Hello, Feastlings.
This month’s Last Sunday tasting is chock full of bold, punchy wines that uniquely reflect their terroir, that are unique to find in the U.S., and that are unmanipulated statements of their lesser-known regions. Luke Anable joins us on Sunday the 25th at 3:30 with six fascinating wines, each of which will be paired with a special snack designed to eat alongside it. It’s only $35 plus tax and tip to join us, and it’s more than a bit likely to fill up, so call us before the seats are all sold (since web and email reservations won’t guarantee you a seat.) Our number is 326-9363. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
2016 Luneau-Papin ‘Les Vergers’ Sur Lie Muscadet Sevre et Maine (Magnum) $42.00
Single vineyard, age-worthy Muscadet. Ocean influence, prolonged aging on fine lees, old vines. Intense fruit and a strong mineral texture give this wine impressive richness. At the same time, it combines apple and quince fruit, intense acidity and ripeness, making it the sort of wine that could age.
2015 Azienda Agricola Cirelli “Anfora” Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo $36.00
Organic Cerasuolo raised in amphora on an organic farm Abruzzo. Bright cherry fruit with a supple texture owing to its unique elevage. Serious rose that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Red cherries, almonds, red apple, earthy and rocky minerality. Perhaps a little strawberry. While technically a rosé, this wine really comes into its own when treated as a (light) red wine, and paired with food.
2015 Vittorio Bera & Figli Ronco Malo Barbera d`Asti $28.00
Barbera the way the Piemontese like. 50 year old vines from a parcel originally owned by the Knights of Malta. Long maceration and aging in concrete vats. Deep, savory, complex, a touch animal. Ruby red and very clear. Has a wonderful nose with rife with nuances. Medium body, complex with flavors of plum and fruit. Long lingering finish with tannins and spice.
2017 Domaine les Deux Terres “Silène” Rouge, Vin de France $24.00
Domaine les Deux Terres is the collaborative vineyards of two winegrowers, Vincent and Manu who decided to stop selling their grapes to the co-op and start making theer own wine together. Les Deux Terres means ’the two lands’, a reference to the unification of their two vineyards. Their winery is located in Villeneuve de Berg, a tiny village in the heart of Ardeche. Inspired by their natural winemaker neighbors like Le Mazel, Calek, and Azzoni, Deux Terres make wine with very low interventions and maximum respect of the fruit. Merlot from the middle Rhône. Old vines on limestone and clay. No additives here – very pure, old vine expression of French Merlot.
2018 Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme “Telquel” Vin de France Rouge $24.00
A celebration of the flint soils around Touraine in the Loire, made by bad boys of French winemaking, the Puzelat Brothers, with Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme. Gamay with a touch of Grolleau. Bright with bramble fruit, gamey with loads of structure.
2017 Donati Lambrusco Method Ancestral $26.00
Lambrusco made in the Method Ancestral. All by hand, no additives. “Il Mio Lambrusco” is Camillo Donati’s sincere portait of the most typical red from Emilia area. Unlike the traditional ones, is characterized by delicate bubbles, dense ruby color, intense body and very long ageing potential. A really perfumed bouquet plenty of dark currants and aromatic herbs with a rich, pulpy and satisfying sip of a lively carbonic and great tannic texture. Amazingly dense and savory; a million miles away from cheap Lambrusco. Truly world class.