Badenhorst ‘Secateurs’ Chenin Blanc 2022
Origin: Swartland, South Africa
Retail: $18.95 | Sale: $17.06
Owners and cousins Hein and Adi Badenhorst restored the cellar on the farm, last used in the 1930’s to make natural wines in the traditional manner. The vineyards are made up of very old, dry-farmed bush-vines, planted in the 1960s and 1970s.. The Secateurs brand ( Secateurs – a type of scissors used on plants) is an ode to the difficult hand work done in the vineyards, as the shears featured on the label are used during pruning and harvest. Fermented and settled in concrete, older casks, and big foudres. Textured, flinty, orange blossom. Chenin Blanc has a lot of structure on its own, but this wine has a tiny bit of semillon and grenache blanc added for additional richness and acidity. The aromas are flinty with honey, orange blossom and white stone fruit notes. 100% Chenin Blanc
Melanie Pfister ‘Breit’ Extra Brut 2020
Origin: Alsace, France
Retail: $36.95 | Sale: $33.26
In the early 1980s, Mélanie’s father quit using herbicides and adopted a no-till regimen. He was way out in front of his generation, but to him it was clear that this was a much healthier and natural way to farm grapes. Initially, he treated all the parcels identically, but over time and with Mélanie’s involvement he began adopting methods according to parcels. The acronym Breit comes from Hangenbriete, the name of the vineyard. The appellation rules for this wine were promulgated in 1976, and Mélanie’s father started making crémant in the early 1980s. From the first, he worked with a long aging period. Today, the Pfisters consistently make an unusually elegant, perfumed, top-end crémant. The wine rests on its lees for a minimum of twenty-four months (most French crémant, regardless of origin, ages on its lees for about nine months or so). This is a single-vintage wine without any older reserve wine, but the vintage is kept discreetly on the back label. Dosage is 3-4 grams per liter, making this an extra brut. Chardonnay with 25% Pinot Blanc and 25% Pinot Auxerrois
Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico 2021
Origin: Tuscany, Italy
Retail: $27.95 | Sale: $25.16
The Castellare property, located in Tuscany’s Castellina in Chianti, has become a virtual refuge for wildlife, including many of the birds pictured on their labels. With each vintage, the Castellare label shows a different bird, symbolizing the estate’s commitment to environmentally sound cultivation. The birds selected for the labels are among the rarest creatures in Chianti, and represent birds threatened by extinction, mostly due to synthetic chemical products and hunting, both of which are forbidden on this property. The vineyards of this 46-acre property are found in a natural amphitheater at 1200 feet elevation in the heart of the Classico region. At Castellare, the yield-per-acre is very low, far lower than the maximum level allowed by Chianti Classico DOCG rules, which enhances the concentration of aromas and flavors. A bright ruby red in color, this Chianti Classico shows well-integrated aromas of tart red cherries, tobacco, sun-baked earth, and a hint of cedar spice. On the palate the firm structure and refreshing acidity make it a very versatile food wine. 95% Sangioveto, 5% Canaiolo
GD Vajra ‘Claré J.C.’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2022
Origin: Piemonte, Italy
Retail: $24.95 | Sale: $22.46
Founded in 1972, the estate is named after Giuseppe Domenico. The family has had a presence in the region for more than 200 years, owning vineyards of their own from the 1920s. Their philosophy remains faithful to the traditional and authentic wines of Piemonte. Claré JC is a unique wine, G.D Vajra’s take on the forgotten days of Nebbiolo, when it was enjoyed in its lighter and fresher garment. The winemaking protocol follows the 1606 writings of G.B. Croce, jeweler of the House of Savoia: the wine is bottled soon after the fermentation so as to retain a gentle off-dry finish and a lovely energy. The 2022 Claré JC shows gorgeous cherry and Nebbiolo-skin tones on the nose and an elegant and rich finish with a kiss of nebbiolo tannins at the end. Perfect with charcuterie for a fall picnic. 100% Nebbiolo