice aromas are mixed with crunchy red berries, cola, savory herbs, blood orange potpourri and forest floor. Sandy soul brings energy and life to this multi block Pinot. Weighing in at 14.5% you wouldn’t know it as it’s so well integrated with the silky tannins. The racy acidity (like the stallion on the label ) charges the palate with succulent cranberry, cherry, just ripe strawberry, cola, dried blueberry, lilac galloping away for an eternity on sage , cinnamon and earthy finish. This is such a wildly alluring wine, a spirit lifter.
Castellroig Sabaté i Coca Mosset Brut Nature Corpinnat
Castellroig Sabaté i Coca Mosset Brut Nature Corpinnat 2018 One of the Corpinnat initiators, 100% family owned and run. The Sabaté family respecting tradition all the while incorporating new technologies and respecting the organic principales of winemaking. Their 40 hectares are divided comprised of the traditional Corpinnat varieties with focus on Xarel-lo. Made from the 3 traditional varieties Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada vinified separately. Made in the traditional Corpinnat method, hand harvested, sourced from 8 plots organic and aged for 52 months sur lie, no dosage. Golden and delightful sparkling with perfectly integrated bubbles. So clean, mineral driven with a herbaceous undertone, loads of stone fruit. The aromas are a medley of fennel, anise, peaches, apricots and nectarines, melon, pear, lemon, pastry, toast, white pepper and thyme flowers. It has a great balance of fruit, vivacious acidity and elegant mouthfeel. A gorgeous QPR under $30 that you have to discover right now.
Gerard Bertrand 825 Crémant
Gerard Bertrand An 825 Crémant de Limoux Brut Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon There hasn’t been a Gerard Bertrand wine that I haven’t met that I haven’t enjoyed. You know what to expect – quality, well crafted wines. Made in the traditional method with a blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir. Pour into the glass a pretty yellow color with fine, vivacious bubbles. It has a fruity bouquet of peach, melon, passion fruit, quince, green apple with hints of toast, minerals, honey and chamomile. A crisp cleaning palate with a pretty elegance. It tons of fruit, lemon meringue, cream, petrol and toasted almonds lingering mineral finish. An excellent QPR and champagne alternative under $20 for that bubbly lover out there.
Anima Mundi Gres 2021
From Plato’s dialogue with Timaeus, the Latin term ‘Anima Mundi’ was laid bare: “…Therefore, we may consequently state that: this world is indeed a living being endowed with a soul and intelligence…a single living entity containing all other living entities, which by their nature are all related” (Plato, Timaeus, 29/30). Anima Mindi is the Soul of the World of Penedès. What is in the bottle is an extension of the soul of the earth, it’s truest identity. Bond of man, nature and it’s intertwined, related identity convey that soul in a bottle. Agusti Torello Roca founded Anima Mundi in 2015 (he started his career with his family winery AT Roca and continues to be winemaker). The 18 hectares are cultivated according to organic and biodynamic principles. The free spirit of Plato’s holistic concept is evident in hyper low-yields, single parcel terroir expression utilizing biodynamic practices. Gres is 100% Xarel-lo from average 30-50 year old vines in Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs in the Alt Penedès, altitudes between 180-260 meters. The grapes are hand harvested. Three way fermentation with third are direct pressed and fermented and aged in 500L used French oak barrels, clay amphorae and skin contact for 14 days in stainless steel. All three parts rest for 6 months on the lees before blending and bottling. No sulfur, fining or filtration. Anima Mundi Gres 2021 I’ll begin by saying this wine has a big heart. The crystalline yellow sheen with a green tinge at the rim. The focus of the aromas is very precise with ripe peach, melon, green apple, honey, wet stone, grass and honeysuckle. Livens your palate with intense lemon zest, citrus juice, tart apple, thyme blossom, bread dough finishes in saline.. It’s a savory wine like an ocean breeze meets thirst quenching acidity. The 12% abv is another quality I appreciate in a refreshingly layered beauty such as this. Paired with a decadent lentil celery root gratin.
