Cooler days call for fuller pours. Discover rich whites and warming reds made for dinners, gatherings, and everything in between.
16 products
16 products
Sale
Quick view
- Red Wine
- Grenache, Samso / Carignan, Syrah
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine Andre Aubert
At the very heart of the Rhône Valley, at the northerly tip of the Southern Rhône, lie the vineyards of Grignan-Les-Adhémar. The chances are you haven’t heard the name before, few people have, but the wines are worth seeking out. It’s not a new wine region – vines have been planted here since around 500BC but it is a new name (formerly known as Côteaux-du-Tricastin). Domaine André Aubert, has been formed over decades and today comprises of more than 280 hectares spread from north to south of the prestigious Southern Rhone Valley on the appellations Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône villages, Visan, and Grignan-les-Adhémar.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
92 points (2024) - David Lawrason
Huge value in a very stylish, pure and correct southern Rhone blend from a region in the north of the region. This shows a lovely, generous sweet strawberry/cherry nose with vanillin/nougat, red rose fine tobacco/dried herbs. It is medium weight, open knit, smooth and almost a touch sweet with very fine chalky tannin. Great fruit presence and warmth make this so appealing. And the length is excellent. Tasted May 2026.
90 points (2024) - Sara d'Amato
The Auberts farm 280 hectares throughout the southern Rhône, this northerly appellation of Grignan-les-Adémar is the family's home base and they are considered pioneers in the region. The 2022 Le Devoy is a blend of grenache (40%), syrah (40%) and carignan (20%) whose vines average 40-years of age on galets roulés, is matured in cement vats. Its oak-free flavour profile highlights youthful fruit, pepper, and garrigue from this windswept appellation. Concentration is notable and the tannins are firm and linear. Excellent length. Best 2026-2029. Tasted April 2026.
- White Wine
- Carricante
- Sustainable, Volcanic Vines
- Dry
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Azienda Agricola Tornatore
Out of a Sicilian family heritage that traces back to the 17th century, the Tornatore’s Mount Etna wine ventures began in 1865. Today the family’s operations are headed by Giuseppe Tornatore, a businessman whose expertise led to the acquisition of some of the region’s finest north-facing vineyards in the early 2000’s. That heritage and the Tornatore’s profound respect and understanding of the land is showcased in wines that capture the essence of Etna, deftly balancing concentrated flavors, complexity, freshness and refinement.
The company lies in the northern side of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. The soils have volcanic origin and were created through the disintegration of lava, ash and stones from previous volcanic eruptions. The climate on the northern side of the Etna is characterized by mild temperatures, and more rain fall reflecting the influence of the Volcano. The combination of soil, climate and the skill of the winemakers, have made the northern slope of Etna an ideal area for the production of high-quality wines. “Our vineyards and our winery are only a few kilometers from our family home. Our entire family is rooted there. We have the greatest respect for this region, and we believe we have a responsibility to be stewards of Etna and to reflect its distinct character in our wines.” - Giuseppe Tornatore
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - Michael Godel
Tornatore has simply, unequivocally and decidedly defined the genre that is Etna Bianco for world markets at an affordable price. The 2023 vintage was not so easy to do this way because mildew pressure and low yields were the obstacle. And yet like so many the acids are intense to insure true Etna mountain spirit is elevated as it needs be. This does precisely what wants and needs for a $25-30 Bianco. All must partake and become believers in what is possible. Drink 2024-2027. Tasted September 2024.
90 points - John Szabo, MS
Tornatore's 2023 entry point Bianco is clean, fresh, lively, and lightly smoky, with everything in place, citric, white fruit-inflected, with no evident wood. The palate is lean, tight, tart, riveted together by pointy acids in a wine lover's expression. Some will find it austere, but I appreciate the tight framing. Best from 2025 - a wine with character and personality. Tasted September 2024.
