Newfound Wines "Gravels"
100% Grenache. California 2018
When a young, up-and-coming, winery is working on establishing their roots (both figuratively and literally; in the case of their new vineyard they've planted) they will generally source fruit from neighboring vineyards while waiting for the estate vines to mature enough to be productive. The Gravels is Newfound's entry level wine, and thus the 'California' only appellation, giving them the freedom to source from all over California to make a rockstar, everyday drinkable, Grenache. That's only the beginning of what makes this wine so cool. You see: 15% of it is comprised of high elevation, mountainous, Grenache that's grown in a place more known for Cabernet production: Napa's Mt.Veeder. Only someone as free-spirited as Boz Scaggs would grow something so off-the-beaten-path. It is a welcome addition to the blend as it adds these lacy granitic notes on the finish that lift the rich purple fruit. Now: the other 85% comes from a rare Mendocino vineyard. It is high elevation, brimming with ancient vines, and owned/operated by the city of Ukaih - this is all due to the fact that these vines are grown in the city's cemetery. How cool is that?? Some of the vines date back to the 40's and are well established, and relatively unknown, which all adds up to a phenomenal Grenache that is offered at a much, much, lower price than it rightfully should be. The balance between the opulent plums with blackberry glaze is in sync with the gravelly minerality that gives this wine a distinct crunchy texture of crushed velvet with a long finish of violets. This is a wine that you will not soon forget!
Piaggia "Il Sasso"
70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, 10% Merlot. Carmignano, Tuscany, Italy 2018
Italian wines? Yup, know those. Tuscan wines? Chiantis and other Sangiovese? Sure, know those too. Carmignano? Well. That one is a bit less known, but it really shouldn't fade into obscurity! The region itself is tiny, only comprising a little over 250 acres, but it's wines and pedigree are much more massive. It's heritage traces back to 1533 and the wedding between King Henry II of France and Catherine d'Medici of Florence. As per tradition a wedding gift exchange was made: the Italians gave the French the fork (weird to think that in 1532 the French didn't have forks, but apparently that was a thing) and the French gave the Italians vine cuttings from Bordeaux. We've featured several 'Super Tuscans' in the past on our wine club, a style of bordeaux/sangiovese blends made around Chianti and popularized in the last couple of decades, but to call Carmignano the original region for this style of wine would be a vast understatement. Piaggia has carried on this tradition, and even accentuated it to a degree. When the estate was established in 1974 the owners only wanted the best: so they planted vines from the world renown premier cru bordeaux house: Lafite Rothschild. Boy does that make this wine shine! It is classy, in every sense of the word. We watched this wine, while immediately pleasurable on initial cork pop, evolve and deepen in complexity over 3 days (it took everyone at Swirl a great level of restraint to even go a day longer). The wine takes you on a journey: the nose leads distinctly like a top-tier Bordeaux with dusty mocha and espresso notes all powdered on dried blueberries and currants that lead to a picture-perfect sangiovese palate of vibrant ripe red cherries with nuances of spice boxes and subtle notes of rose that takes one to Brunello, yet on the finish we see the elegant marriage of the styles with the dusted, concentrated fruit lingering and intertwined with the cherries and spice while also introducing this alluring hint of fresh cigars. This wine made us go OMG both for the delicious quality of the wine, but also for how seamlessly it pairs with the Heroic Italian sandwich of the same name.
Gros Ventre
100% Vermentino. El Dorado, California 2019
Vermentino! When done right this wine can be the ultimate in yum factor. While having many similarities to Sauvignon blanc, as far as tasting profile, but with everything kicked up to 11, and while this pushes the wine more into the medium body spectrum it still retains that bone dry, Sauv blanc-y, finish. As I'm sure you've guessed: yes, this is very much a prime example of the varietal! Gros Ventre ferments, and ages, the majority of the wine in stainless steel and bottles it shortly after fermentation completes - typically the winter after harvest. This all translates to an incredibly fresh and showy wine that absolutely sings. We get a wine that opens with opulent, juicy, notes of passionfruit and candied grapefruit that hints at subtle grassy notes and green almonds all leading to a plush body that is positively mouth filling with meyer lemons and hints of white peach next to a gardenia bush in full bloom all leading to a lovely, drying, finish of this menagerie of fruits with the addition of freshly zested citrus. A wonderful wine on its own, or absolutely stellar with salsa verde on chicken tacos. Yum.
Vietti
100% Arneis. Roero, Piedmont, Italy 2019
Vietti has a long, storied, history in the Piedmont. They've constantly strived to push the boundaries of tradition, being one of the first in Italy to put art on their labels back in the 60's (our charming lil fella on the Arneis is a personal favorite) to also being one of the first to bottle Arneis as a single varietal. Over the past 60 years they have seriously perfected the wine, as well as inspire an entire generation into making, and enjoying, 'white Barolo'. It's easy to see why for just how drinkable this wine is! We are immediately greeted with freshly cut pears that only hint at the layers of orchard fruit that are to come. The body develops further on the pears with additional mirabelle plums, ripe green and red apples, peaches, and apricots to name a few all while finishing snappy with drying notes of pear and apple skins that just beg to be paired with roasted veggies, or a creamy pasta, or just as a killer aperitif!
Birichino "Rokurokubi & Inugami"
40% Mourvedre, 39% Cinsault, and 21% Grenache. California 2019
Kudos to the label here! While it's easy to dismiss such a cool label as 'gimmicky' there is actually a great story behind such an elaborate name and picture. The rokurokubi, a headless japanese spirit, and the inugami, a japanese dog spirit, are both malicious creatures that hold bad omens and failure. These wraiths were clearly plaguing Birichino because, while they make phenomenal single-varietal wines, they had always wanted to, and attempted to, make a world class grenache blend but up until 2019 have been met with "an unbroken record of abject failure" - except no longer! The secret was the addition of a new Mourvedre vineyard that tied everything together. It is a triumph of a wine with exotic, and lush, black and red raspberry with undertones of creme de mure that are all tied together by wispy rhubarb and strawberry notes that finish positively inky and endlessly with cassis and freshly broken branches. Rejoice, for the evil spirits are lifted and we are gifted an otherworldly wine.
Igni
100% Aglianico. Vulture, Basilicata , Italy 2016
Aglianico is a great varietal. Not only is it delightful to say (al-YAN-i-koh), but when grown on volcanic soils it presents us a wine that has perfectly integrated tannins, velvety texture, and fruit to back it up. Igni is a project formed by two American somms that wanted to produce an Aglianico grown on the fabled ancient volcano of Vulture that wouldn't break the bang, but would dazzle and fill the palate. They have absolutely achieved this! We get the entry of ashy soft tannins that is instantly joined by bright red cherry and pomegranates with this gravely undertone tying it all together. It further develops to have added paprika and clove spices with a touch of cinnamon and dark chocolate. Southern Italian red wine perfection.