COS Metodo Classico
WINE IS OUR SOUL, OUR JOB, OUR RHYTHMS, AND OUR ART. COS Terre Siciliane Extra Brut Metodo Classico Giusto Occhipinti – “the vineyard is like our life’s savings in the bank, so we must protect it.” COS is a leader in Siciliane natural winemaking, in experimentation and terroir expression. They started making wine because a)they loved wine, b) it was fun which evolved into restoring Sicilian quality winemaking of native grape varietals through organic and biodynamic principles. Their influence has stretched throughout Sicily and beyond. The first press Frappato is fermented with indigenous yeasts in 440-liter clay amphorae sourced from Spain followed by an ageing in cement till the following harvest. The wine is then bottled with fresh mushy from the subsequent vintage and aged on the lees for 18 months. No sulphur, SO2, Disgorged in May 2018. The color announces its Sicilian firey character and the red clay soils from the first pour. Its delicately fine perlage raises the intense aromas dried strawberry, rhubarb, raspberry, terra cotta clay, minerals and tobacco leaf. Don’t be fooled by the color, this metodo classico has power in its presence, its verve, its energy. The zesty acidity lifts the flavors and supported by a strong mineral backbone. It has a high toned flavors of tart cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, floral nuances, forest floor, savory white pepper and clove finish. It’s just so unique and spectacular, elegant and intriguing all at once. Pair with a spring day and a sun-dried tomato tart.
Château des Tours
Some names don’t need introductions #iykyk ᴄʜÂᴛᴇᴀᴜ ᴅᴇꜱ ᴛᴏᴜʀꜱ Thanks to Christian for the lovely visit 🙏 Une belle rencontre au Château des Tours d’Emmanuel Reynaud @chateaurayas More to follow 🍷
Nanclares Y Preto – Tempus Vivendi
Breezy and beautiful- the sail on the label is a hint of the location as well as Alberto’s love for sailing and the sea. Nanclares Y Preto – Tempus Vivendi 2021 Basque native & enologist Alberto Nanclares is a no nonsense winemaker of natural wines with biodynamic principles. Tempus Vivendi is Located 10 km from the Atlantic. His 3 hectares are divided into 12 parcels, his methodology is always quality over quantity, that means lower yields, less is more in the winery and vineyard approach. This Albarino comes from six parcels near Sanxenxo. His wines are age worthy and full of Atlantic saline influence. Cool fact – Alberto uses seaweed as compost as well as no plowing to promote flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Pours into the glass a pale green yellow. One swirl and you are transported seaside with bright citrus aromas, stone fruit white blossom. Such a textured yet easy drinking white that has a mouthwatering acidity freshness intermingled with bright lemon and orange zest, beeswax, nectarine, honeydew melon, honeysuckle ending in a saline grapefruit pith note. It’s an tingly saline delight from beginning to end. A thirst quencher to please all. Pair with a roasted cauliflower and chive soup followed by crab stuffed cod.
PUR Xarel-lo PURfection
𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 Pardas PUR Xarel-lo 2018 A staple of Penedès wine lovers, friends Ramon & Parera are dedicated to the local grapesof the region. Natural winemakers and all organic, they strive for purity terroir wines. Dry farmed, no ploughing or chemicals, gentle grape treatment in the winery (gravity flow, no pumps, hand harvested). PUR is a 100% Xarel-lo from 40 year old vines planted in clay limestone soils, sustainably farmed the Penedès region of Spain. 12 hour skin contact followed by 8 months of ageing in 36% French oak, 35% in used French oak, 19% in chestnut barrels and 10% in stainless steel. Pours a deep yellow in the glass, every so shiny. The bright fruit aromas of citrus, melon, white blossom, saline, herbaceousness, dried pineapple and bread dough. It has a deep mineral quality that shines through the signature racy acidity. A medium bodied wine with a silky texture. A plethora of citrus – lime lime and more lime juice and zest, lime blossom, thyme, chard, grass, wisp of vanilla cream ending on underripe pineapple and nutmeg. Clean and bright in personality. Pair with grilled swordfish & asparagus topped with lemon garlic herb butter.