- White Wine
- Garganega
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly, Volcanic Vines
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Azienda Agricola Tessari
The Tessari family have Soave in their blood. For three generations they have been extracting delectable wine from the well cared for vines of their Monteforte d’Alpone vineyards. With only a little over a hectare of Garganega grapes in the prestigious volcanic solis of Soave Classico, Antonio Tessari hand dug his cellar back in 1933 and started the legacy that continues today with his grandchildren: Germano, Antonio and Cornelia.
From vineyard to bottle, these three siblings oversee it all; with unwavering respect for tradition, quality and passion for the art of winemaking. The volcanic soils of the hillside are rich with basaltic rocks and clays, which guarantees the health of the plant and the promotes the mineral and floral aromas that are characteristic of the Garganega grape. Truly artisanal wine making at it’s best.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points (2021) - David Lawrason
This shows the vivid yellow colour I expect from good Soave. It also shows the complex, detailed nose honeysuckle, lemon blossom, camomile and almost tropical peach/mango fruit. It is mid-weight, rich and viscous yet shows some enlivening freshness, spritz and tenderness at the same time. Slightly bitter and lemony on the finish. The length is excellent. Tasted January 2023.
90 points (2021) - Michael Godel
The latest volcanically driven garganega from the Tessari family is a child of a promising vintage full of sun, fun and support. The sky is the limit for just how well this will drink and please. It is in fact bottled salty and fruit crunchy deliciousness and why shouldn’t it be? Made simply with tradition in mind, basalt in pocket and all the modern facility made available. Citrus and nectarine, basil and Maldon salt. Lime all over the finish. Spot on. Drink 2023-2025. Tasted January 2023.
4 Stars (2022)- Sara d'Amato
Nervy and salty with a dash of elderflower and pear, this stylish Soave Classico is a favourite of restauranteurs. Richly textured with notes of apple and lemon zest, salt and lime. Quite chalky and dry, with a pleasant degree of roundness despite the moderate level of alcohol. Nicely balanced with a pleasant finish of good length. Drink now. Tasted January 2023.
- White Wine
- Albarín
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bodegas y Viñedos Pardevalles
Pardevalles is recognized for being one of the driving forces behind the D.O Tierra de León, betting on the development of the indigenous grape varieties Prieto Picudo and Albarín Blanco. In 1949 Rafael Alonso founded Pardevalles continuing with the family tradition of growing grapes and making wine. The winemaking tradition in León goes back more than 400 years, famous for its centuries-old caves where wine was originally made.The vineyards of Pardevalles are located between 750 and 820 metres above sea level, in an area with a Continental climate. They grow in poor, rocky alluvial soils which helps maintain the freshness in the wines. The philosophy of the Estate is grounded in making wines which express the character and identity of their origin, with a deep respect for the earth and the indigenous varieties of grape, combining tradition, innovation, and hard work.
Press Reviews
Decanter
92 points - World Wine Awards
WineAlign
90 points (2022) - Sara d'Amato
The early 2000s saw a revival in the albarín grape variety planted largely in the higher elevations of Castilla y León in southwestern Spain and a majority of that is being produced by Pardevalles. This refreshing and zesty expression offers an abundance of flavour from starfruit, lime, and yellow apple, to elderflower and toasty lees. Sure to be a hit with fans of sauvignon blanc and vermentino. An effortlessly elegant sipper with notable length. Tasted February 2024.
- Red Wine
- Barbera
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14% alc./vol
About the Winery
Cascina Castlèt
Cascina Castlèt has belonged to the Borio family for generations; Mariuccia, the current owner, inherited it from her father in 1970. Mariuccia focuses on her terroir and the local varieties. The vineyards of the estate are spread over 31 hectares, and are all located in Costigliole d'Asti.
Press Reviews
James Suckling
91 points
Very nice blueberry and blackberry character with some spicy orange. Medium body. Fruity and tart. Drink now.
- Red Wine
- Primitivo
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.50% alc./vol
About the Winery
Cantine Paradiso
Cantine Paradiso is located is the South of Italy, in the region of Puglia. During the estate's 60-year history, the Paradiso family have always given the utmost importance to their close ties to Puglia's unique terroir, promoting the area's winemaking culture and constantly improving the quality of their production. The ongoing results confirm the choices made by three generations of down-to-earth vignerons closely bound to tradition and sensitive to innovation.
