Wines of the World

VNR Vinel lo Rouge 2020,

Partida Creus
A supple and hyperfruity classic "à la Jura," an easy-drinking everyday wine with a beautifully fresh expression and notes of pomegranate. VN, Vinel·lo, is a particularly successful blend of native grape varieties: it consists of Samsó (Cinsault), Garrut (Mourvèdre), Trepat, Ull de Perdiu, Queixal de Llop, Sumoll, and Grenache Noir, harvested from predominantly limestone soils. Vinification is carried out individually according to the varieties. No filtration, no additives, no added sulfites.

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Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective—we're talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-versed—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug tickled them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they found a number of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of saving their heritage, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to produce their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, ceciat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. There is also Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast of growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single varietals are common among them, alongside very rich blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that indicate the cuvée. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

Xarel Lo Domaine Blanc 2016

Clos Lentiscus
Festive, light, and crisp, this dry white wine made from pure Xarel Lo is, above all, a seducer. Aromatic and creamy with beautiful notes of white peach and tropical fruit accents, it has something to please every palate. The vines from which it comes grow on sandy-limestone soil. After the manual harvest, maceration is brief and pressing is very gentle to obtain the best from the grapes. Fermentation takes place in French oak barrels with indigenous yeasts. Aging takes place in the same containers for six months. Best served chilled.

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It is in Sitges, Catalonia, in the heart of the Garraf Natural Park, that Manel Avinyo and his brother Joan took over the family estate, renamed Clos Lentiscus by Manel. Even though Barcelona is only a half-hour drive away, the beauty of the landscape is striking and the immersion in nature is total: Mediterranean forests rub shoulders with Catalan scrubland (thyme, rosemary, rockrose, mastic tree which gave its name to the estate, etc.). The Penedès region also has a long winemaking history. Nestled in its gentle hills is Clos Lentiscus, in the Penedés appellation, on twenty hectares of sandy and clay-limestone soils facing due south at an altitude of 225 meters. According to historical documents, the family of Manel and Joan Avinyo has been established there since at least the 14th century. For a long time, the grapes were sold to local cooperatives, but as soon as the two brothers took over the estate, organic and biodynamic farming replaced conventional practices, the entire harvest goes into the house vintages, and organic and biodynamic practices have allowed this beautiful property to regain its former prestige: in the 19th century, its wines were sold in France and as far away as the Americas. Very quickly, Manel received a nickname: The Bubbleman, a tribute to his talent for vinifying cavas, these sparkling whites characteristic of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, from indigenous varieties for which Catalonia holds the secret: sumoll, ull de llebre, xarel·lo, malvasia of Sitges, cartoixà vermell, cariñena (carignan), accompanied by tempranillo and muscat of Alexandria. The vines are old, some of them centuries old. No synthetic additives are used in the vineyard, and operations such as planting, pruning, de-budding, and harvesting are dictated by the lunar phases. Pollination is facilitated by the presence of beehives; sheep contribute to fertilization and control of the plant cover. Ringo, the white horse, takes care of working the soil.

Elegance, purity, and a crisp minerality due to limestone characterize the productions of Clos Lentiscus. The note of controlled oxidation, when it is felt, does not dominate the tasting, and the wines are never deviant. The cavas are known for being exuberant, but those of Clos Lentiscus never have more than two grams of residual sugar per liter. The estate also produces still wines, red, white, and rosé.

Magnum BB "Cerrailla" Red 2019

Partida Creus
The Partida Creus estate is the brainchild of two Piedmontese natives from the Langhe (where wine is well-known), Antonella Gerosa and Massimo Marchiori, who initially pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There, they found a wealth of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will continue to make from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. This is why their estate is as important from a winemaking perspective as it is from a historical perspective - we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia.
Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction. This 100% Bobal is a racy and finely wild red from the Cerrailla plot, built on a grape variety common in Spain but whose expression here is very original. Dark cherry red color; on the nose, candy, sweet flowers, fresh fruits, violet, thyme. On the palate, a lot of distinction: a straight acidity and morello cherry, ripe plum, black pepper, a small saline touch on the finish. Serve well chilled.

