Montepulciano

Notes of herbs, currants, black cherry, and cocoa.

Vintage:

• 2018

ABV:

• 12.4%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Style:

Food Wine

Region: Abruzzo, Italy

The Jasci family has been producing wine for three generations, focusing all efforts on the pursuit of the absolute quality of every bottle. A passion for wine that was born with grandfather Pasquale and his wife Maria in the ‘60s, growing over the years thanks to his son Giuseppe and his wife Irma, who gave the historic turn of the organic in 1980, handed down since the early ‘90s to Donatello Jasci and his wife Piera, who lead the company with the help and participation of their predecessors who still bring experience and wisdom. The Jasci winemaking philosophy is to be eco-sustainable, respecting the environment, and combining tradition and experience that for decades has made their wines special. - Minum Selections

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Cinsault

Refreshing and crunchy glou glou with lots of berries, bramble, and minerality to hold up to food or on its own!

Vintage:

• 2020

ABV:

• 13%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Style:

Glou Glou, Food Wine

Region: Paarl, South Africa

Tremayne Smith grew up in East London and studied to be a chef. Influenced by his father's love of wine, he then decided to take up a career in winemaking. After his studies, he was became the assistant winemaker and vineyard manager for Sijnn followed by Mullineux and now is the winemaker at Fable. In 2014 Tremayne started his own project. What inspired The Blacksmith was working with cultivars such as Cinsault, Carignan and Grenache, both locally and during his travels abroad. The Blacksmith's philosophy is to make natural wines that are both appealing and soul-satisfying. Tremagne has a profound understanding of where the limits are in producing natural wines. They beat a drum of deliciousness with bracing minerality (also in the reds) and push the boundary of low alcohol wine in South Africa's more than warm mediterranean-like climate. Quantities are limited and have found their way into some of the very best wine bars and restaurants.

Airen, Macabeu, Monastrell

Black fruits (think blackberries and plums) with earthy, leathery, smoky notes!

Vintage:

• 2019

ABV:

• 14

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Style:

Food Wine

Region: Murcia, Spain

Coming from a background in music, Julia Casado’s first encounter with winemaking came in the Pfalz region of Germany where she combined her musical studies playing the cello with a stage at a local winery. Absorbed by the wonders of winemaking, she moved back to her native Murcia in 2010 rapidly becoming a reference not only in the region but Spain in general for that matter. Initially she worked exclusively with Monastrell, known locally as “la del terreno,” she decided to make her own wine there in 2015. Given she is also “from the region,” La del Terreno seemed like an appropriate name. She rented a vineyard spread across 3.5h in Jumilla. Fifty year old goblet trained vines planted on sandy loam soils at about 500m of altitude. The rich limestone component in the soil plays an important role in retaining moisture throughout the long, hot and dry summer months while her organic and respectful practice are heavily reflected throughout her farming and winemaking. For the 2016 vintage, she brought her project to Bullas where she is building her own sustainable mobile winery out of modular shipping containers. Julia’s musical sensibility shows in her wine. Monastrell can be a tough grape, especially from this hot mediterranean climate, but somehow she’s managed to make it sing in harmony with some of the region’s best. For this first vintage, grapes were foot trodden and whole clusters were fermented in cement undergoing a short maceration. Then the wine was transferred to old 500L foudre for malolactic fermentation where it remained for about 8 months of aging before bottling unfined and unfiltered.

Syrah

Blackberry, cherry, plum, lavender and black pepper.

Vintage:

• 2020

ABV:

• 13.5%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Style:

Food Wine

Region: Pella, Greece

Jason Ligas, the mastermind behind Voi Vignes, stands out as a prominent figure in Greece's natural wine movement. With a rich background rooted in the Ligas family vineyards, where he collaborated with his father and sister, Jason has become a seasoned winemaker with a deep understanding of the craft. His journey extends beyond the family estate, with involvement in diverse winemaking projects on Samos and Tinos, where he served as a consultant and partner to fellow natural winemakers. Voi Vignes, situated amidst the picturesque vineyards near Mount Olympus, is Jason's latest endeavor. Taking over abandoned vineyards in the old Rapsani appellation, he cultivates three red grape varieties: xinomavro roto, stravroto, and krassato. His commitment to preserving and revitalizing these traditional grape varieties reflects a dedication to Greece's viticultural heritage. Jason Ligas's winemaking philosophy is deeply intertwined with nature, and he finds profound joy in his vineyards. His goal of expanding Voi to ten hectares illustrates his ambition and passion for crafting exceptional wines. The name "Voï," meaning a roar in Greek, symbolizes the powerful voice emanating from the depths of the sea and earth, conveying a sense of help and a raw, authentic expression that resonates from the heart and soul. Tasting the wines of Voi Vignes is an invitation to experience the unique blend of tradition, terroir, and Jason Ligas's unwavering commitment to natural winemaking.

Riesling

Green apple, pear, citrus, and peach.

Vintage:

• 2021

ABV:

• 14%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Funky

Style:

Complex

Region: Alsace, France

Christophe Lindenlaub, the visionary winemaker behind Lindenlaub wines, hails from a rich Alsatian farming heritage dating back to 1759 in Dorlisheim. Despite the domaine's seemingly youthful energy, it echoes a longstanding commitment to the land. Christophe's father, Jacques, initiated the transition from farming to winemaking in the 1970s, with a full immersion into viticulture occurring in 1986. Joining forces with his father in 1999, Christophe has been instrumental in steering the domaine's course.

Notably, Lindenlaub wines took a transformative leap in 2009 when Christophe embraced organic practices, achieving certification in 2012. Beyond cultivating healthy grapes, a distinctive feature of Lindenlaub wines is the abandonment of sulfur in the cellar since 2014. This daring decision adds a unique dimension to the wines, allowing them to reflect Christophe's personality — vibrant, unfiltered, and exuding boundless energy.

Christophe's infectious exuberance finds its way into each bottle, creating an experience akin to encountering a French version of the Fantastic Mr. Fox. The wines, much like their maker, shimmer with delight, evading easy definition and inviting enthusiasts to explore their complexities. The ENSO circle on each label encapsulates the Zen philosophy that orbits Lindenlaub wines, inviting wine lovers to savor not just a drink but a holistic and spirited expression of the winemaker's vision.

Riesling Sylvaner Gerwurztraminer

Green apple, apricot, peach, lemon, and jasmine.

Vintage:

• 2022

ABV:

• 13%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Funky

Style:

Hype Juice, Glou Glou

Region: Alsace, France

Les Vins Pirouettes is a project launched by Christian Binner, that brings affordable natural wines to the table, and at the same time helps organic and biodynamic grape growers in Alsace move away from selling their grapes to cooperatives towards making and bottling natural wines. Each cuvée is made at a young grower’s winery, where they supply the grapes and Christian supplies his 20 years of expertise in making natural wine in Alsace, and of course his marketing and distribution savviness. Each cuvée will feature the name of the grower on the bottle. - Jenny & Francois.

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