December Hi Dez Wine Club!
MATIC WINES
2020 Sipon Furmint, Štajerska, Slovenia
Slovenia, Slovakia. The two European nations have been plagued by confusion about their identities ever since their creation in the 90s, with each other's flags often appearing at international ceremonies. But the two countries aren't even neighbors! This native Slovenian grape shows lean white fruit and citrus balanced with crisp minerals and a burst of acidity that will make your mouth water.
SONSHINE VINS
2020 Hasta la Vista Pet Nat, Alsace, France
In line with the geographic confusion about the region above, Alsace has had a similarly interesting relationship with two neighboring countries: France and Germany. Sure, there were once German Alsatian wines, but today we're enjoying a bottle that boasts French lineage. This beautiful mineral-driven pet nat is named after the winemaker's dog, who is just as easy to love as this wine is.
RIDING MONKEY
2021 Sinsault Nouveau, Alisos Canyon AVA
When Riding Monkey teamed up with Baire Wines for this Sinsault Nouveau collab, we had to grab it. This organically farmed Cinsault was hand-harvested on October 7th and then went through 100% whole cluster carbonic fermentation on to brief aging. In the end, only 24 cases were made. As we say adieu to 2021, this bottle will help spark some of the sweeter memories from a year that proved to be full of the unexpected.
PORTA DEL VENTO
2020 Voria Sparkling Rosso, France
This Biodynamic Perricone is hand harvested into small boxes in the early morning fog along unforgiving yet STUNNING Sicilian slopes. You'll find delicate floral and citrus notes on the nose, like peeling into a tangy early season blood orange. There's a minerality that anchors and lingers adding complexity and dimension. A perfect start to any holiday gathering and a nice pair to a cheese plate or a baked brie.
OLD WORLD WINERY
2020 Rise, Sonoma, CA
This Riesling was stomped 100% whole cluster and allowed to soak for 48 hours on the skins. After 9 months in neutral oak, the juice hit the bottles. The label Artwork for this bottle is by Tonu and Koa, traditional Polynesian Indigenous woodcarving artists. It is a block print of the embrace of the Phoenix and the Whale, of which there is a totem type Red Cedar Tree carving located at the winery.
MERAB EDIBERIDZE
2020 Krakhuna, Georgia
Merab Ediberidze is a garage winemaker in the village of Sviri in the Imereti wine region working with just over an acre of Krakhuna and Tsistka vines making about 2,000 bottles a year completely naturally, just like his family has for generations. This is his 100% Krakhuna made in Qvevri with 6 months of skin contact. This bottle holds beautiful depth of fruit with medium tannins and classic Georgian depth and complexity.
SIFER WINES
2020 Trepitja Fort, Catalonia, Spain
This is a stunning sparkling rosé made from 100% Grenache Noir grapes. Uncertified, but still farmed with organic and biodynamic methods that honor the land and the vines. It's light and bright but still shows up to party. A bit of stewed fruit on the nose, persistent bubbles and a clean finish. We'd keep this one in the fridge on standby, you'll meet the perfect opportunity to pop this one before the year's end.
DILETTANTE
2019 Sparkling Chardonnay, Sonoma, CA
When you think of dashing through the show in a one-horse sleigh, that's how you feel when you open this organic sparkling Chardonnay. Most of us won't see any significant show this season, so we wanted to bring you a tantalizing tease that, much like snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes, will tickle your senses and put a silly lil smile on your faces :) Cheers!