Bella Vita- An Organic Tuscan Value $16

February 27, 2016 By Clive Pursehouse Leave a Comment

What started out as a surf film turned into serendipity, friendship and a bottle of organic Tuscan wine. Jason Baffa is a traveling documentary film maker, and his subject is surfing. He and surfer Chris Del Moro traveled to Italy, where Del Moro spent his childhood. The documentary Bella Vita explores surfing on the Italian coast, as well as the beauty of Italian culture. As a part of the project they met and eventually became friends and then partners with Piergiorgio Castellani, a fifth generation winemaker in Tuscany. The wine became Ziobaffa.

Filming a scene on the vineyard during harvest led to a wine project tied to the film. This inspired a wine, crafted by Castellani, with a label designed by Del Moro and named after Jason Baffa, who became nicknamed Zio (Uncle) Baffa by the local Italian surfers. The wine is organic, and it’s production and bottling hit a lot of sustainability high notes. Crafted from biodynamic vineyards in a zero waste facility, the bottle even features environmentally friendly paper, ink and a twist off, Helix, eco-cork.

2012 Ziobaffa Toscana, Organic (Tuscany, Italy) $16

The wine itself is a blend of Sangiovese with a dab of Syrah. It’s hearty, fruit forward and typically bright. Thanks Sangiovese. Aromas of earth, cut strawberry and a hint of fennel. The palate is mid-weight with berries and cola notes, there’s a slight hint of black pepper and enough structure to carry the finish.

The Ziobaffa line also features a Prosecco and Pinot Grigio.

Pairing picks: For a wine that was inspired by a love of Italian culture it seems the no-brainer here is to pair it with some great Italian offerings. I’d recommend a hearty pasta with red sauce, maybe a bolognese or puttanesca. You would also find a match in a hearty stew or roast pork dish.

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Domaine Begude Sauvignon Blanc 2013 (France) $13

January 1, 2015 By Clive Pursehouse Leave a Comment

From the Languedoc in the South of France comes a Sauvignon Blanc that hints at Sancerre. A small family owned operation in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains in Limoux that sits at 900 feet of elevation produces cool climate wines in a region known for its warmth and ripeness. Domaine Begude has been farmed organically for the past thirty years, and though it saw new ownership in 2003, the estate’s roots date to the 16th century.

Effusively aromatic, the 2013 Domaine Begude Sauv Blanc’s flinty minerality mixes with lime zest and cut grass aromas. The palate is loaded with grapefruit and kumquat and wet stone. The bright acidity zips along as this wine courses with a palate zinging vibrancy.

Pairing Picks: Spicy food and seafood are a natural pairing for a wine with this great acidity and brightness. But this wine begs for oysters, crab cakes and grilled shrimp.

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Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris 2012 (Alsace, France) $20

December 7, 2014 By Stacy Slinkard Leave a Comment

When you want to really understand the Pinot Gris grape (aka “Pinot Grigio” in Italy – same grape different name and often leaner style), then you’ve got to meet it under the French take. Alsace is home to some of the world’s best Pinot Gris, showing how the grape digs deep and expresses the terroir of the region in vivid palate colors. Ranging from $18-24, I’ve seen it consistently at $20 a bottle and with a little online footwork, you should be able to snag it under $20 easy. A great wine to bust out of the routine wine ruts we can find ourselves in, this Pinot Gris carries the wine conversation to a new level by introducing a lesser known grape from a small (but important!) region of northeast France.

Domaine Zind Humbrecht 2012 Pinot Gris makes a marvelous meet and greet when it comes to Alsatian Pinot Gris. This ambitious ambassador is eager to impress with all kinds of apple-driven overtones and some nutty nuances on the nose. The marked minerality is two dimensional – gracing the aromas and coming full circle on the palate profile. With a little time in the glass, rich dense peach and tropical fruit components give way to a creamy textures, a rich round mouthfeel (thanks to natural malolactic fermentation and extended time on the lees). The finish is deliciously dry with considerable endurance.

Pairing Picks: This Pinot Gris rocks with everything from herbed-stuffed poultry picks to Fettuccine Alfredo and simple shellfish appetizers. Fun to note that Domaine Zind Humbrecht uses certified organic and biodynamic fruit from some of their best vineyards to craft this particular Alsatian Pinot Gris.

*Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample for possible review.

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