Wine: Red
Results
Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore
Well-structured, as most 2008 wines from Piedmont are, this lovely Nebbiolo has a rich nose of rasberry and licorice, the fine sweet tannins balancing the licorice, tar and strawberry fruit. Unmistakably Nebbiolo, this is a full-bodied version with plenty of fine tannins to help ward off the winter chill.
Massa Croatina Pertichetta
Dried herbs, black fruit on the nose, with dried cranberry and red fruit on the palate. This is a fascinating wine, with layers and layers of flavor developing over time in your glass. From one of our favorite winemakers, this is a wine that everyone should try at least once! Winemaking Details: Aged for 22 months in large oak barrels.
Donkey and Goat Grenache Noir
Natural wine from California! This is made by husband and wife team, Tracey and Jared Brandt, based in Berkeley. All their wines are fermented in wood vats and they add nothing at all except a small amount of sulfur at bottling. This is an El Dorado blend of Grenache from Fenaughty, Swansboro and Lightner vineyards and will simply shine on the outdoor table on a warm summer night or next to the fireplace on a cool fall evening. Deep, bright red color with earthy and meaty notes laced with spice and red and dark berries. A lush texture with an array of juicy red fruit flavors and a minerality that adds vibrancy to the long and focused finish. Winemaking Details: Unfiltered, Unfined, Wild Yeast Fermentation, Low SO2 Added
Cousin Pur Breton
Olivier Cousin is one of our favorite Loire vignerons, with a gentle disposition and salt n' pepper beard. Cousin's horse, Joker, plows the vineyards. His wines are the epitome of natural. Breton is the local moniker for Cabernet Franc. Funky and wild (in a good way) tastes like ripe plums, chalky mineral, earth and mushrooms. Winemaking Details: Wild Yeast Fermentation, Unfiltered, Unfined, Low SO2 Added, Vegan
Mas Foulaquier l'Orphee
Pierre Jequier and Blandine Chauchat make gorgeous wines at Mas Foulaquier in Pic St. Loup -- often described as the best terroir in the Languedoc. Their l'Orphee has deep, dark berry fruit, subtle floral notes with hints of herbs and an intriguing minerality. Medium-full bodied, it has great balance and depth of flavor. It has structure that will allow pairing with fuller dishes, but the wine is very accessible and enjoyable now. Mas Foulaquier is fully certified organic and biodynamic.
Cousin Pur Breton
Olivier Cousin is one of our favorite Loire vignerons, with a gentle disposition and salt n' pepper beard. Cousin's horse, Joker, plows the vineyards. His wines are the epitome of natural. Breton is the local moniker for Cabernet Franc. Funky and wild (in a good way) tastes like ripe plums, chalky mineral, earth and mushrooms. Winemaking Details: Wild Yeast Fermentation, Unfiltered, Unfined, Low SO2 Added, Vegan
Puzelat In KO We Trust
Thierry Puzelat is the rock star of the natural wine world and he's got groupies in Tokyo, Paris and New York! This is an amazing wine of dark bramble fruits, floral and an almost saline-mineral edge. Winemaking Details: Unfiltered, No SO2 Added, Wild Yeast Fermentation
Hermanos Pecina Rioja Alta
A rare gem! Hermanos Pecina is located in the heart of Rioja Alta in the Sonsierra Riojana. Expert viticulturist Pedro Pecina, who managed the vineyards of Rioja Alta for nearly 20 years, is the owner of these 50 hectares of vines planted mostly to tempranillo with 10 hectares of graciano and garnacha. The average vine age is 30 years old; all grapes are hand-harvested. This wine is a beautiful example of truly traditional Rioja, and at 7 years of age, everything has come together to make a balanced, delicious, wine with plenty of fruit, structure, acidity and well-integrated oak.
Babiole
A bona-fide natural winemaker sporting a mohawk. Andrea Calek fled the army in Prague and moved to France to make wine in the Ardèche region (just west of the southern Rhone Valley) where he kips in a trailer beside his vineyards. Has a compelling gamey character with black pepper, and a dose of dark, brooding fruit. Complex and fantastic. Winemaking Details: No SO2 Added, Unfined, Unfiltered, Vegan, Wild Yeast Fermentation
Domaine Les Ondines Vacqueyras
Domaine Les Ondines is situated in the village of Sarrians in the heart of the Vacqueyras appellation. The family has grown grapes for many generations but Jérémy is the first in his family to make and bottle the wine at the estate. This Vacqueyras is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Cinsault, which comes from 50 year-old vines. The wine has red berries on the nose, with a hint of licorice and spice, followed by dark berry and cherry flavors with plenty of pepper and spice notes. Rich and balanced, this is a lovely wine wine that's quite easy to enjoy.