Grape First

The wine is made with a focus on expressing the fruit and fruit tannins from grapes including the skins and stalks.
It’s all about what’s in the glass being an exceptional expression of the grapes as crafted by the winemaker.
It considers use of non-grape derrived components where they adds an additional subservient layer to the wine, helping complete, and compliment

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More bloody wine jargon and this time I made it up!

I’ve been using the phrase ‘Grape First’ and kind of like it.

What does it mean?

The wine is made with a focus on expressing the fruit and fruit tannins from grapes including the skins and stalks.

‘Grape First’  is not a synonym for natural or minimal intervention and does not require a wine be either. It’s all about what’s in the glass being an exceptional expression of the grapes as crafted by the winemaker if the wine happens to be a natural or minimal intervention wine then it is a coincidence.

It requires a wine to show freshness appropriate for its age and not be dominated by jammy overripe fruit.

How does oak use fit in?

The word ‘First’ is the clue here. Grapes are first. Other elements second. Use of oak or any other non-grape derived component fits in a ‘Grape First’ wine including new oak where it adds an additional subservient layer to the wine, helping complete, and compliment the wine. From oak with could contribute to the tannin profile without showing excessive or overt oak tannin or flavour, it should subtly add to the aroma and flavour profile.

What about other things you can add?

Sulphur, acid, fining agents are all good here. Just like oak their use should enhance and not dominate the wine.

 

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Vincent Dancer Beaune ‘1er Les Montrevenots’ 2020

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This vineyard sits high on the edge of Pommard above Clos des Mouches. It’s a south-facing, cool, rocky slope and Dancer’s parcel was planted in 1996. The white clay and rocky soils here brings this red more lift and structure. It's well worth exploring Vincent's website, a photo blog, that captures the life of a vigneron.
$235
$230ea in any 3+
$225ea in any 6+
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$221
$211ea in any 3+
$201ea in any 6+
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Giuseppe Cortese Langhe Nebbiolo MAGNUM 2021

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$135
$130ea in any 3+
$125ea in any 6+
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It hard to talk about Nuits-Saint-Georges without talking about Henri Gouges. For near a century the Domaine has quietly been working away to expand their holding and continually improve their wines. "A more deeply pitched and brooding nose only grudgingly reveals its aromas of cassis plum liqueur and pungent earth where the latter is also found on the vibrant and well-detailed big-bodied and tautly muscular flavors that deliver excellent depth and persistence. This is not as dense as the bes
$265
$255ea in any 3+
$245ea in any 6+
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