Wines (12 View)

90 points Vinous
The 2021 Sémillon is sweetly scented, with dusty white flowers, vivid yellow apple and chamomile forming its bouquet. This is suave and opulent on the palate, yet perfectly balanced by brisk acidity, as a mix of ripe tropical fruits and florals cascade throughout. The 2021 finishes with remarkable length, both crisply refreshing and potent, with kiwi and mango notes that linger. I love the inner sweetness here, in spite of its zero grams of residual sugar. What a treat.

50/50 Garnacha/Syrah

La Comarcal is a small project by two good friends who just happen to be two of eastern Spain’s most talented viticultors: Javi Revert and Victor Marqués. Located in the mountainous village of Venta del Moro in the Valencia D.O., La Comarcal ("The District") is a young winery founded in 2017 with the inspiration of making delicious, youthful wines—new expressions based on the old mountain vineyards of native Valencian grape varieties they farm with certified organic viticulture and native yeasts, utilizing only a judicious amount of sulfur. They focus on regenerative agriculture in every aspect of their work. From researching the best locations to replant native varieties to replace the once-dominant international varieties to working with traditional mixed-agriculture farming and planting trees, Javi and Victor are lifelong students of their natural environment with the winemaking experience to make a significant impact in their region. It shows in the energy and transparency of the project, as this winemaking duo is among the most exciting teams to watch in Spain.

La Comarcal was built on the friendship formed by Javi and Victor while working together at the influential Valencian winery Celler del Roure for over ten years.

An incredible find from Southern Italy. This medium-bodied red displays beautiful blackberry and dark cherry notes. The tannins are soft and easy going.

It was Sauvignon Blanc that lured Bertrand to Valençay and the soils, which are chalky and sandy clays flecked with flint the perfect ingredients for making a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc with a forceful varietal expression and plenty of citrus and green fruit flavors. While he is permitted to add Chardonnay, Bertrand feels that it only detracts from the quality of his Sauvignon Blanc. Gentle pressing, natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks, four months in the fine lees.

Nestled in Selles-sur-Cher, a small village on the banks of the Cher with its gracefully crumbling château, Le Claux Delorme is a 15 hectare estate that Bertrand Minchin purchased in 2003. The soils here are quite different from those in Menetou-Salon – primarily chalky sand with flint gravel. While traditionally the wines of Valençay are blends, Bertrand prefers the racy, forthwith and aromatic qualities of pure Sauvignon Blanc when grown on these soils. Bertrand farms Le Claux Delorme sustainably with certification from the French Ministry of Agriculture.

Organic / Natural

A fresh, low alcohol (11.5%abv), chillable red displaying notes of pomegranate, violets, purple sage, strawberry, peppercorns, and black currants are among the notes. 85% Mencia, 15% Arinto Co-Fermented. 100% Destemmed. Co-Ferment in a very large stainless tank. Aged 6 months in 100% Neutral French oak 228L barrique.

Lo-Fi is a partnership between two lifelong friends who believe in hand crafted honest wines that are made for every day drinking. Wines to be enjoyed not to be collected. Easy drinking lower alcohol wines made to pair well with all types of foods, from pizza to paté. We believe in neutral barrels, native yeasts, little to no sulfur additions, and no adjustment of pH. We love whole cluster fermentation. We adore carbonic maceration . We embrace a nothing added, nothing taken away philosophy that gives birth to wines that are young, vibrant and alive.

Winemaker Notes:
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully destemmed and transferred to upright tanks for a two-day cold soak. The wine saw 15 to 20 days of maceration time and was pumped over two to three times daily to build its round, elegant mouthfeel. Each lot was aged and evaluated separately, with the final blend taking place in May 2019. In total, the wine aged for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (29% new).

A delicious, savory cabernet with aromas and flavors of dried flowers and cherries. Medium body with round, creamy tannins. Savory and flavorful. Supple. Real cabernet character.

Organic / Biodynamic

A previous vintage was featured in The New York Times article: 20 Wines Under $20: For When the Weather Is Sultry by Eric Asimov

"Several efforts are underway to differentiate conscientiously produced cava from the run-of-the-mill stuff that dominates the category. The Clàssic Penedès appellation is one of them. Those producers under this classification must make their own wines, instead of buying them. If they grow grapes, they must farm organically, and the wines must be aged at least 15 months after the initial fermentation. Loxarel farms biodynamically, and makes this wine with the three classic cava grapes, parellada, macabeu and xarello (of which Loxarel is an anagram). For a $15 wine, this bottle has great delicacy and finesse."

93 points Vinous
The 2021 Malbec Old Vine comes from La Consulta, Paraje Altamira and Pampa El Cepilo in the Uco Valley. It was aged for 14 months, 35% in new French oak and the rest in used barrels. A rich, eye-catching purple in the glass. Fruity cherry, raspberry, crushed plum notes and hints of violets and sage dominate the aromatic profile. It's dry and juicy on the palate, with delicate, chalky tannins and a balanced mouthfeel. The 2021 is a nuanced, athletic Uco Valley Malbec.

Organic / Biodynamic

Apple, pear, and gardenia on the nose. Medium body with concentrated orchard fruits and a persistent finish. 100% estate fruit grown on the Macari family vineyard.

Third Place finisher in our 2023 Wine Of The Year blind taste off!

Sustainably farmed Grenache 44%, Syrah 42%, Mourvedre 14% from four vineyard sites in Los Olivos and the greater Santa Ynez Valley - Rolling Vines, Bernat, Coteaux de Clair, and TTT Roblar. The Syrah and Grenache are fermented partly with whole clusters, while the Mourvedre is 100% destemmed. Fermentation is with native yeasts in open-top oak tanks. The wine is matured for 14 months in neutral barrique and bottled without fining or filtration.

Mallea is a collaboration between viticulturist Erik Mallea (director of viticulture at Sanford & Benedict and a co-founder of Willett-Mallea Farming) and winemaker Justin Willett (of Tyler Winery and Lieu-Dit Winery). After working together in various capacities for over a decade, Erik and Justin have started this exciting new project to highlight Santa Barbara County’s potential with Rhône grape varieties. They are farming four small vineyard sites clustered around Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara.

Third place was a nice surprise because it is a brand new wine on the scene, Mallea GSM Santa Barbara County 2021. This is a traditional Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvedre (GSM) but from Santa Barbara County California. The pedigree of the guys behind it is first-rate but what impressed us was the juice in the bottle! If you enjoy Cotes du Rhone or Southern French reds you are going to love Mallea. This is a wine of subtlety and not as flamboyant as our number two wine. Clearly, the wine is masterfully blended as each component adds complexity, and yet the wine is seamless on the palate. Fresh jovial fruit dances on the tongue with its lively acidity while pepper and Mediterranean spices come out in the finish. Mallea GSM provides a ton of pleasure for a very reasonable price.

The labels reference Erik Mallea’s Basque heritage, depicting 19th & 20th-century aspen tree carvings by Basque shepherds in the American West. Erik’s father, Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe, is a respected scholar of this cultural tradition.