September 26th,
This Saturday we are pouring Indie Wines, a small importer that specializes in “Natural Wines”. All these wines are made by small producers, are hand harvested, organic and or bio-dynamic, with an emphasis on low SO2 and natural yeasts. As a result they don’t taste quite the same as the same grapes are used by the large commercial wineries that you find on the grocery store shelf. These wine are bursting with complexity and individuality just like the people who make them. Leave your preconceptions at home and come taste these distinct wines.
2013 Jean Christophe Garnier, Chenin La Roche $27
After 10 years as a sommelier, Jean Christophe turned his attention to wine making and bought a small vineyard in the Loire and makes his wines using an old apple press slowly extracting (10 to 12 hours) the essence from the grapes. His La Roche Chenin Blanc is a beautiful thing. Concentrated apple peel and pear skin, straw and honey, chamomile and citrus are just a few of the flavors that spring to mind. Fermented in old oak barrels and aged for a year, this is a sophisticated, incomparable wine.
2013 Omero Cellars, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $22
Omero is a small family owned vineyard and winery located in Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge AVA with 26 acres The estate is farmed consciously with the health and natural cycle of the vineyard and its ecosystem in mind with a focus on maintaining the natural bio-diversity of the land through minimal intervention, native cover crops and the integration of livestock. The 2013 is a lighter bodied, fresh Pinot with rose petal and cherry aromas, bright fruit and a refreshing finish.
2014 Cantina del Indie, Vino al Popolo Lange Rosso $15
50% Nebbiolo 20% Barbera 30% Dolcetto
Made especially for Indy Wines the Lange Rosso is aged in both stainless and barrel, this Lange red is a balanced and great tasting food wine. “The Barbara brings the acidity and bright fruit, the Nebbiolo brings the tannins and the aromatics, and the Dolcetto brings the softness and rounds out the blend.”
2013 La Torre alle Tolfe, Chianti $17
Sangiovese 80%, Canaiolo 10%, Colorino 10%
La Torre alle Tolfe dates back to 1316, and they have been making wine since then. Sergio Lo Jacono took over the wine-making and running of the estate in 2002 and converted the agriculture on the estate to organic immediately upon arrival. The cellar has also remained the same, except for the fact that the wines are now made with natural yeasts. The cellar is still filled with cement tanks and old botti where the Chianti is aged. This is a young and yeasty rustic Chianti with chiseled fruit and lots of character.
2012 Chateau La Baronne Corbieres Les Lanes Rouge $19
60% Grenache, 40% Carignan
La Baronne, cultivates some of the oldest Carignan vines of the Languedoc dating back to 1892. The Les Lanes is an attractive, fresh Corbières, full of fruit and charm. Rich and appealing, goes with friends & roast beef or grilled farmhouse poultry.
2pm