Winter's Harvest

2021 Tenuta Macchiarola Bizona Primitivo
Puglia, Italy

"The future of Puglia is in natural agriculture", says Tenuta Macchiarola winemaker Nico Mangione ..."there's no other way forward." 100% organic and biodynamic Primitivo from the earliest harvest of grapes in Salento. Whole cluster, brief 8 day maceration, natural fermentation in stainless steel before aging in stainless and cement. Nico calls it "Blue Wine" because of the distinct blue/violet color of the freshly run juice. Lively, light, playful, very fresh, abest served chilled. The Bizona arises from Domenico Mangione’s desire to produce a Puglian red that eschews the traditional local style of Primitivo – fresh, drinkable, and more direct, with lower alcohol and the potential to be chilled in the cooler for 10 -15 minutes; essentially something that has vin de soif written all over it. Brimming with juicy blue/blackberry fruit, menthol and pine-y freshness – it’s taut, crushable, and ready to be put back with abandon amongst family and friends.

2021 Flavia Madda Rosato 1L
Sicily, Italy

The winery Flavia Rebellious Wines is run by siblings Flavia and Giacomo Rallo and it is based in Marsala, Sicily. Flavia, the young oenologist of the well-known old Rallo family’s fourth generation interprets the values of their great grandfather, the founding father by spreading the culture of quality wine and completely devoting herself to the creation of a radically new perspective of Sicilian native wines. Direct press Nerello Mascalese from the slopes of the Etna. These wines are the first Etna wines to be bottled in 1L format. Cherries, spice, herbs and orange zest on the nose, juicy and mineral on the palate. Extraordinarily delicious and so convenient that it's in a larger format because you're gonna hate when this bottle is done.

2021 Judith Beck INK
Gols, Burgenland, Austria

INK is a rad blend of 80% Zweigelt and 20% St. Laurent, coming from organically and biodynamically farmed vines. Grapes are picked by hand, with spontaneous fermentation carried out in stainless steel tanks. Wines are aged a further 10 months in neutral casks, producing a pronounced sour cherry fruit aroma with blueberry, raspberry and damson. There's some Christmas-y spices in the foreground alongside the fruit, in addition to more pronounced flavours of cinnamon and cloves. Super juicy and fresh with soft tannins and spicy hints accenting the beautiful fruit composition in this wine.
There's some fun pairings here with homey meat pies, meaty quiches, rotisserie chicken dinners, boeuf bourginon or even fish cooked in tomato sauce.