Spring 2023 Tasting Notes
Sauro Maule “Sgass” 2021
Tasting Notes
First “pop” of spring (a palate cleanser).
Superbloom, flowers, poofy clouds, saline, marjoram, first of the season, citrus sorbet, palate cleanser, atmospheric, all-day.
Good to Know
GrapeGraganega, Durella
RegionVeneto, Italy
WineryIl Cavallino di Sauro Maule
SoilVolcanic
Vintage2021
FermentationPétillant Naturel
Winemaker Profile
Sauro Maule’s approach to wine is founded in his rich agricultural background. After taking over his family’s farm in 2010, Sauro set out to transition the family business from raising cattle to grape cultivation and vinification. Our second release from Sauro, he is a master at pairing a deep-rooted agrarian understanding with a level of execution that makes his wines sing with energy and expression.
Joan Rubio "Ancestral" 2020
Tasting Notes
Hot sun after a cool dip.
Dry lemon, orchard fruit, charcoal, chalk, secret garden herbs, wildflower, honey, marzipan, April showers, gravel driveway.
Good to Know
GrapeXarelo
RegionAlt Penedès, Spain
WineryCal Tiques aka Joan Rubio
SoilCalcareous
Vintage2020
FermentationSpontaneous and ancestral
Winemaker Profile
Joan Rubio, formerly the land steward and winemaker of famed cava house Recaredo, has become one of the leaders of biodynamic viticulture in Spain. After converting Recaredo’s 50ha Domaine over to bio-dynamic practices, Joan set off on his own, back to his roots, to pursue making wine from his family’s vines. Joan’s wines are captivating and some of the most elegant wine from Catalunya; pulsating and precise. All the wines are macerated and obtained from free run juice, without pressing, and slowly and attentively vinified using a variety of vessels, stainless steel, 4–5-year-old oak, demi-muds, and tinajas (amphora) of both white and red clay.
Joan Rubio “Essencial” 2020
Tasting Notes
Dim the lights.
Buzzy, glowing, beehive, Edison bulbs, bad behavior, saline, crisp, pear, orange pith, nutty, chamomile.
Good to Know
GrapeXarelo
RegionAlt Penedès, Spain
WineryCal Tiques aka Joan Rubio
SoilCalcareous
Vintage2020
FermentationSpontaneous, 7 weeks on skins in amphora
Winemaker Profile
Joan Rubio, formerly the land steward and winemaker of famed cava house Recaredo, has become one of the leaders of biodynamic viticulture in Spain. After converting Recaredo’s 50ha Domaine over to bio-dynamic practices, Joan set off on his own, back to his roots, to pursue making wine from his family’s vines. Joan’s wines are captivating and some of the most elegant wine from Catalunya; pulsating and precise. All the wines are macerated and obtained from free run juice, without pressing, and slowly and attentively vinified using a variety of vessels, stainless steel, 4–5-year-old oak, demi-muds, and tinajas (amphora) of both white and red clay.
Domaine Cotzé “Transhumància” Rouge 2021
Tasting Notes
Rolling pin & red fruit.
Raspberry, rhubarb pie, ocean spray, mild bramble, Ferrari red, baking soda, raw flour, alpine herbs.
Good to Know
GrapeGrenache, Carignan
RegionAlt Pyrennes, France
WineryDomaine Cotzé
SoilSchist
Vintage2021
FermentationSpontaneous, two-day maceration, whole cluster.
Winemaker Profile
Wilfried Garcia and his Domaine Cotzé is located in the French Pyrenees at an altitude of 1340 meters. Having recently moved from Roussillon, where he has historically bought his grapes (including for this vintage), Wilfried has taken on the ambitious project of trying to grow Grenache, Carignan, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Savagnin and Chardonnay. The name Transhumància comes from “transhumance,” which means the seasonal moving of livestock, from one place to another. Wilfried sees this name as a reference to his own ambitious journey, moving his wines to new heights.
La Casaccia “Pogetto” 2020
Tasting Notes
When the maître d’finally knows your name.
Elegant, ruby red, warm, floral, dusty, and juicy.
Good to Know
GrapeGrignolino
RegionMonferrato, Piedmonte, Italy
WineryLa Casaccia
SoilLimestone, Calcareous
Vintage2020
FermentationSpontaneous, vinification in stainless steel
Winemaker Profile
Patchworked throughout a Piedmontese countryside buzzing with raw biodiversity, the vineyards of La Casaccia reflect the soul of the region— resulting in elegant wines which exhibit a humble but complex expression of traditional wine making.
Clos Fornelli “La robe d’Ange” 2021
Tasting Notes
We could go out, or you could come over.
Hibiscus tea, sourdough starter, embroidered tablecloth, pickled fruit, slithery umami, floral, elegant, wild, stew-y tomato, dark fruit.
Good to Know
GrapeSciaccarellu
RegionCorsica, France
WineryClos Fornelli
SoilGranite
Vintage2021
FermentationSpontaneous, partially de-stemmed in cement tanks
Winemaker Profile
Clos Fornelli aka Josée Vanucci and her husband, Fabrice Couloumère, farm certified organic vineyards on the eastern side of Corsica, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Using nature as their guide, they aim to achieve an ultimate expression of terroir, reflecting the terraced vineyards above the Bravone River. Josée’s wines are soulful and spiritual and provide a beautiful expression of time and place.