- White Wine
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 11.9% alc./vol
Press Reviews
WineAlign
91 points (2023) - David Lawrason
Yet another riper-than-expected Muscadet as warming settles in, but this may also be intentionally later harvested. It pours with deeper more golden than expected colour. The nose is quite reserved but showing ripe peach, leesy pastry (sur lie) notes and subtle citrus marmalade. It is quite rich and soft for muscadet, with almost creamy texture, modest acidity and pleasant bitterness on the finish. Excellent length. Chill fairly well. Tasted May 2026
91 points (2023) - Sara d'Amato
A gutsy wine with more oomph than the norm for Muscadet with an almost buttery, leesy richness that doesn't feel overdone from 11 months of sur lie aging. With the stuffing for further development, I like the cut of acidity, the delicate minerality, and density of the palate. Idiosyncratic and engaging, even in its youthful condition. Tasted May 2026.
90 points (2023) - John Szabo, MS
Stylishly stony the way we like Muscadet, from 40+ year-old vines on south- and southeast-facing slopes in the Côtes de Grand Lieu sub-zone and aged 11 months on its fine lees, this is also quite dense and richly proportioned at just 12% ABV declared, indicating genuine concentration and richness. The finish also lingers admirably. More than oysters, this is a Loire white for lobster and scallops; even roast chicken wouldn't be out of place. Tasted May 2026.
- Red Wine
- Montepulciano
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Azienda Agricola Jasci
Located on the hills that rise 250 meters above sea level from the Adriatic Sea just above the seaside resort town of Vasto in Abruzzo, here the Jasci family has been growing grapes and producing wine for three generations. Starting In the early 1960s, Pasquale and Maria turned the focus of their farm to producing estate wines.
In 1980, their son Giuseppe decided to convert the farm to organic, becoming one of the first ten wineries in all of Italy to be certified. Today led by grandson Donatello Jasci and his wife Piera, the family is the second largest single grower in all of the region. Donatello’s approach in the cellar is consistent with his farming: clean and simple. The wines see little or no oak and have a purity of flavor that is rare at the price. In addition to his duties at the winery, Donatello Jasci has served as President of the local Organic Growers’ Consortium.
Press Reviews
Millésime BIO 2022
Médaille d'Argent
WineAlign
91 points (2022) - Michael Godel
Will age a bit indeed with this ’22 montepulciano having changed not an iota with nearly two further years in bottle. Superior concentration and hard to find a gaggle its equal at this price. Last tasted February 2026.
Classic perfume and style, salty upfront for montepulciano with florals part fresh and part dried. Rich as need be, full and substantial on the mid palate and then a return to savoury and also salty at the finish. Really good barrel usage and integration. Clean and classic. Will age a bit. Drink 2025-2029. Tasted March 2024.
90 points (2022) - Megha Jandhyala S.J.D., DipWSET
This is an inky, pleasantly perfumed montepulciano d'abruzzo that is organically grown. Fruit flavours span the red and dark end of the spectrum, joined by herbal and wildflower notes. Relatively approachable and supple, the full-bodied palate is populated with fine-grained firm tannins and balanced acidity. A long, flavourful finish features notes of oak spice and cedar alongside supple dark fruit. Featuring sensible oak influence, this is a well-made and even-keeled montepulciano that is ready to drink but can also be cellared for another 2-3 years. Last tasted February 2026.
- White Wine
- Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Picpoul
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.50% alc./vol
About the Winery
Château de Montfaucon
Just across the Rhone river from the beautiful vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the Lirac appellation extends itself on the low hills alongside the river. The history of Château de Montfaucon dates back to the 11th century when the castle's first tower was built. The castle's role in history was strategic; the Rhône River was the border between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman German Empire. Montfaucon was one of many castles and fortresses along the Rhône River constructed to guard the border.
