Sfera Maceration 2021
Cantine Polvanera; Puglia, ITA; Verdeca, 100%; 12% ABV. Characteristics: Pure marigold orange. Cloudy. Tropic fruit, herbs, and spice. Long aftertaste, dry touch. Personality: Warm and loving, a lot of style, bold self-esteem, yet dreamy and with a lot of charm. Some wit, too. Makes us think of a friend, Juan Felipe Machista. Further reading: The grapes are harvested by hand, 2 days of skin contact (maceration). Matured on neutral tanks (steel), spontaneously fermented (the yeast from the grapes and the air), unfiltered. A touch of sulphites. Labelled with a pale green graphic wonder. From ecological vineyards where the soil contains a lot of clay. Context: Cantina Polvanera (winehouse) focus on natural wines – old school – celebrating unique grapes and their site-specificity. This gem is made available through distributor Sfera who cooperate with ecological and biodynamical farmers all over Europe. All their bottles are 1L, never exceeding 12.5% ABV.
L’Orangeade 2020
Opi d’Aqui; Various, FRA; Grenache Blanc, 100%; 12% ABV. Characteristics: Pale orange. Fresh nose; loads of orange peel, as well as tropical fruit (apricot?), some herbs. What do you think? Personality: Elegant, structured, always well dressed (makes us wonder about the ‘below’, the hidden craziness), turns out: despite the attitude, this one is never boring. Further reading: Grenache Blanc from several vineyards and various climates. Soil: Clay and Limestone. The juice is slowly extracted, macerated for about 15 days, before filled on old oak barrels and left in peace for up to 6 months. Behind the production is Phillipe Formenti, for years an oenologist (a specialist in farming, harvesting, cultivation, in general: the making of wine).
A table! 2020
F. Blanchard; Loire, FRA; Sauvignon Blanc, 100%; 14% ABV. Characteristics: Deep amber. Very floral, even tropical (apricot, peach, oranges), and despite its abundance, it is not sweet and keeps a delicate bitterness. Minerals, indeed. (Is this both dry’n dusty and a space travel?) Personality: This one is firm. Fun. Generous and bold. Stylish creature. Deep, slightly complicated (in a good sense). Always well dressed. We call it ‘Anne’. Further reading: Fifty years old vines, soil of clay and silex (flintstone) in French landscape of Loire. The grapes have been harvested by hand! One month maceration (contact with the skin of the grapes) and spontaneously fermented, before gently squeezed and matured on oak for one year.
7 / Sept Obeideh 2021
Sept; Obeideh, LEB; Obaideh/Obeidi, 100%; 12.5% ABV. Characteristics: Light straw yellow. Young, full of minerals, smooth, very fresh. Rumours says it tastes white flowers and tea. Jasmine? Honeysuckle (Caprifolia) at night? Hints of herbs, almonds, oranges, or honey? Try yourself. Personality: Elegant and discrete, they say. But beneath …! Imagine it a bridge to never-ending conversations. A richer pallete. An alter. Characteristics: Light straw yellow. Young, full of minerals, smooth, very fresh. Rumours says it tastes white flowers and tea. Jasmine? Honeysuckle (Caprifolia) at night? Hints of herbs, almonds, oranges, or honey? Try yourself. Personality: Elegant and discrete, they say. But beneath …! Imagine it a bridge to never-ending conversations. A richer pallet. An altar. Further reading: From about fifty years old vines. Grown on soils of clay and limestone in North Lebanon. Altitude touching 1,000 metres! An indigenous grape varieties and yeast. Biodynamical. A rear one.
