December 2024 Wine Club
Bojo do Luar ‘Azal’ Pét-Nat
The vibe: We kick things off in this last month of 2024 (already??) with a feisty and fun little number from Vinho Verde, Portugal. Vinho Verde is well known for its lightly effervescent white wines but it’s also home to some incredible wines of all other shades. Seeing as we’re fast approaching New Years, this bubbly bottle was perfect to throw in the mix. Made of the rare and unique grape varietal, Azal, it’s comparable to Chenin and Petit Manseng, with a little more aromatics. Very few wines are made from this varietal, but it’s easy to fall in love with. Subtle notes of white pepper and coastal wildflowers greet the nose, with creamy apricot notes on the palate. If you really want to wow your friends at New Years, this rare varietal skin contact amphora-fermented pét-nat checks alllll the boxes.
The winemaker: Bojo do Luar is a collaborative project between Savio Soares and Fernando Paiva, a biodynamic producer who has been experimenting with adding ground chestnut flowers to the grapes and must prior to fermentation as an alternative to using sulfites. Savio saw this as an opportunity to use the traditional autochthonous varietals of Northern Portugal, with natural high levels of acidity, and apply his knowledge and experience of many decades working with French producers. Together with two local young men, with experience and knowledge of regional viticulture, who were open to experiment new methods in the vineyard and cellar, the Bojo do Luar project started to take shape. The soils are fertilized with self-made organic compost, blended with chicken and cow’s manure. In the middle of the rows, a variety of beneficial herbs, recommended by Mr. Paiva, were sewn to further enrich the soils at the beginning of springtime and autumn.
The geeky details: The grapes for this Pet Nat were fermented with skin-contact at a lower temperature, (10ºC) in large format amphoras (1000L-1500L) for four weeks. Before the fermentation ended the mass was pressed and bottled (unfiltered) with around 15mg of residual sugar to finish the fermentation in the bottle.
Serve: With a chill.
Food pairing: Crudo scallops, or fish 'Grelhado na Brasa' (cooked over hot embers)
Album pairing: Reuben Vaun Smith - Land of Music
Johan Vineyards ‘Murmuration’ 2021
The vibe: “Murmuration refers to the phenomenon that results when hundreds, sometimes thousands, of starlings fly in swooping, intricately coordinated patterns through the sky. When we witness this magnificent event in the vineyard, it reminds us that a great ‘blend’ is a collective reflection of the sum of all parts, as opposed to any one part on its own.” We would argue this beautiful blend is much more than the sum of its parts. Combining a smorgasbord of varietals while remaining poised and balanced is something we’ve come to love about the entire Johan portfolio. Cabernet Franc, Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent collide in the glass to bring a complex and terroir-driven nose, chased down with a tart, bright and immensely fresh palate that reflects the best of what the newly established Van Duzer AVA has to offer.
The winemaker: Johan Vineyards resides on 85 acres of gently sloping estate vineyards in the heart of the Willamette Valley. These vineyards are blessed with afternoon ocean breezes and cool evening temperatures that are ideal for ripening Burgundian varietals. Elevations range from approximately 180 to 380 feet. Soils are Helvetia, Steiwer, and Santiam silts which were formed primarily from ancient marine sedimentary rock. Johan Vineyards is passionate about making premium wines that showcase the estate vineyards. If one starts with excellent grapes, handles the fruit carefully, and intervenes in the wine making process only when necessary, the wine should be great.
The geeky details: From the winemaker: “2021 was a wonderful growing season, with low disease pressure, average yields and perfect clusters - which led to concentrated, fresh and complex wines across all clones and varieties at Johan. The 2021 vintage is a blend of 1/3 Cabernet Franc and the remaining 2/3 consisting of our Austrian red grapes – Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, & St. Laurent. In 2021, these red varieties had very similar fruit profiles and we thought they would play nicely together – and hey, we were right!”
Serve: With a light chill.
Food pairing: Anything with slightly earthy flavors like mushrooms or lentils, or tomato-based dishes with some tangy acid!