Tres Uves Blanc 2011, Bodega Barranco Oscuro
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Jéroboam Munjebel CS Red 2013

Frank Cornelissen Delivery possible in the Île-de-France region only>
This pure Nerello Mascalese comes from an ungrafted vine in the Zottorinoto contrada, growing on the Chiusa Spagnola plot, surrounded by lava rocks, somewhat hidden in an amphitheater-like landscape and at an altitude of 620 meters. This plot was planted in 1925 and produces a deep, tannic wine, somewhat reminiscent of Nebbiolo, with a slightly less intense color than the estate's other reds.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Vamos Vamos Blanc 2011, Joan Ramon Escada and Laureano Serres
Natural wine without added sulphites.

Magnum Munjebel CR Rouge 2016

Frank Cornelissen
This pure Nerello Mascalese comes from a partially ungrafted vine, approximately seventy years old, on the Campo Re plot, in the far west of the valley, at an altitude of 735 meters. The soil is particularly deep, and ripeness is difficult to achieve during wet years. The grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed; skin-contact fermentation lasts about sixty days. No fining, filtration before bottling. The wines are deep, elegant, and tannic. Compared to other vintages from this estate, they are somewhat similar to Nebbiolo.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Anarchico Grignolino Red 2014

Silvio Morando
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Rosso Red 2011

Le Coste

This generous Italian red is made from a blend composed primarily of Grechetto (a local variety related to Sangiovese), with the secondary grape varieties being Cannaiolo, Colorino, Ciliegiolo, and Vaiano, indigenous varieties planted in the vineyards on the volcanic soils of the Le Coste estate. Fermentation lasts about a month in French oak and chestnut vats. Rosso is then aged in Slovenian oak barrels. At first glance, a beautiful ruby color, a crisp and juicy palate, with notes of red and black fruits.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Le Coste White 2010

Le Coste

A blend of Malvasia and Moscato from the Le Coste estate, a volcanic Eden of natural wines located on the borders of Tuscany and Umbria. An orange color, an aromatic nose that unites herbaceous notes and candied fruit. The same battle is evident on the palate, with added hints of compote.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum I'm Natural Don't Panic #8 Red 2018

Coruna del Conde
Julien López's I'm Natural, Don't Panic range consists of macerated wines. This 100% Tempranillo red is both powerful and supple; its freshness is the result of a high-altitude climate that subjects the vines to significant temperature variations. A lovely bouquet of red fruits and a beautiful balance of sweetness and minerality. Serve with tapas, grilled meats, or poultry.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Rosso 2011

Le Coste
This generous Italian red is made from a blend composed primarily of Grechetto (a local variety related to Sangiovese), with the secondary grape varieties being Cannaiolo, Colorino, Ciliegiolo, and Vaiano, indigenous varieties planted in the vineyards on the volcanic soils of the Le Coste estate. Fermentation lasts about a month in French oak and chestnut vats. Rosso is then aged in Slovenian oak barrels. At first glance, a beautiful ruby ​​color, a crisp and juicy palate, with notes of red and black fruits.

Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Munjebel VA 2013

Frank Cornelissen
This pure Nerello Mascalese, produced under the IGP Terre Siciliane, comes from the basalt soils of the Cornelissen estate's three highest plots (Vigne Alte), rich in biodiversity: Tartaraci (1,000 m above sea level), Monte Dolce (870 m), and Pettinociarelle (890 m). It perfectly expresses the excellence of the old, ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines grown on the high terraces of Etna's northern valley. It is the estate's most Burgundian vintage, with the most pronounced acidity. A balanced, structured, gourmet, and easy-to-drink cuvée, it offers plenty of crisp fruit without ever being too easy. A certain bite and freshness typical of the estate. A perfect table red, it pairs well with roasted farm-raised chicken.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.