JUNE SERA WINE TASTING

2019 DOMAINES LUPIER Garnacha “El Terroir”
This is yet another Old Vine wine project of Spanish grape growing and winemaking prodigy Raúl Pérez. Located in San Martin de Unx—roughly 2000 feet in elevation in Navarra. The head pruned, dry farmed Grenache bush vines were planted in 1903 in the clay limestone soils. 95 points—combining elegance, refinement, savoriness and intensity.

2022 ANZA Rioja “CDVIN”
Diego Magaña is one of Spain’s (and more specifically Rioja’s) New Age grape growing and winemaking turks. Having work with his dear friend and colleague Raúl Pérez, he too is questioning every aspect of his craft to make authentic, terroir driven, savory and more balanced wines, like his ancestors once did. This bottling is a fine example—100% Garnacha from a small 98 year old vine parcel in the Cordovin village In La Rioja Alta at 2000 feet in elevation and calcareous soils. 95 points. SO ATYPICAL of Rioja red wines, but so noteworthy. Only 119 cases produced.

2022 FAVARO Erbaluce di Caluso “Tredicimesi”
Grown in the more remote terrain—morainic clay & sand soils—of northern Piemonte closer to the Alps and therefore much cooler than let’s say Alba. The native Erbaluce grape variety, over the years, has been so illusive, at least in finding a standout. Well, here is THE one!From Camillo Favaro—his finest grapes, fermented in concrete eggs & OLD Sancerre and Burgundy barrels and aged for 13 months. (By the way, as humble and low keyed as Camillo comes across, he has co-authored THREE definitive books on the Wines & Vineyards of Burgundy).

2020 ATALIER Albariño “La Encrucijada”
a very special bottling….an absolutely riveting, completely mineral driven Spanish wunderkind white wine unicorn—single parcel—0.1 hectare parcel of pre-phylloxera, own rooted vines in the Dena nook of Rias Baixas, whole cluster pressed, wild yeast fermented in OLD French oak barrels. 56 case production.