Rodolphe de Pins took over the family estate of Montfaucon in 1995 and subsequently rebuilt the winery and began practicing sustainable agriculture. He honed his winemaking skills in Barossa at Henschke and Vieux Telegraphe in Châteauneuf du Pape before returning to Lirac, so needless to say, his familiarity with the local varieties is well established.
Press Reviews
WineAlign
92 points (2023) - David Lawrason
This is a blend of usual suspects among the white grapes of southern France with marsanne leading at 40% followed by clairette at 35%. It was fermented and aged in French oak barrels which accounts for the quite deep yellow gold colour. The nose is rather reserved but exotic and complex with waxy notes, apricot, orange peel, honey and wood spice. It is full bodied, almost thick, creamy and warming with 13.5% abv. Quite a mouthful, with some sense of wood tannin on the finish. Needs very rich savoury dishes. Excellent length. Tasted Nov 2025
91 points (2023) - Michael Godel
Comtesse Madeleine is a blend of marsanne and clairette with lesser amounts of grenache blanc and picpoul, likely named for Marie-Madeleine Pioche de la Vergne, comtesse de La Fayette, a 17th century French writer known for La Princesse de Clèves. Profound is once again the first word to slip from the tongue because neither Lirac nor Côtes du Rhône are normally poised to offer such substantial qualities. Aside from the flinty opening salvo there are wisps and whispers of aromatic complexities in between, all ahead of a maturity and knowing experience showing prominently at the finish. Once again gastronomical scents, of porchetta, herbs and other aromatics coming from this meatiest of white wines. Begins slower and takes longer to reveal its charms than the previous vintage tasted but once momentum makes gains then the stirring is activated. The finish is long and true. Drink 2025-2029. Tasted November 2025.
90 points (2023) - Sara d'Amato
This blend of marsanne, clairette, grenache blanc and picpoul, aged 8 months in oak barrels, is named in homage to Madeleine de Montfaucon, grandmother of current owner Rodolphe de Pins, who stewarded the estate for over 60 years. The wine offers a gently aromatic profile: floral notes, fresh linen, a touch of musk, and yellow fruit recalling mirabelle plum. Lanonlin and a lively mineral edge keep it fresh. The palate is fleshy, with oak spice playing a minimal supporting role behind the fruit. Highly drinkable, it gains richness as it unfurls. Features a lingering finish of memorable length. Tasted November 2025.
- Red Wine
- Cabernet Franc
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.50% alc./vol
About the Winery
Château de Parnay
Château de Parnay is the flagship of the AOC Saumur Champigny. The property is located along the Loire river, classified as UNESCO World Heritage, on the most reputable clay and limestone terroirs of the appellation. The historic property was taken over by Mathias Levron & Régis Vincenot in 2006 with the aim of restoring the nobility of this special place.
Drawing their strength from the authenticity of their values, they now cultivate 50 hectares of vines with the aim of producing exceptional wines in a way that respects the environment. They have been certified organic since 2013 and are about to be certified biodynamic too.
The Clos of Chemin des Murs is the jewel of the property! Coming from the imagination of it's orginal owner, Antoine Cristal, this Clos was built, planted and cultivated according to an unprecedented technique. On this half hectare of Chenin Blanc, each vine was planted on the north face of a stone wall. Through a hole in the stone the vine crosses through the wall and allowing the grapes to grow facing the southern sunshine. The vine is said to have its 'foot in the cool and belly in the sun'.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
93 points - Megha Jandhyala
This is a concentrated, complex, gracefully balanced cabernet franc. Notes of ripe red plums, blackberries, dark cherries, tobacco, dried leaves, and violets are interwoven here to form an elegant, engaging, and varietally representative flavour profile. The palate is densely flavoured but lithe, with fine-grained tannins and refreshing acids. The finish is long, layered, and captivating. Though it can be enjoyed now, I would cellar this for 2-3 years. Tasted January 2024.
