It’s been 3 months since I uploaded some reviews, things have been a bit hectic but I’ve kept moderating in my time away from uploading posts on the sub. This is a selection of random wines I had already written reviews for and I’m taking my time to upload it now.
**Julie & Toby Bainbridge, Cuvee Johnny Popper:** 100% Chenin Blanc, clean natural wine style inspired by the teachings of Rene Mosse. Purchased from Flatiron Wines in Manahattan.
The aromas on this are faint but for me, they come through as gala apple, pineapple chunks, bright florals, and grapefruit pith. The palate is where this pet nat really shines with its super dry, yeasty style that brings forth good body and nice weight. It’s incredibly mineral driven, with dried out citrus flesh, fresh hay, morning dew and a nice amount of acid to make this a pleasant sipper.
**Matassa, Les Myrs, Ace of Spades:** Blend of Carignan and Mourvedre, 30-year-old vines, whole cluster infusion used versus maceration and extraction. Purchased from Astor Wines & Spirits in Manhattan (my workplace).
A robust and heartier red that is lower alcohol than expected though that is Tom Lubbe’s style. Aromas of cured meat, pink peppercorns, leather, dusty earth, kosher salt, and tons of sour cherry and red currant. Flavors are totally aligned as well but also include some tart raspberry kisses, juicy blackberries, high acid giving some lift on the wine and a slight tannic backbone. Upon opening, there is slight VA here, but it eases up after some time in glass, drastically improving over the next night when I retried it.
**Dirty & Rowdy, ENZ Vineyard Mourvedre:** 100% Mourvedre single vineyard parcel of 100-year-old vines, whole cluster fermentation, maturation in large neutral oak. Purchased from Brooklyn Wine Exchange in Brooklyn.
A hearty and spicy red as expected of Mourvedre, on the nose, it’s full of baking spice, cured meat, earthy autumnal leaves, sagebrush, tobacco smoke, nice acid with medium tannins, the nose is a bit more muted, rhubarb, tart strawberry, raspberry jam, it’s rich and very alcohol driven but, in a way, it still remains balanced and is higher tuned where you might need to pair this with a meal. Revisiting it the next day, it continues to become more savory, introducing tomato slices and dirty beets while the alcohol integrates itself more precisely and becomes a balanced affair very much though the dominant fruit on the first night was more of my wheelhouse.
—
First of all, sucks to hear about the end to Dirty & Rowdy, I bought this bottle around the time it was announced and I’ve personally met Hardy and thought very well of him.
Anyways, the wines here were definitely a mixed bunch. I thought the Cuvee Popper was probably the best of the 3, it didn’t carry much in the way of complexity but it was pitch perfect in terms of balance and fits its niche. The Matassa just was a bit too pricey for me personally for an expression that mirrors some readily available ones at a cheaper price point. It will improve with age (my bottle was the 2020 vintage) so hold onto it for now, it’s got a ways to go.
As for the Dirty & Rowdy, it definitely kills it from the initial bottle open but it morphs into this almost vegetal monster, a savage and earthy wine if you go into the next day. The concentration provided by the older vines definitely give this wine character but the fruit plays the background a bit too much where the first night, it worked great. A cool slew of wines all in all.
konako
That matassa sounds absolutely heavenly. In my top 5 producers for sure
2 Comments
It’s been 3 months since I uploaded some reviews, things have been a bit hectic but I’ve kept moderating in my time away from uploading posts on the sub. This is a selection of random wines I had already written reviews for and I’m taking my time to upload it now.
**Julie & Toby Bainbridge, Cuvee Johnny Popper:** 100% Chenin Blanc, clean natural wine style inspired by the teachings of Rene Mosse. Purchased from Flatiron Wines in Manahattan.
The aromas on this are faint but for me, they come through as gala apple, pineapple chunks, bright florals, and grapefruit pith. The palate is where this pet nat really shines with its super dry, yeasty style that brings forth good body and nice weight. It’s incredibly mineral driven, with dried out citrus flesh, fresh hay, morning dew and a nice amount of acid to make this a pleasant sipper.
**Matassa, Les Myrs, Ace of Spades:** Blend of Carignan and Mourvedre, 30-year-old vines, whole cluster infusion used versus maceration and extraction. Purchased from Astor Wines & Spirits in Manhattan (my workplace).
A robust and heartier red that is lower alcohol than expected though that is Tom Lubbe’s style. Aromas of cured meat, pink peppercorns, leather, dusty earth, kosher salt, and tons of sour cherry and red currant. Flavors are totally aligned as well but also include some tart raspberry kisses, juicy blackberries, high acid giving some lift on the wine and a slight tannic backbone. Upon opening, there is slight VA here, but it eases up after some time in glass, drastically improving over the next night when I retried it.
**Dirty & Rowdy, ENZ Vineyard Mourvedre:** 100% Mourvedre single vineyard parcel of 100-year-old vines, whole cluster fermentation, maturation in large neutral oak. Purchased from Brooklyn Wine Exchange in Brooklyn.
A hearty and spicy red as expected of Mourvedre, on the nose, it’s full of baking spice, cured meat, earthy autumnal leaves, sagebrush, tobacco smoke, nice acid with medium tannins, the nose is a bit more muted, rhubarb, tart strawberry, raspberry jam, it’s rich and very alcohol driven but, in a way, it still remains balanced and is higher tuned where you might need to pair this with a meal. Revisiting it the next day, it continues to become more savory, introducing tomato slices and dirty beets while the alcohol integrates itself more precisely and becomes a balanced affair very much though the dominant fruit on the first night was more of my wheelhouse.
—
First of all, sucks to hear about the end to Dirty & Rowdy, I bought this bottle around the time it was announced and I’ve personally met Hardy and thought very well of him.
Anyways, the wines here were definitely a mixed bunch. I thought the Cuvee Popper was probably the best of the 3, it didn’t carry much in the way of complexity but it was pitch perfect in terms of balance and fits its niche. The Matassa just was a bit too pricey for me personally for an expression that mirrors some readily available ones at a cheaper price point. It will improve with age (my bottle was the 2020 vintage) so hold onto it for now, it’s got a ways to go.
As for the Dirty & Rowdy, it definitely kills it from the initial bottle open but it morphs into this almost vegetal monster, a savage and earthy wine if you go into the next day. The concentration provided by the older vines definitely give this wine character but the fruit plays the background a bit too much where the first night, it worked great. A cool slew of wines all in all.
That matassa sounds absolutely heavenly. In my top 5 producers for sure