Album pairing: Theodor - Holocene
Devium 'French Creek Vineyard' Yakima Valley 2021
The vibe: This is the Washington wine we’ve been looking for! We’re not sure how it took us this long to discover Keith Johnson’s wines but we’re so glad we did and we are excited to share them with you! Keith takes an unconventional approach when it comes to Washington winemaking, working with higher elevation, north-facing vineyards and whole clusters in neutral oak to achieve fresh, low alcohol wines that are true to their terroir and an honest representation of the fruit. These are exciting wines because they eschew the norms of conventional Washington winemaking. They are true to themselves, while remaining balanced and pure.
The winemaker: Keith Johnson of Sleight of Hand fame started his own project winery a few years back by utilizing a great fruit source, the ‘French Creek Vineyard.’ This is a south-facing site that has some relatively old vines and is planted to a range of varietals, from Chardonnay to high density plantings of Rhone red grapes such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. He now works with several vineyard sites, mostly high elevation, north-facing plots to allow long ripening seasons and fresh, low alcohol fruit.
The geeky details: A Rhone style blend made of 61% Mourvedre, 36% Syrah, 3% Grenache Blanc. Minimalist winemaking exploring the outer edges of Washington Wine. Whole cluster, foot crushed, native yeast, minimal SO2, neutral barrels, unfined & unfiltered.
Serve: Cellar temp or a very light chill
Food pairing: Root veggie based dishes and stews, herbed sausage, even fish dishes would go great as this isn’t the biggest red.
Album pairing: Lawne - Attic
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WHAT THE FUNK?!
Ram Cellars ‘Forbidden Cats’ Rosé
The vibe: Another Washington bottle! We’re showing some love to our producers close to home (it’s been a rough year for wine sales) and Vivianne Kennedy of Ram Cellars deserves allll the love. Not only is she a badass winemaker with a ton of great wine, she also happens to be one of the few prominent transgender members of the wine community. This rosé is super fun, textural, tangy and subtly funky and perfect for winter with all its grip and complexity. Apricots, honeydew, lilies, petrichor, and echoes of lime greet the noise while cantaloupe, nectarine, tangelo, lime zest, polished river rock, lychee, and cherry await in-glass.
The winemaker: Viv launched RAM Cellars in 2014. She’s been making wine in the Pacific Northwest since 2012. She came into the light as herself and came out as a transgender woman in 2018. In 2019, she launched our VIV Label in an effort to raise funds for other queer and transgender folks through a $3 donation made per bottle sold. Viv loves making, sharing, and connecting over wine, as well as time with Aidan and their family pets.
The geeky details: 100% Cinsault rosé from Bosma Estate Vineyard
Columbia Valley, Washington. Native yeast fermentation, unfiltered, minimal sulfur additions.
Serve: With a chill.
Food pairing: Vivianne recommends grilled veggies, sauteed mushrooms, paella, roast duck, shrimp Pad Thai, hummus and flatbread, and warm spring days in the sun with the ones you love!
Album pairing: HYUKOH & Sunset Rollercoaster - AAA
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EASSYYYY
Kermit Lynch d'Estézargues Côtes du Rhône Villages 2023
The vibe: This is an awesome (and easy) collaborative Rhône blend from pioneering natural wine importer Kermit Lynch and one of the first biodynamic vigneron cooperatives in France, Les Vignerons d’Estézargues. Featuring the same rocky alluvial soils as Châteauneuf-du-Pape across the Rhône, the endless expanse of galets roulés (the polished river rocks our friend on the label is dancing across) are ideal terroir for producing wines in this sun-baked region as they retain temperature. This is a plump yet juicy Rhône red that can be sipped casually with a slight chill but also has enough weight for any hearty food pairings you might throw its way.
The winemaker: Located just across the river from Avignon and founded in 1965, Estézargues has championed sustainable and organic viticulture and natural winemaking for decades, making it a rare exception in the world of co-ops. They work closely with their growers, emphasizing organic farming, and manage their cellar with a judicious use of low-intervention techniques: nothing is inoculated, sulfur is kept to a bare minimum, and the wines are bottled without filtration.
The geeky details: 56% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 7% Carignan, 2% Cinsault from 40 year old vines in alluvial soil. Aged in concrete tank for 10-12 months. Certified organic.
Serve: With a chill.
Food pairing: Burgers, pizza, grilled meats, dress it up or dress it down!
Album pairing: IAMNOBODI - DND EP