Norm Wines Vol. 3
Our beloved pursuit for value.
By Boris · Hosted by Boris Buliga
I know, I know. I've been promising to bring some norm wine for ages - something that's both delicious and doesn't require selling a kidney for pleasure. Right, because we need to save those kidneys for Stella di Campalto, Burgundy, and some exceptional Champagne. But you know, I've had a bit of a problem finding good, everyday wines lately. Since my wife stopped drinking, my at-home wine consumption has drastically decreased, leaving less room for experimenting with wines of various price ranges. Most of the wines I discover end up at our office wine o'clock, so my personal stash isn't exactly overflowing.
But these are just excuses. They don't alleviate our shared suffering from the lack of norm wine in our lives. So today, I've curated a selection of wines (considering the weather) that I think are excellent, offer great value for money, and that I enjoy drinking solo when they're available. And since I've already inundated you with wines that are hard to find in Kyiv, I decided to choose ones that, if not this exact vintage or label, you can actually go out and buy.
Anselmo Mendes Muros Antigos Loureiro 2022
Handpicked grapes are placed into small boxes and swiftly transported to the winery in a refrigerated environment. The whole de-stemmed grapes are then pressed, followed by cold clarification for 48-72 hours. A long fermentation process ensues at low temperatures of 14-18ºC. Finally, the wine is aged for a minimum of four months on fine lees, with regular bâtonnage to enhance complexity and texture.
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Join to read it and the restGulfi Carjcanti 2020
"Carjcanti" is a pure expression of Carricante, sourced from the Vigna Campo vineyards in the Passo Guastella district of Chiaramonte Gulfi. Nestled in the Monti Iblei region within Chiaramonte Gulfi (in the Ragusa province of South-Eastern Sicily), the vines flourish in limestone-clay soils at an altitude of 420 meters. The harvest typically commences during the third week of September. The grapes are then transformed into wine via direct pressing, followed by fermentation in both stainless steel tanks and oak barrels of varying sizes (500L and 2500L).
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Join to read it and the restFazenda Agricola Augalevada Mercenario branco 2021
Mercenario Blanco is crafted by blending four grape varieties: Treixadura, Albariño, Torrontés, and Palomino. The primary source of grapes for this wine is the Manolo de Traveso vineyard, known for its clay-rich soil and granite bedrock, situated among some of the highest vineyards in the Miño River Valley. Additionally, a portion of the Treixadura grapes is sourced from the decomposed granite vineyard in the Arnoia Valley, while the Albariño grapes hail from the lower Miño area in Filgueira. Smaller vineyard parcels can also be found scattered across the three valleys: Arnoia, Avia, and Miño.
The primary fermentation starts in stainless steel with low temperatures. After fermentation, they are transferred to an equal mixture of 400-litre amphoras and 600-litre stainless steel tanks for around ten months of ageing.
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Join to read it and the restFazenda Agricola Augalevada Mercenario tinto 2021
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Join to read it and the restComm. G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga 2021
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Join to read it and the restMatassa Olla Blanc 2023
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Join to read it and the restTestalonga El Bandito I am the Ninja 2022
"I am the Ninja" is a méthode ancestrale made of Chenin Blanc from a 4 hectares vineyard on a sandstone. The average age of vines is above 60 years. Spontaneous fermentation in fibreglass tanks with indigenous yeasts. Made from grapes, isn't it? So nothing is added.
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