Click the link to read about this month’s club! (Previously name the Collector’s Club)

2021 Eschenhof Holzer Invaders Muller-Thurgau

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)

Varietal: Muller-Thurgau

Winery: Eschenhof Holzer Winery

Location: Wagram, Austria

Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar for another year.

Some tidbits:

Feel like an extra treat? We live in a modern wor- ld full of apps and Internet technology. With

the Invader, we have explored the depths of Augmented Reality. What, where, how? Grab

your mobile pho- ne, download the “Taste Invasion” app and hold the camera over our neat

little label. Fun, games and good wine – we think it’s awesome! AR-App available for Android

and IOS. Search for “Taste Invasion“.

Tasting notes from the Winemaker:

Elated, fleet-footed and refreshing, virtually the ideal entry-level wine into the world of “Orange“ wines! Passion fruit fully ripened, peach, very floral and tropical aromatic, almost zesty. Sparkling fruit essence characterized by its orange wine profile. Flavors of tart stone fruits, lemon peel, and a subtle clay minerality and light spice.

Food pairings

Pair this light & refreshing wine with seafood dishes, salads, light appetizers, Asian cuisine, spicy dishes and soft cheeses.

*Great for Thanksgiving Dishes!

From Them to You!

The Eschenhof Holzer winery is located in Großriedenthal in the Wagram wine region. Here, the innovative winemaker Arnold Holzer draws on the unique wealth of nature. With a lot of creativity, an unmistakable style and a sense for enjoyable creations. The name “Eschenhof” comes from the ash trees that stand in front of the barn and the old cellar in the cellar lane. This is where the red wine is stored. Arnold was born in 1987 and took over the winery from his parents in 2010 as the 5th generation. From a young age he helped out in the winery and familiarized himself with the traditional knowledge of winemaking. Cosmopolitanism characterizes his way of shaping the future of the winery. Arnold draws on the fullness of natural wealth and uses this potential to develop his distinctive wine creations. For him, building a successful brand is the art of giving the special product its own personality.

Source:  http://www.eschenhof-holzer.at/

Domaine Franck Decrenisse ‘Mes Vielles Vignes’:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)

Varietal: Gamay

Winery: Franck Decrenisse

Location: Coteaux du Lyonnais, France

Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2026

Some tidbits:

Farming: Sustainable, hand harvested from southern facing 70 year old vines in sandy soils.

Tasting notes

Fresh and aromatic, with inviting aromas of red cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, alongside hints of violet and a touch of earthiness typical of old vines. Light to medium-bodied, featuring juicy flavors of red berries like cranberry and cherry, balanced by lively acidity and smooth tannins. There’s a subtle herbal and mineral edge that adds depth to the wine’s bright fruit character. Clean and refreshing, with lingering notes of red fruit and a slight floral hint, leaving a vibrant and well-rounded aftertaste.

Food pairings

Pair this delicious wine with charcuterie, grilled chicken, salmon, and light pasta dishes due to its refreshing acidity and fruit-forward profile.

*Great for Thanksgiving Dishes!

From Them to You!

Franck gets his passion from his father who passed on the winegrower’s trade to him. His father, who was a manager in a nursery, wanted to change his life and bought plots and developed mixed farming (fruit, vegetables, sheep). These vines at the gates of the Lyon Metropolis were recovered in the 1940s. Then they were replanted by his father in 1976.

Since 1980, Domaine Décrenisse has been cultivating vines, fruit trees and vegetables on the slopes of Mont d’Or in Chasselay, the start of the Rhône Valley on the outskirts of Lyon. The 17 hectares of vines cultivated to Terra Vitis and HVE3 standards are in AOP Coteaux du Lyonnais and Vin de France divided into 10 grape varieties. We are proud to be farmers in this magnificent territory that we must protect.

Source:  https://www.vinsdecrenisse.com/

ARGILLAE ORVIETO SUPERIORE 2021:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)

Varietal: Orvieto Blend: Grechetto, Procanico, Malvasia, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc

Winery: Argillae Winery

Location: Orvieto/Umbria/Italy

Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar through 2025

Some tidbits:

Orvieto is one of the most famous white wines in the world and the Argillae winery wanted to pay homage to the tradition of its land by creating a wine with intense aromas with floral, citrus and tropical fruit notes, with a complex and persistent flavor. A wine that amazes for its elegance, for the perfect balance between flower and fruit and for its extraordinary freshness.

Tasting notes

Ample with floral notes of yellow flowers, hints of citrus and tropical fruits. Broad palate with mineral notes supported by an interesting acidity. Excellent aromatic persistence with a refreshing finish.

Food pairings

Pair this delicious, fresh and acidic white wine with seafood, light-sauce pastas, vegetables, soft cheeses and white meat dishes.

*Great for Thanksgiving Dishes!

From Them to You!

