31 / Oct / 2022

November 2022 SILVER Tier Wine Club - All Reds

November Silver Pack - Thanksgiving Reds

2019 Janin Moulin a Vent, Beaujolais, FR

This wine marks the origin of the domain. My grandfather purchased his first plots of vines in 1937, situated in the locality named Le Tremblay. Nowadays, this wine is a blend from several localities named Les Greneriers, Les Burdelines, Les Pérelles, Champs de Cour, Les Brussellions and Aux Caves.

This wine is refined and sophisticated.

The 2019 Moulin-à-Vent Les Vignes du Trembley comes from 40- to 90-year-old vines and is aged in vat for 16 months. Dark berry fruit mixed with cedar and tobacco adorn a nose that is missing a bit of finesse. The palate is balanced with quite saturated tannins, fine acidity, a smooth texture and attractive red cherry and orange zest flavors, plus a touch of allspice on the finish. Give this a year or two in bottle, because I am sure that will enhance the aromatics. Best After 2023.

90 pts Vinous

2013 Conte Vistarino Pinot Nero, Lombardia, Italy

Ottavia Giordi's great grandfather planted the first Pinot Noir vines on the Vistarino estate in 1850. In 1865, he introduced the world to sparkling wine made in the traditional method, a la Champagne. Today there are about 200 hectares of vines, 160 of them devoted to Pinot Noir. The soil here, in the heart of Oltrepo Pavese, is quite poor - which is good - and the varying temperatures, and the cool winds blowing through the valley, is an ideal place for this variety.

There are three single vineyards, or crus, that exemplify the Vistarino's Pinot Noir expressions of terroir here: Pernice, Bertone, and Tavernetto.

The Pernice cru is the oldest vineyard, and the wildest. It's the "eldest" child, but a bit more delicious than the others. Its personality is incredible. If you like the earthiness of a Tuscan, the suppleness of a red Burgundy, and the fruitiness of an Oregon Pinot Noir, you'll love this wine.

At close to ten years of age, this still shines with a nose of violet, roses, small red berries, figs, and coffee. Ripe red fruits and tart cherries and spice glide along the palate. The finish winds up with savory notes of basil and tomato leaf. It's just stellar and has to be tasted to be believed!

2019 Levo ‘22 Tango’, Paso Robles, CA

The 2019 Grenache 2 2 Tango is terrific. A blend of 76% Grenache, 15% Graciano, and the rest Syrah, sourced from multiple sites throughout the Central Coast (mostly Ballard Canyon), it has a cool, lively, incredibly elegant style to go with textbook Grenache notes of red and blue fruits, ground pepper, and herbes de Provence. It has fabulous purity of fruit, and I’m a fan. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years.

95 points, Jeb Dunnuck

2021 marks winemaker Bret Urness’ 10th vintage. He continues to craft microlots in a warehouse located in Tin City, Paso Robles, California. His aim is to keep production low so he can personally shepherd each barrel along and maintain complete quality control. Levo does not have an annual case production, as we bottle only the best barrels in the cellar. Whatever doesn’t make the cut is not included in our final blends.

2014 Sei Querce Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Six Oaks’, Sonoma, CA

The Sei Querce property in northern Alexander Valley has a long history going back to the late 1800s. 99% of their Bordeaux varieties are sold to well-known wineries like Silver Oak, Coppola, Lambert Bridge, Ridge vyds, and Fischer vyds. Only 1% is left for them to make their own wine. About ten years ago, winemaker Jesse Katz of Aperture and Devil's Proof fell in love with this site, but the owners Hal Hinkle and Lenka Davis, only agreed to sell Jesse their fruit if he agreed to make wine from them. A beautiful partnership was born.

"This is a thick, concentrated wine, stylistically full bodied but possessed of elegance and grace. Pencil shaving, dried herb, cedar and berry round out a silky midpalate of well-behaved tannin and integrated oak, with lasting structure to boot." - 90 points, Wine Enthusiast

All of the fruit on site is dedicated to organic viticulture, and is now certified sustainable, fish-friendly, and bee-friendly. Lenka Davis is fast on her way to becoming a Master Sommelier. Both Hal & Lenka are passionate about sustainable viticulture for future generations to come.

Sei Querce (Six Oaks in Italian) is tribute to the six 300 year old oak trees that adorn the property; the trunks are so old and gnarly that they make perfect climbing trees. On the label, if you look close, you can see a pair of legs in the branches.