Queer wine on the occasion

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Milan Nastarec, ‘Masarati Octopussy 2023’; Pinot Grigio; Czech Republic; 10.0% ABV

Deep peachy orange bubbles. Very fizzy. They say: Flowers and ripe red berries, juicy and fresh. We say: papaya and tropical nose. Small bubbles on the tongue. Dry after taste that balance the nose very well. Painted label, too. — Young and vital, experimental, ready for a party, and/or lying in the sun, on the rocks, by salt water. Summer and skin. (The favourite of tonight?!)

Krásná Hora, ‘Pink 2022’; Pinot Noir; 11.5% ABV

Rosé. They say: Red berries and flowers. Full-bodied with good length. We say: Pinky orange. Orange and peachy nose. Grass, floral, rather acidic and dry in the mouth, yet loads of apricots, too, all rounding off in heavy silk and vanilla feel in the after taste. Fun facts: Made with whole bunches, spontaneously fermented, then half on cask and half on steel. Unfiltered. — An ambivalent one; the one showing up unexpected, may do a sudden turn; leave the party early, or stay till the end? Who knows. So far, so good. But be careful.

Ziniel x Peltzer, ‘Good Intentions II’ (2023), Merlot; Burgenland, Austria; 13% ABV

Red. Two wine makers meet again: Andreas Z. and Niklas P. Merlot from flat and windy topography; sand, loam, and gravel below. Organic. But ho does it *feel*?! We think ripe and dark red grapes. Minerals and earthy, dryness. Yet juicy. A red one that is rather concentrated, but fitting a summer night after the sweater is on. — Perhaps that is exactly how it feels; the comporting and warm meeting right before you were thinking about leaving, but quickly changed your mind, wanting to get deeper into the conversation you were so lucky to be invited to, surprisingly, that made you stay a couple of hours longer (and planning a new meeting already the next day.)