Northern Natural Llc
M. Chapoutier
De l'Orée Ermitage Blanc Marsanne 2019
Marsanne is becoming one of my absolute favourite varieties. This wine comes from 70+ years vines with a natural low yield. Full bodied, savoury and rich. Fennel, lemon oil, pomelo, honeysuckle, beeswax, jasmine, tiger balm. The mid-palate is packed. The ending is fresh with an electric sensation that lingers on your palate for ages. Chapoutier is really a trustworthy winery for being such a major player in the Rhône. — 4 years ago
René-Jean Dard & Francois Ribo
Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2018
Yummy natural Syrah. Great nose, pepper, some light VA that integrates nicely. Inky. Delicious. — 5 years ago
Domaine du Murinais
Les Amandiers Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2017
Wines of Substance, LLC
Sy Washington State Syrah 2008
January Wednesday Wine Committees are always a great as the red wines are required to be 11yrs old, making all of the reds 2008 vintage. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine were served today, all blind.
I called this WA state Syrah. It was between that and northern Rhône...the fruit here was more prevalent and while the aromatics matched with both options, the funky, iron, stewed meat notes didn’t translate to the palate. Smoky and dark fruited. Drinking a little thin. I’d drink up if you have them. — 7 years ago
Éric Texier
Domaine de Pergaud Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban Vieille Serine Syrah 2015
As far as I know this is the same small parcel in the northern end of Ardeche as I’ve previously tasted- not the Southern Rhône as Delectable classifies it. 100% Syrah (technically Serine) from lieu dit, organically farmed and bottled with little or no sulfur depending on the vintage. Lovely wine that is a very stable and composed example of natural wine. Classic Northern Rhône aromatics of lavender, smoked meat, olive tapenade and dried herbs. Dense but never heavy. Much more supple and expansive on the 2nd night. Find the 2015, drink one now and hold at least one for the future as they do age very well. — 8 years ago
Wines of Substance, LLC
Cs Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon
Substance makes one of the best <$20 wines I’ve had in the last year. So I had expectations. Jeb Dunnuck rated this very high and I agree: a nose that reminds me of northern Rhône with a meaty flinty mineral quality complimented by violets and purple fruit. The wine has a lithe quality with dry tannins tending towards an earl grey tea in character and medium finish I wish was longer. Overall, a good wine. Is it 3x’s better than the cheaper bottle….I would say yeah…sure. 2018 vintage, Powerline vineyard. — 2 years ago
Equis
Equinoxe Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2019
Crunchy Croze « on the fruit ». Open nose, soft and fresh mouth with a nice volume typical of fairly natural wines. Beautiful, soft shades support the primary explosive notes of black, purple, iris, peppery and smoked fruits. Immediate pleasure, very greedy. Very nice wine to share as early as the aperitif.
Croze croquant sur le fruit. Nez ouvert, bouche souple et fraîche avec un beau volume typique des vins assez natures. De belles nuances réglissées, soutiennent les notes explosives primaires de fruits noirs, violette, iris, poivrées et fumées. Plaisir immédiat, très gourmand. Vin très sympa à partager dès l’apéro. — 5 years ago
Domaine des Huards (Michel Gendrier)
Le Pressoir Pinot Noir 2017
Wine from the Loire Valley, natural trend. Pinot-noir blend (dominant), and gamay. Purple color, nose full of fruits (both red and black) dominated by Pinot-noir. In the mouth, we find the fruity notes of the nose, accompanied by mineral notes typical of Loire region, bringing a salivating tension. A typical wine from the northern regions, with nuance. Cheverny rouge is truly a beautiful appellation. — 5 years ago
Domaine Barou
Cuvée Des Vernes Syrah 2018
just great Rhone natural syrah at an amazing price. the kind of wine I want to have around at all times — 7 years ago
Rogue Vine
Grand Itata Los Amigos Red Blend 2016
Clear, medium ruby
Clean, med+ notes of black pepper. Might be fooled into thinking Northern Rhone (also triggering a Susumaniello response), unidentified red fruit ontop of deep dark gnarliness.
