This week at the SAQ #4

We can easily imagine the awkwardness when, wanting to impress friends predisposed to adventure, you suggest this biodynamic wine with a name that triggers woke alarm bells...

"Peau Rouge" (Red Skin) for this Sylvaner, referring here to the colored skin of part of the blend, the other part coming from white grapes with skins less sensitive to contemporary moods... The Josmeyer estate, under the management of Céline and Isabelle Meyer and very well represented by Symbiose in our territory, offers you this extraordinary wine.

With 90 plots spread over 24.4 hectares near Colmar, the two sisters have been working for 24 years in organic and biodynamic viticulture. The approach is therefore far from approximate and is based on knowledge and constant exchange with the soil, the sky, and people.

The result is a complex Sylvaner due to its terroir of ferrous marl (Rotenberg) and alluvium, but also thanks to its long aging on lees until spring. A blend of the taut and vegetal white Sylvaner with the flesh and spices of the red Sylvaner, this confidential cuvée will remind you of the beautiful season with its floral aromas and ripe pear, and a frank, mineral, and very long palate. A super, well-balanced wine that will serve as an initiation to biodynamics for those who are still hesitant.

• · To pair with it: Pork terrine with prunes or rillettes,
• · A bit of trivia: Josmeyer comes from the contraction of Joseph (the ladies' grandfather) and the surname Meyer (very common in Alsace) in order to stand out from the wine crowd,
• · To better understand Alsatian grape varieties: There are still spots for our varietal happy hour on Riesling.
• · To compare: If you enjoy the house style, you can continue exploring with their range in stores, including the Pinot Blanc 'La mise du printemps' 2022 available at the SAQ (12604063)

Ah, Abruzzo, so close to Rome and so far from God, as Baudelaire might have said... And what to say about this poor Pecorino that has always existed in the shadow of its cheesy namesake...

Practically disappeared after the Second World War due to its stingy yields, Pecorino experienced a renaissance in the 80s and 90s, both in Le Marche and Abruzzo, thanks to the qualitative push of certain houses and also the evolution of modern vinification allowing for better control of ripeness. It is currently very trendy, but here we seek and find the original, which puts forward classic aromas of sage, green melon, and white flowers. The palate is full yet fresh and ideally supported by a certain salinity.

The Pesolillo estate and its 12 organic hectares of Montepulciano and Pecorino is perfectly situated near Chieti to produce this grape variety, which thrives on sloping, well-exposed vineyards with a view of the Adriatic.

• · To pair with it: A whole trout cooked on the BBQ in foil with lemon, sage, and thyme,
• · A bit of trivia: The grape variety reportedly takes its name from the affection that grazing sheep ("pecora") had for the sweet berries of this vine.
• · To better understand Italian grape varieties: Be notified of our next tasting on the subject by signing up for our mailing list.
• · To compare: If you enjoy Abruzzo Pecorino, your adventure can truly continue with some excellent value-for-money options at the SAQ, including this Pecorino Terre di Chieti 2022, Auramadre (15178611)

Lovers of Tuscan wines who aren't fans of "Parkerized" reds will be delighted by this Sangiovese from the Maremma region. Poggio al Lupo (Wolf Hill) features 35 hectares of vines cradled by the Mediterranean in the purest Tuscan tradition.

It was in 1999 that Antonio Moretti (Sette Ponti in Chianti and Podere Orma in Bolgheri) bought the estate. Assisted by Carlo Ferrini, they produce technically successful wines that will please those who enjoy textured and expressive wines.

At 14% alcohol, one might fear excess, but that is not the case with this Morellino, which is only stainless steel-aged, and whose tannins are so flattering and enveloping that they will make you rethink your perception of Italy's most planted grape variety.

A guilty pleasure to be drunk without pretense and, above all, without intellectualizing the experience. Serve it slightly chilled for even more thrills!

• · To pair with it: A classic lasagna without too much fuss,
• · A bit of trivia: Antonio Moretti, the man behind the project, is also known for his legal troubles with the Italian tax authorities that led to his incarceration in 2018...
• · To better understand Italian grape varieties: A book (in English) by Ian D'Agata on the subject.
• · To compare: If the Morellino style speaks to you, you will probably want to compare the Poggio al Lupo to our Terenzi available in our boutique.