2023 Bainbridge 50:50

2023 Bainbridge 50:50British expat Toby Bainbridge & his wife Julie live in Anjou, right at the epicenter of the natural winemaking supernova that is Frances Loire Valley. There they lovingly transform small plots of Cabernet Franc and the lesser known Grolleau into this absolute freak of guzzlability. Bottled with a touch of CO2, its refreshing, juicy, and loves a light a chill. Sort of like squeezing an earthy, red pepper dusted boysenberry right off the vine into your

This isn’t the sweet cider you grew up with

citrus-driven acid and elastic tension from the windswept slopes of Whistling Ridge

smoked meat

and Luis) have brought us a one liter bottle made up of not one

And its added bit of dosage (that kiss of sweetness you taste) to cut its tart

directly pressed for cold fermentation and organic vineyard practices - AKA how we wish most of the sparkling wines we drank were crafted

Cantina Giuseppe Mascarello is like stepping into a living piece of history

Sorry -- that’s the sound of laser beams shooting out of an open bottle of Sete Cepas Albariño

that could easily be priced at $20 - $50 dollars more that it is

he also found that careful (in his case regenerative) farming is key to preserving the diversity that lends to healthy and lasting ecosystems

Walter Scott’s winemaking efforts here absolutely live up to the iconic status of the vineyard itself

more approachable baby Barbaresco