Dry, medium acid tannin . Body is in the acid driven lean category. Weight of a Beaujolais @ 13% ABV. Red fruit and pepper. Holds its own as the black pepper in the mix of celery root, parsnips, Dittmer’s smoked turkey (oh yeah) and even kale. Cote Rotie of Chile. Rockstar.
Kick ass organic old vine and natural Cinsault (90%) wine from Chile. Could lay down 1.5 years.
NOTES: ”Located in the Guarilihue district of Chile's Itata Valley, Rogue Vines is one of the relatively recent producers to make expressive, organically farmed, minimal intervention wine. Cinsualt is abundant around these parts, and oftentimes dates back to the 1940s so they are nicely mature. *Natural Wine*” — 8 years ago
Barringwood Park
Chardonnay
12 months in barrel with natural ferment. Round but lean with nice soft acid on the finish — 9 years ago
J. V. Fleury
Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2020
Dark, glass-clinging amethyst purple with opaque black core. Initially shy but inviting nose of blackberry, echoed on the medium full plate which adds notes of licorice, dark plum, and patent leather. Juicy, medium plus acidity enhancers the fruit and, paired with medium tannins, yields a very food-friendly Syrah that's a natural for steaks, roasts, or grilled fare. Try it with black olive pizza! Drink now through 2028. — 3 years ago
Domaine Leccia
Pettale Patrimonio Nielluccio 2017
Tasted over 4 hours, this wine really needs time to deploy and give its measure. First nose close to a Syrah from the northern Rhône with notes of black fruits and smoky bacon. At the beginning of the tasting we appreciated this beautiful mineral grid that gives a beautiful conduction to the tasting... then the tannins unfold end up with a lot of breadth, coated, powerful... a wine that is apparently unfiltered, with a somewhat natural character, which gives it a magnificent texture in the mouth.
Dégusté sur 4 heures, ce vin a vraiment besoin de temps pour se déployer et donner sa mesure. Premier nez proche d’une Syrah du Rhône nord avec des notes fruits noirs et lardées fumées. En début de dégustation on a apprécié cette belle trame minérale qui donne une belle conduction à la dégustation... puis les tanins se déploient finissent avec pas mal d’ampleur, enrobés, puissants.. un vin à priori non filtré, avec un caractère un peu nature, qui lui donne une magnifique texture en bouche. — 5 years ago
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2011
Tasted blind: Youthful nose with A natural wine funk - in a good way. Iron and graphite, with secondary cranberry aromas. Firm mouthfeel, pretty fruit. cranraspberry flavor profile. Cleaner than the nose would lead you to believe, with undertones of chalk and dried herbs. Spice integrates to tannins. Persistent finish. Solid. Give this 3-5 more years in the cellar. — 6 years ago
Cascina 'Tarrjn
Vino Rosso
A very challenging but rewarding blend. A northern Italian vino Rosso with light carbonation, subtly floral notes blended with jammy, tart acidity to create a unique glass that develops as your taste buds acclimate to it. Tried the '17 and '18 vintages and found the 17 to be more wild, but both capture the essence of this strange number. One for the fans of natural/low interference wines. — 7 years ago
Domaine Jean Michel Stéphan
Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2014
Natural Côte Rôtie, some barnyard nose and alive fizzle, I want some more time with this. — 8 years ago
Tikal
Natural Mendoza Malbec
The Syrah in the blend adds some earthy, gamey, leather and spice notes to the aroma, an expression very reminiscent of the St. Joseph wines of northern Rhone. Medium to heavy body mouth feel and packed with dark cherry flavors and even some notes of haricot vert and mint. Medium long finish with the tannins balancing well with the coffee and red fruit after taste. A very polished style. — 9 years ago
Jeremy Shanker
Sommelier at RN74
Natural and delicious Hermitage Blanc! 🤯 — 2 years ago