Dry

Floral & Funky

Joan Ramón Escoda has been shaking the pillars of natural winemaking in his home-country and abroad since the 90's. He is an absolute anarchist, a radical winemaker, a rock'n'roller and a grass-roots innovator; and his wines are anything but banal. Natural wine enthusiasts, step right up. 

The heart of this wine is Cabernet Franc, complemented with 20% Parellada, a local white grape of great aromatic refinement. Hand harvested and partially destemmed, the grapes were macerated and fermented together in clay amphorae using only indigenous yeasts. This natural red wine was then aged for 7 months on lees in the amphorae.

Rustic, raw and pleasantly wild, this wine could need some aeration to unfurl. Some earthy and mineral notes, evolving into a fleshy red fruit gently nuanced by flowers, herbs and spice. A remarkably original unrefined blend; delicately warm, but also full of energy and confidence. Some succulent red fruit, a note of cocoa and bitter herbs, and a first-rate acidity make for a very fresh no added sulphites wine. Gentler and more engaging than ever, this wine from Escoda-Sanahuja has a long finish with a mineral and pithy aftertaste.

Pair it with roasted red meats and cured cheeses.

Bianka and Daniel took over the Weingut Schmitt in 2012 as the fourth generation to lead the winery. They are based in Wonnegau in the south Rheinhessen, centered in Flörsheim-Dalsheim. All of the vineyards are in Flörsheim-Dalsheim and neighbor villages Monsheim and Kriegsheim. Bianka and Daniel have been working their 16 hectares biodynamically for over a decade and are one of only 80 producers in Germany to be Demeter certified. 

A mixed case includes 3 bottles of each wine.

3 bottles x 2024 Freiheit Riesling. The Freiheit Riesling is a real surprise. Amidst countless conventional winegrowers in the hilly region of Rheinhessen, Bianka and Daniel Schmitt have taken a different path. The grapes were picked and selected by hand, the must was brought into the barrel immediately after pressing and left there to fend for itself. It was bottled unsulfured and unfiltered.

The result is incredibly lively, almost funky, with striking fruit. When freshly opened, it smells exotic of passion fruit, pineapple, but also gooseberries and ripe yellow pears.

3 bottles x  Freiheit Rosé FIZZ 2024. The production process begins with the whole cluster pressing of carefully selected Portugieser and Dornfelder grapes, allowing the extraction of their rich flavors and aromas while maintaining the integrity of the fruit. Following this initial pressing, the juice undergoes a primary fermentation. After this first fermentation is complete, the wine is transferred to aging vessels, where it matures for a period of six months. Subsequently, a second fermentation occurs in a pressure tank. This secondary fermentation lasts for three months, during which time the wine develops its signature bubbles.

The Fizz is convincing in every respect: fizzy fun paired with grapefruit and strawberry flavours. Fruity, crisp, always perfect!

 3 bottles x Nieder-Flörsheimer Spätburgunder 2023. This lively Pinot Noir from Flörsheim-Dalsheim offers an enchanting bouquet that opens up beautifully with some aeration, revealing vibrant aromas of sour cherries and pomegranate intertwined with fragrant wild herbs and a hint of undergrowth. The palate is graced with velvety tannins and a delicate acidity that accentuates its slender body, creating an elegant balance and an inviting drinkability.

3 bottles x Freiheit Weiß 2023. The Freiheit Weiß is a blend of five different grapes. The grapes of Scheurebe and Huxelrebe macerate for about a week and half on the skins, while the weiß- and Grauburgunder, Riesling and Silvaner went directly to the press with whole cluster. 

In the glass, the wine has a light straw yellow. The nose shows gooseberries, bright flowers and ripe apple. On the palate it is fresh and light, with a beautiful texture.

Floral & Mineral

The Puiggros family has been producing wines from their own vineyards in Odena since 1843 for friends and family, however their wines have only been available commercially since 2008. The family came to realize that their traditional techniques and special terroir were something worth sharing with the rest of the world.

Signes del Priorat is Puiggros' first experience in the Priorat. A very limited edition of 600 bottles, made exclusively with Carinyena grapes planted on the steep slopes of the Porrera area. The slate soil on the slopes is known as llicorella ("licorice," due to its dark color) and is the main feature of the soil's terroir and the success of its native grapes.

The region's infertile soil imparts a characteristic minerality to the wine. On the nose, the wine has aromas of lavender and eucalyptus, that mingle with hints of candied fruit, rosemary, caramel and liquorice. Many of the vines harvested for this wine are old and produce low yields, which contributes to the wine's intensity on the palate.

Pair this wine with grilled meats or vegetables, something that will stand up to the tannins in the wine is key here. Avoid chili heat, as alcohol content enhances these flavours.