Walter's World, Edition No. 4

The holidays are upon us, and we decided to give you some great wines for winter weather, hosting, and celebrating. In this season of thankfulness, we just wanted to say thanks to all of you for being a part of our rad community!

Cheers,

Chris (and Walter)

 

I | Benanti 'Noblesse' Brut

2020 | Etna, Sicily, Italy | 100% Carricante

Benanti is one of the shop faves at the moment for the sheer amount of pleasure these wines give for the price tag. This bubbly Carricante delivers on that expectation by utilizing the traditional method to create amazing textures of a creamy mousse mouthfeel contrasting beautifully with the salty & smoky frame that the terroir delivers. These vineyards lie on the lower slopes of an active volcano in eastern Sicily called Mt. Etna. It regularly erupts and did so as recently as July of this year! This wine hangs with Champagne and other significant sparkling wine regions and makes for a versatile pairing partner with so many foods.

 

II | Château Falfas Côtes de Bourg

2017 | Bordeaux, France | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot

Veronique hails from the Loire but moved to Bordeaux in the 1980's with her husband and purchased the estate that has become Chateau Falfas in the Cotes de Bourg on the right bank of the Gironde estuary. Veronique's father researched biodynamics in the 1960's and inspired her to convert their estate way before it was cool to do so (1988 vintage). Winemaking is traditional with gentle, long macerations and a moderate usage of new oak. The 2017 is hitting its sweet spot right now and is an absolute stunner of a wine that offers so much complexity while maintaining some levity. Tobacco, spice, concentrated blackberry, and spice are just a few of the many delicious things that will emanate from the glass. Steak frites, lentil soup, and mild Indian fare would be a banger with it at the table.

 

III | Maxime Crotet 'Roussteau'

2022 | Jura, France | 100% Trousseau

Maxime is from Beaune in the heart of Burgundy and has worked in some impressive cellars. Like many whippersnappers, he wants to make wines from the Cote d'Or but isn't in a position to inherit vines nor buy vineyards as a single hectare starts at $1 million euros these days. Not exactly a promising business plan! So instead he's purchasing fruit from around France and making it in his humble winery in Beaune. Since Maxime is making the wine outside the Jura appellation, this wine must be classified as Vin de France and isn't allowed to have the grape name on the label. As a result, he made up the similar sounding Roussteau to get his point across. He considers himself a natural winemaker by utilizing native yeast to spark fermentation and uses minimal sulphur at bottling. The wine is made with whole cluster fermentation to build perfume and structure while only seeing neutral oak. Approach this like you would Pinot Noir in terms of pairing - duck, root vegetables, salmon, etc.

 

IV | Gian Luca Colombo Barbera d'Alba

2022 | Piemonte, Italy | Barbera

Gian Luca, like Maxime Crotet, represents the next generation of winemakers but is focused on Piemontese wines in the foothills of the Italian Alps in northwest Italy on the border of France. He and his family operate a biodynamic farm that produces fruits, grains, eggs, and vegetables in addition to his wine pursuits. His Barbera is made in a way to showcase the inherent savory backbone of the variety with resinous herbs, bramble, and anise which is backed up by just ripe black fruits. The wine is raised in a combination of large Austrian neutral barrels and a small percentage of clay amphora which will add to the savoriness. Roasted leg of lamb with rosemary, baba ganoush, and pomegranate pips would be my go-to for a pairing.