Argillae summarizes and synthesizes the love for nature and for the land of its founder, Cavaliere del Lavoro Giuseppe Bonollo. The Argillae farm extends over the hills between Allerona and Ficulle, northwest of Orvieto, on a surface area of ​​approximately 120 hectares that wind along the Autostrada del Sole. The territory is made up of clayey-sandy soils characterised by “calanchi”, large and deep cracks in the ground resulting from erosion created by atmospheric agents approximately 2 million years ago. There are numerous fossil finds (shells, molluscs…etc), dating back to the Pliocene era when the waters occupied this entire area up to the shore of Città della Pieve.

Source: https://www.argillae.eu/index.php/it/

T2 REVELLE 2022 COLUMBIA VALLEY:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)

Varietal: Roussanne 65%, Viognier 25%, Marsanne 10%

Winery: T2 Cellars

Location: Yakima Valley, Washington

Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar through 2025

Some tidbits:

T2’s ’22 whites proudly display the Sustainable WA Certified Grapes stamp, Marsanne and Roussanne sourced from Angiolina vineyard, which has earned this recognition, along with the Lodi Rules sustainable vineyard designation. Revelle is T2’s premier white blend, greatest among equals. Rich body from barrel aging, a fine accompaniment to seafood and light summer fare. 

Tasting notes

This Rhône-inspired blend led by Roussanne, with Viognier and Marsanne adds complexity. It displays aromas and flavors of tropical fruit balanced with vibrant acidity and a smooth, elegant texture. This blend showcases fresh and juicy fruit notes, making it both refreshing and approachable.

Food pairings

Ideal pairings include seafood (like scallops or crab), herbed chicken or pork tenderloin, and vegetable dishes like roasted squash or grilled asparagus. It also pairs beautifully with soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert.

*Great for Thanksgiving Dishes!

From Them to You!

 T2 Cellar is a family-run winery in Seattle’s Sodo district. With garagiste roots in West Seattle, winemakers Anne Stevens and Todd Threlkeld make handcrafted, small-lot wines that pay respect to outstanding vineyard sources. Being a grape-to-bottle winery ensures close attention to every step of the winemaking process, so the quality of T2 wine in your glass consistently exceeds the price.

T2 also has wine clubs specific to their unique wines! Interested? Check out their website!

Source:  https://www.t2cellar.com/

HECHT & BANNIER LANGUEDOC:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)

Varietal: Syrah/Grenache/Carignan

Winery: Hecht & Bannier

Location: Languedoc, France

Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2027

Some tidbits:

In Southern France, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, extends the most ancient and the largest vineyard of our country: the Languedoc Roussillon. Whilst our vine-growers take benefit from favorably climatic conditions and remarkable sunshine weather, they have been following for quite a long time the principle of an environmental friendly viticulture. This is how our region has become a pioneer in developing cautious agriculture and organic viticulture. 

Tasting notes

Aromas of ripe blackberry, plum, and dark cherry, with herbal notes and hints of pepper and violet. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with flavors of dark fruit like black currant and blueberry, balanced by smooth tannins and fresh acidity. Subtle touches of spice, licorice, and earthiness add depth to the fruit profile. The finish is long, with lingering notes of dark fruit and a slight herbal undertone, making it elegant and satisfying.

Food pairings

This rich wine pairs well with grilled meats, white meats, Mediterranean dishes, hearty stews & aged cheeses. 

*Great for Thanksgiving Dishes!

From Them to You!

Purpose:

“To be the contemporary messenger of 2,000 years of vine and wine history around the Mediterranean that have shaped people and landscapes and to pass it on to future generations thus ensuring the continuity of this culture.” Gregory Hecht & François Bannier

Source: https://hechtbannier.com/en/

BOX HEAD SHIRAZ SWARTLAND SOUTH AFRICA 2021:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)

Varietal: Shiraz

Winery: Hentley Farm

Location: Swartland, South Africa

Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar through 2025

Some tidbits:

The richness of Shiraz in Swartland is met with mineral-driven precision and gripping tannins. The 2021 vintage in the Swartland saw cooler overall temperatures, which slowed ripening and created a steady accumulation of flavor compounds. The parcels were harvested, primarily destemmed and placed whole-berry into stainless steel fermenters.  Native yeast carried out the fermentation with routine pumpovers and after seven days on the skins, the lots were dry and then basket-pressed.  The wine then went to neutral oak for aging.  Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally and after 9 months of aging the lots were selected and blended back to tank to settle.  The wine was bottled without fining and just with a coarse filtration and addition of sulfur.

Tasting notes

Balanced and approachable now with an easy structure and moderate tannins, this Shiraz offers black cherry, fig, boysenberry and brambly fruit flavors all lifted by spicy notes of pepper and nutmeg.

Food pairings

Pair this hearty, savory shiraz with grilled meats, burgers, spicy dishes, and aged cheeses.

From Them to You!

“For 14 years, McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley lent their rich, red soils to craft a beloved Shiraz. Then, in year 15, the masterminds behind this elixir ventured to South Africa’s Swartland region, where granitic and shale soils awaited, ready to script the next chapter. Despite the change in scenery, the iconic cubic mascot still graces the label, while inside, the familiar flavors of ripe fruit, velvety texture, and robust tannins continue to captivate.” — Vine Street