93 points - David Lawrason
This is a serious cab franc indeed - not so much in terms of weight and power, but in its complexity, poise and length. It’s a deeply coloured for franc. The nose shows fine, ripe raspberry, perfectly pitched by fresh herbs, tobacco and violet. It is loosely structured mid-palate, and a touch warm, with slightly green tannin. The length is excellent. I would age it a year or three. Tasted January 2024
92 points - John Szabo, MS
Silky and refined, elegant but dense, this Saumur Champigny (cabernet franc) is a substantial and serious wine, with a high degree of textbook regional character, complete with a touch of green-herbal, varietal flavour. Tannins are fine and dusty, acids gently salty, and length good to very good. I'd suggest another year or two in the cellar to further refine the texture and develop complexity - potential I think is high. Tasted January 2024.
- Red Wine
- Listán Negro
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly, Volcanic Vines
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Viñátigo
Juan Jesús is a proud native of Tenerife and the fourth generation of growers. During the thirty years that he's overseen Bodegas Viñátigo, he has considerably increased its holdings, planting varieties that he and his team recuperated from near extinction.
Driven by passion and love for his homeland, Juan decided to revive and work to save the native grape varieties that were brought to the Canary Islands by the conquers back in the 15th century and that had survived on the islands for centuries. He is a hero of contemporary Canarian viticulture. The wealth of knowledge that his work has created has helped underpin the significant expansion of wine styles that are now available throughout the archipelago, and his wines have achieved a calibre of class that many doubted the Canaries would ever produce again. (The Epic Wines of the Canary Islands, written by Santo Bains).
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points (2024) - Michael Godel
Freshest of freshest varietal listán negro which means the hyperbole of acidity distracts from detecting any serious tannin while fruit and volcanic hypotheticals create their necessary union. The unmistakable and impalpable listán negro is expressed through a house’s consistent, persistent and unwavering purity, without grift or deception. If "your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect" please do not worry and don't call the police because "slight" is the operative word. This is the Viñátigo way and this their accessible red wine in celebration of clarity from a place. Getting at this 2024 involves no early indication of potential danger or failure but instead the prospect of delicious drinking for these next few years. No canary in a coal mine indeed but yet a character that is expressly Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Oh joy, oh rapture for a crispy varietal red seemingly always “acertado,” readied, on call and on point. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted June 2025.
91 points (2024) - Sara d'Amato
Expressive and grippy with an expansive aromatic profile. This volcanic red from the sub-tropical Atlantic outpost of Tenerife, is made from the local listán negro is juicy and naturally spicy with the faintest hint of volatility adding character to the wine. Tannins are lightly grippy with snappy acids on the palate. Engaging and versatile with food. Ready to drink but don't serve too warm. Tasted June 2025.
90 points (2024) - Megha Jandhyala, S.J.D., DipWSET.
This is an intriguing and distinctive listán negro, with aromas of ripe red berries, cherries, and pomegranates amplified by a whiff of volatile acidity. These fruit flavours are accompanied by pleasing flavours of dried savoury herbs, including juniper and rosemary, crushed wildflowers, and a hint of spice. The palate is medium bodied, with fine, drying tannins and crisp acidity, while the finish is long and fragrant, with notes of sweet herbs peaking on the long, layered finish. I would enjoy this wine sooner rather than later, ideally over the next year. Tasted June 2025.
- Red Wine
- Grenache
- Natural, Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.8% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bodegas Puiggròs
Since 1843, the Puiggros family has been producing wines from their own vines in the Odena region of Catalunya for the family and close friends. Over generations they had come to realize that their vineyards and techniques were something worth sharing with the world. A sincere dedication to the terroir in their zone and the indigenous varieties that grow there, allows them to constantly discover ways to unlock all of the magic that lies within their land.
Starting with conscious and clean farming in the vineyard, they hand-harvest only the best fruit for their production, and ferment each vineyard separately in varying vessels to accentuate what the vines have to show; some in stainless steel, and many in clay amphora of differing sizes. All the while seeing very little sulfur use (if any) until bottling. Puiggros is pushing the quality of northeastern Spain's wines forward, and doing so in a clean and unique way.
