Drink Now – Page 8 – Curated Natural Wines Berkshire Wine Blog Cadus Vinum

Envínate Albarha Vinos Mediterraneos 2021

March 15, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, Spain

New Generation of Spanish Winemakers

Envínate Albarha Vinos Mediterraneos 2021. Envínate (translates as “wine yourself”) is the brainchild of 4 friends, winemakers Roberto Santana, Alfonso Torrente, Laura Ramos, and José Martínez. This gang of 4 formed back in 2005 while studying enology at the University of Miguel Hernandez in Alicante. They are part of the group that Telmo Rodriguez refers to as the “new generation of Spanish winemakers”, pushing the boundaries […]

March 14, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, France

New Englanders eagerly await spring and summer

On Saturday, I attended a small tasting event at a newly opened wine shop, however, it resembled more of a general store/gift shop which sold wine. During the tasting, I was introduced to a delightful and reasonably priced wine, the Guy Allion Les Mazelles Sauvignon 2021, a 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Touraine region in the Loire Valley. The wine has a pale straw […]

March 4, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerCalifornia, Drink Now

Simplicity and Finesse

I came across this wine at a local shop tasting and was impressed with its simplicity and finesse. The wine is made using a combination of both tank and barrel fermentations that are aged in neutral barrels. The fruit is sourced from three vineyards in Happy Canyon; Grassini, McGinley, and Star Lane. A bright energetic wine with spring flowers and hints of mint. The wine […]

Clarendelle Bordeaux 2016, Hawkes Alexander Valley Cabernet 2016 & Duc de Nauves - Ch Le Puy 2015

February 27, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerCalifornia, Drink Now, France, Special Occasions

A cold winter night

I recently hosted a dinner and decided to serve three “bordeaux” style wines, two from the Bordeaux region and one from California, a Cabernet Sauvignon. The first wine I opened was the Clarendelle Bordeaux 2016, which consists of 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Cabernet Franc. It was a pleasant wine overall, but nothing particularly stood out. I learned that Clarendelle purchases wines from […]

February 24, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, Spain

Bodegas Ponce “La Casilla” Manchuela 2019

I discovered this wine quite by accident last summer. A new wine shop had just opened and one of my favorite things is to peruse a new wine shop. I was impressed with their selection of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines. Many I was already very familiar with. However, I was not impressed with their pricing. I believe I paid $29. for this wine much […]

February 17, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, Spain

Gulp Hablo – Orange Organic

I first learned of this wine from Eric Asimov’s New York Times column 20 under $20. In it he says its made by Juan Antonio Ponce, of Bodegas Ponce of which I am familiar from his outstanding Bobal La Casilla. Still, the bottle has no visible references to the grapes or the maker other than “Parra Jimenez”. So I delved a bit further and found […]

February 17, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, Spain

The second most common red grape variety in Spain

Remember the name Bobal, a red grape variety that is native to the Utiel-Requena region in Valencia, Spain, which is located on the southeastern Mediterranean coast, is the second most commonly grown grape in Spain. Atance Bobal 2019 is a wine that is 100% Bobal and is produced by Toni Sarrion, the winemaker of Bodegas Mustiguillo. He has taken it upon himself to champion this […]

February 13, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, Spain

An Absolute Crowd Pleaser

A few months back we were at an event tasting a number of different wines from various countries and regions. We came away with a handful of new bottles. One of which was the Ladeiras do Xil Godello . I didn’t get a chance to look at the label but once in my possession I saw that the maker was Telmo Rodriguez. For those of […]

February 12, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, Save For Later, Spain

Tinto, the Other Village Wine from Telmo Rodriguez

Gaba do Xil are the estate-grown red and white village wines of Ladeiras do Xil, they are handmade Galician wines offering incredible value for everyday drinking in addition to stashing a few away for a few years to mature further. The tinto is a blend of 70% Mencía and 30% Merenzao all hand-harvested grapes that are fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel then aged in steel […]

Grochau Cellars Pinot Noir Commuter Cuvée 2021 and George Lignier Bourgogne Passetoutgrain 2020

February 10, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerCalifornia, Drink Now, Pacific NW, Save For Later

One French and One American

Our host asked for a wine with “soft tannins” as the food to be served was Asian-inspired flavors with fish as the main course. Most people think of fish and white wine, personally, I prefer to consider the time of year and flavors. In this case, it was also the dead of winter. My thoughts immediately leaned toward Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Bobal. I decided […]

February 7, 2023January 25, 2024By Robert FlowerDrink Now, Greece Turkey Corso

Discovering Moschofilero and Troupis Hoof & Lur 2021

I must acknowledge that my exposure to Greek wine has been limited. However, a recent foray into Troupis Winery’s Hoof & Lur Moschofilero 2021 was a revelation and a true delight for my taste buds. This “orange” wine, classified as such, was quite a surprise. Upon pouring, it revealed a bright pink hue, not quite the orange I was anticipating. The balance of flavors, with […]