Club Little House - December

Les Tetes – “Tete Nat” Rosé Sparkling (2015) 

  • Grape Variety(s): Gamay/Grolleau
  • Style: Petillant Naturel Rosé (Natural Sparkling)
  • Region: Tourraine, Loire Valley, France
  • Winemaker: Les Tetes Collective
  • Soil: Clay/Limestone
  • Age of Vines: 25 yrs

We introduced you all to the red a few months back. As a reminder, this is a little project started by 4 people in Azay-le-Rideau, which is in Tourraine within the Loire Valley of France. This is a cool little appellation that’s having something of a renaissance mostly thanks to Quintin Bourse, the guy from Sot de l’Ange. Anyway, now there is more than one winery available from A-L-R, which is cool. This is a partnership between a handful of different winemakers that have primary wine projects but are doing this on the side to be able to make something at a really competitive price and move a bit of volume. The wines are really well made.
This wine is made from a blend of Gamay and Grolleau from a tiny parcel with low yields. This is one of their best wines in my opinion. The wine is made in a natural sparkling method, also called Petililant Naturel or Methode Ancestral. This was the original way to make sparkling wine, catching the wine before fermentation is over and allowing it to finish in the bottle, thus creating CO2.
We thought this would be delicious enjoyed over the holidays. Honestly, it pairs with everything. 

Tenuta Dei Fossi – Nero d’Avola (2012)

  • Winemaker: Paternó Sisters
  • Soil: Limestone Clay and Limestone
  • Age of Vines: 25 yrs
  • Grape Variety(s): Nero d’Avola
  • Style: Dry Red
  • Region: Noto, Sicily

Cantina Marilina is an organic wine-making company in the South East of Sicily, Noto. Founded in 2001, it is now run by the Paternó family: the two sisters Marilina and Federica, whose philosophy is based on an absolute respect for the land. Mediterranean climate with a fortunate geographical location and calcareous soils are factors that enhance the quality of the grapes, along with a philosophy oriented reinterpretation of the traditional production methods: historic vineyards, concrete tanks, wilting in the sun.

The winery can be found in the surrounding area of Noto, a city which, included in the world heritage list UNESCO, is a beating hub for history and culture. Immersed between natural gems of South Eastern Sicily, the faunistic oasis of Vendicari, Marzamemi, Portopalo di Capo Passero and Isola delle Correnti, the zone falls under two denominations of origin: DOC Noto and DOC Eloro. This allows for the production of absolutely unique wines which boast strong characteristics of the area. The Sikelé Nero d’Avola is made is fermented and aged in cement tanks, maintain a freshness in the wine, despite the age (2012). One of the best values in our portfolio of wines, we think this would best pair with beef over the winter.

Megan MorrisComment