Club Little House - August
Il Casolare Bianco –Fattoria San Lorenzo (2015)
Grape Variety(s): Verdicchio
Style: Dry White
Region: Marche, Italy
Winemaker: Natalino Crognaletti Soil: Sand and Clay
Age of Vines: 25 yrs
Fattoria San Lorenzo is a family operation dedicated to the production of organic and biodynamic wines in the farm that Natalino Crognaletti inherited from his father Gino, whom in his turn had inherited it from his father Enrico. Enrico was also a master cooper, and Gino spent his life selecting old clones of Verdicchio from ancient vineyards called alberate.
Natalino, together with his mother, Vera Biondini, manages the vineyards
which are situated in Montecarotto where Natalino was born and raised,
and in the nearby communes Ostra, Ostra Venere, and Corinaldo. Natalino lives on the estate with his wife, son, mother and the numerous farm animals for which he names his wines!
All the vineyards are organically and biodynamically farmed, and all the agricultural operations are made by human hand in order to preserve the plants, the soil, and the environment. Natalino is also in charge of the soil management and the winemaking operations.
Il Casolare Bianco is one of 5 of Natalino’s interpretations of the Verdicchio grape. Fermented and aged in concrete tanks, it’s a the perfect ‘apertivo’ wine served just under room temperature (not too cold). Cheers!
Bourgogne Vezelay Rouge – Les Faverelles (2014)
Grape Variety(s): Pinot Noir, Cesar
Style: Dry Red
Region: Vezelay, Burgundy, France
Winemaker: Patrick Bringer Soil: Clay / Limestone
Age of Vines: 25 yrs
Formerly a bookseller in Paris for 20 years, Patrick and his wife now live in the north Burgundian village of Asquins where she is also the mayor. They farm 6 hectares (15 acres) of vines in the Vezelay appellation, an even split of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a small amount of the ancient grape Cesar for blending. Not only do they work organically, but Asquins is also certified organic, which means no chemicals or pesticides are allowed in the village at all.
Patricks is very committed to Biodynamic viticulture, and they are also recently Ecocert certified. Grapes are handpicked, fermented on indigenous yeasts and are not chapitalized or filtered and aged 9-12 months in old oak. The cool climate of the region means that even in warmer vintages like 2009 the Bringer’s still make wines that are merely 12.5% in alcohol, retaining all freshness and delicacy.
The elegant “Rouge” is mainly Pinot Noir (the chief grape of Burgundy), with a bit of the native Cesar grape blended in. Aged in neutral barrel, this light bodied red Burgundy offers wonderful balance of fruit and acidity and drinks wonderfully now and will also mellow out beautifully with a few years.