Wines

Organic

92 points Wine Advocate
A new red produced with grapes from the village of San Lorenzo, the 2022 Motorpsico comes from plots from the zone of A Merced that have 30% white grapes. It's produced following the way the wine was produced in the village of Toral de los Vados, adding must without skins to produce a lighter red. The wine then matured in used 225-liter French oak barrels for one year. It's pale, perfumed, fruit-driven and light, with 12.5% alcohol a medium-bodied palate and very fine, almost unnoticeable tannins. It is perfumed and delicious.

Hard to find a better performing Pinot Grigio than this for the money!

The review is on the previous vintage.

92 points Wine Enthusiast
#4 Top 100 Best Buys of 2023
Currently showing oak-forward notes of fresh cedar, vanilla and toasted wood. This is followed by earthy tones of capsicum, black currant, bramble, fresh black cherry and boysenberry. Elevated acidity keeps the wine alive from start to finish; chalky tannins coat the palate.

Organic

Pure and focused, offering violet, cherry, raspberry and mineral aromas and flavors. Shaped by vibrant acidity, this red persists with a lingering, resonant aftertaste.

This Superiore Barbera d’ Alba is delightfully smooth for being so rich and round. It seamlessly balances it’s power with terrific acidity and supple tannins. Lovely dark fruit notes with a bit of spice and earth. A very versatile wine for pairing with food.

Good fruit and depth here, a medium to full-bodied palate and fine-grained tannins, and the wine has the stuffing and balance to overcome the creamy oak with some more time in bottle. It matured in a mixture of oak vats and barrels for some six to eight months. 200,000 bottles produced.

Ramato style Pinot Grigio from Fruili. This is a rose colored wine from 4 days of skin contact during fermentation.

Organic / Natural

85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Riesling from 20 and 5-year-old vines respectively. Grown organically on calcareous clay soil at 280m elevation. Grapes are directly pressed for fermentation in stainless steel. Maturation in concrete with no fining.

Traditionally styled Monastrell, yes that is a thing, from old vines on chalky soils. Vinified in eighty-year-old conofors (think dairy tanks but made of American oak). The wine is filtered by gravity and, following tradition, made in a slightly oxidative style which gives the wine its very unique character. Their Cono 4 is then aged for 10-12 months. This wine represents a great expression of the warm Alicante climate yet is also very earthy and complex. It is approachable, with a certain rusticity and a profile that will remind you of the wines produced in the region some 30 years ago (and even a hint of old-style Rioja!), with developed aromas of earth, berries, tree bark, and forest floor. Dusty and tasty, medium to light-bodied, this is very pleasant indeed. Surprisingly complex for this extremely low price point.

For context on Primitivo Quiles’ winemaking style, Primitivo Quiles is to Alicante what Lopez de Heredia is to Rioja.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This cliche applies well to today’s winery Primitivo Quiles. Señor Don Primitivo Quiles is one of the great figures of Spanish wine. His family ties with wine date back to 1780 when they started growing grapes and winemaking in the lands west of the present province of Alicante. They have been a family-owned winery for over 100 years and maintain one of the oldest soleras on the market, dating back to 1892. Their wines are highly valued treasures in wine cellars all over Europe and a source of pride for the winemaking industry in Alicante.

80% Tinto Baroroca, combined 20% Gouveio, Arinto, Rabigato
Made in the Palhete style, where a small amount of white grapes coferment with the red grapes, resulting in a light & fresh red with 11% alcohol. Put a chill on it!

Ravines Cabernet Franc is deliciously fruit-forward and spicy with perfect balance, soft tannins and a round mouthfeel. A polished style with ripe red and black fruits, sultry spices, earthy aromas and a peppery finish. - Winery

I love white wine, sometimes I think it would be nice to only make white wine. If I had to white or red forever I would choose white. It has been fun to make various varietal wines, seeing my techniques through the various lenses that varieties provide. But when you think of Santa Barbara County as a region we grow a lot of different things, this wine wine is inspired by that diversity. Mudflows are a big part of the local geology and you can see them in cuts made across topography for roads and such all over the area. These “Pockets Full of Stones” came to mind when Jenn showed me some of the watercolor studies she has been working on. This blend of chardonnay and sauvignon blanc is my attempt to show the region and my technique more than variety. Neutral French oak fermented and aged. - Winery

Winemaking Notes:
Fresh, bright and crisp, this Sauvignon Blanc is a wine of balance, richness and aromatic complexity. Leading with zesty citrus notes of grapefruit, Meyer lemon and a light grassiness, this wine gives way to more tropical fruit and melon characteristics. This classic Sonoma County style Sauvignon Blanc ends with clean, refreshing acidity and pairs beautifully with toasted brie, seared scallops, oysters with mignonette and fresh pasta with sweet peas and a lemon cream sauce.

Food Pairing:
This classic Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with oysters, salads, vegetable quiche and a variety of seafood dishes.