Press Reviews
WineAlign
91 points - David Lawrason
Exedra Negre is 100% Garnatxa (Catalan for grenache) planted on limestone and clay soils at 500 meters. Part is fermented in large concrete, part in amphora. It pours fairly pale but bright ruby. The aromas are classic grenache strawberry jam with fine, subtle array of tobacco, pepper and herbs in the background. It is medium weight, fresh, balanced and almost refined - not really showing its 14.5% alcohol except for a slight kirsch flavour to the fruit on the finish. The length is excellent. Chill a bit. Tasted January 2026.
91 points - Michael Godel
Warm vintage for garnatxa aged in clay-pot (amphora) from Odena’s limestone and clay soils at 500m in the shadow of the Montserrat massif. Consistent sweet red candied fruit aroma, always alluring and quite naturally so. The amphora does not take over the character but seems to simply allow the land to do the talking. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted January 2026.
90 points - John Szabo, MS
Pure grenache vinified and aged in amphora, the wine shows oxidative aromatics, candied/dried fruit and shoe polish, more advanced than one would hope for at this relatively young age. The palate is nonetheless, silky-smooth and broadly appealing, soft and round as it is, generous without heaviness. I like the saline nature that encourages another sip and brings the fruit and wild herb flavours into sharper relief. Acids are equally helpful in framing the ensemble. In the end it works nicely; drink over the near term to capture the fading freshness. Tasted January 2026.
- Red Wine
- Malbec
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Château Lamartine
The Château Lamartine stands at the extremely west side of the Cahors Appellation, on the oldest of Lot Valley’s terraces. The terroir of the 37 hectares faces South on clay and limestone soils which guarantees a perfect maturity to the Malbec.For four generations, the Gayraud family has given the greatest care to the vines as well as the wine-making. This is the key to get the purest expression from the terroirs.
Press Reviews
WineAlign
91 points - David Lawrason
The aromas here are not showy, but I do like the way they easily harmonize malbec's mulberry fruit with fine oak, cedar, violet and dried herbs/hay characteristics. There is a similar sense of equilibrium on the palate, balanced alcohol (13%), just right acidity and sandy tannin (in a region historically notorious for tannic reds). A bit dry on the finish, so you may want to age it a bit, but its evenness makes it approachable now. Very good to excellent length. Tasted August 2026
91 points - John Szabo, MS
Lamartine's classic Cahors is lovely in the 2022 vintage, resolved and velvety at this stage, polished, with appealing floral-violet varietal character mingling with black and blue fruit and creamy, integrated barrel influence. I especially like the texture, the ripeness and resolve of the tannins and the gentle acid framing. Length is very good to excellent in the category. Serious, well-made wine for the money; drink or hold as deep as the mid-thirties. Malbec blended with 5% merlot. Tasted August 2026.
91 points - Michael Godel
Crunchy cahors, munificent malbec, and what feels like a salty maritime influence involved. A step beyond basic to be sure, well integrated wood, quite resolved and ready for action. Drink 2026-2028. Tasted August 2026.
- Red Wine
- Barbera
- Biodynamic, Natural, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Punset
While the vineyards that form Punset have been farmed by the Marcarino family for generations, it is truly thanks to Marina and her incredible energy that the estate is how it is nowadays. In the 1980s, she decided to pursue organic farming – a demanding choice that was rewarded by becoming the first estate to receive the organic certification in Italy. Her passion for the soil and the environment led her to embrace biodynamics and the agronomic philosophy of Manasobu Fukuoka. From one of the healthiest vineyards in Italy, Marina crafts wines that brim with life, energy, and pure terroir.
Known for the very first certified organic Barbaresco of Italy, Marina continues to show the world that you can preserve tradition and think of the future simultaneously.
- White Wine
- Listán Blanco
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly, Volcanic Vines
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
Viñátigo Vino de Parcela Lomo de La Era 2023
Canary Islands, Spain
Regular price $69.95per bottle
($419.70per case)6 bottles per case
Mineral & Vibrant
Juan Jesús, who is a 4th generation winemaker, founded Viñátigo in 1990 and has worked tirelessly since then identifying, recuperating the native grapes of the Canary Islands. Today, his son Jorge is slowly taking over the viticulture and winemaking of Viñátigo, and is focusing on crafting wines from exceptional micro-vineyards in the north-face of Tenerife. Before settling down in his home-island, Jorge worked alongside great international winemakers in Chile, Argentina and Burgundy.
The Lomo de la Era vineyard is situated in the Paraje de la Cruz Santa, located on the west side of La Orotava valley. The vines are trained in the traditional cordon trenzado system, and can extend up to five meters long. At an altitude of 500 meters above sea level, the site benefits from the direct influence of the trade winds that arrive from the North Atlantic.
Five hundred thousand years ago, the collapse of the Cañadas Edifice caused a gravitational landslide that created La Orotava valley. The west side of the valley is well known for producing great white wines, due to presence of stonier soils than those in the central and eastern parts of the valley.
Pre-fermentative oxidation. Not controlled-temperature fermentation. Fermented and aged for nine months in amphora. No racking.
Lomo de la Era is very dry and textured with dusty salinity, vibrant fruits, with a honeyed character, and a little aromatic blast of its volcanic origins.
About the Winery
Viñátigo
Juan Jesús is a proud native of Tenerife and the fourth generation of growers. During the thirty years that he's overseen Bodegas Viñátigo, he has considerably increased its holdings, planting varieties that he and his team recuperated from near extinction.
Driven by passion and love for his homeland, Juan decided to revive and work to save the native grape varieties that were brought to the Canary Islands by the conquers back in the 15th century and that had survived on the islands for centuries. He is a hero of contemporary Canarian viticulture. The wealth of knowledge that his work has created has helped underpin the significant expansion of wine styles that are now available throughout the archipelago, and his wines have achieved a calibre of class that many doubted the Canaries would ever produce again. (The Epic Wines of the Canary Islands, written by Santo Bains).
Press Reviews
Robert Parker
93 points
The 2022 Lomo de la Era, another of the new single-vineyard certified wines from the DOP Islas Canarias, Tenerife appellation, was produced with Listán Blanco grapes, in this case from a cordón trenzado plot of vines in the western part of the Orotava Valley on sandy, silty and basalt soils. The juice from the pressing with part of the stems was let to settle and fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete, where the wine matured with static lees (not stirred) for nine months. It has moderate ripeness and alcohol (12%) with a mixture of floral, fruit and soil notes and an austere palate with dusty minerality, vibrant and pungent flavors and a clean finish. 2,320 bottles were filled in July 2023.
Viñátigo, the project from Juan Jesús Méndez, was one of the pioneers of the local varieties in the Canary Islands, where he's been recovering forgotten varieties since 1990. He's now joined by his son Jorge, who is giving a more modern profile to the wines. In 2017, there was a new range of single-vineyard and lieu-dit wines that go one step beyond in 2022, with three new whites from the north of Tenerife. They are all produced with Listán Blanco from different zones and altitudes, climates and soils. They have 12 hectares of vines in the north and northeast of Tenerife, and their production averages 150,000 bottles per year.
Published: Nov 30, 2023
- White Wine
- Furmint
- Organic, Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly, Volcanic Vines
- Residual Sugar: 1 g/l
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 12% alc./vol
About the Winery
Gilvesy Pincészet
Hungarian expat Róbert Gilvesy moved back to his homeland from Canada, and began building the Gilvesy winemaking empire on the former Esterházy estate on Szent György Hill. Thanks to years of hard work, the Hegymagas-based facility now includes a modern building complex and about 13 hectares of vineyards, in addition to being the home of the family. The area is shaped by 6 million years old volcanoes, where indigenous and international varieties grow organically.
Robert’s absolute admiration for nature and the terroir translates into an immense respect for the environment. By farming using organic practices, the soils and the vines stay healthy. In the winery, by letting nature take its course without controlling the processes, and using local resources, such as Hungarian oak barrels, Gilvesy promotes and protects the Balaton region.