Wine Review: Maison des Ardoisières 'Silice' IGP Blanc

Embracing Tradition in the Heart of the Alps

Maison des Ardoisieres Slice Blanc stands as a testament to the rich history and innovative spirit of winemaking in the Savoie region of France. Nestled in the breathtaking Alps, this boutique winery has rekindled the tradition of cultivating the Jacquère grape variety, which had nearly faded into obscurity. With a commitment to organic, terroir-driven winemaking, the passionate artisans at Maison des Ardoisieres have crafted Slice Blanc, a wine that beautifully combines the essence of their region's unique terroir with a contemporary touch.

Slice Blanc not only complements traditional Savoie cuisine like fondues, raclettes, and freshwater fish but also adds an elegant touch to everyday moments.

A Symphony of Alpine Elegance

Pouring a glass of Maison des Ardoisieres Slice Blanc reveals its pale, crystal-clear appearance, setting the stage for an enchanting experience. The nose unveils delicate notes of white flowers, green apple, and a distinct minerality that reflects the vineyard's alpine slate soil. On the palate, the wine's flavors harmonize, offering refreshing hints of lemon zest and ripe pear, all carried by a lively acidity. Slice Blanc not only complements traditional Savoie cuisine like fondues, raclettes, and freshwater fish but also adds an elegant touch to everyday moments. Whether you're relishing it in the heart of the Alps or incorporating it into urban life, this wine brings a touch of alpine charm to any occasion.

Slice Blanc: A Captivating Tale of Tradition and Terroir

TWL Rating: Delightful! Great for parties, gatherings, and impressing people!

★★★

Maison des Ardoisieres Slice Blanc tells a captivating story of preserving the past and embracing the future. By reviving the Jacquère grape, the winery honors the winemaking heritage of the Savoie region, while their organic approach underscores their dedication to the environment. The wine's pristine clarity and crispness echo the purity of the alpine landscape, and its balanced acidity ensures an invigorating experience. Slice Blanc is an exquisite gem from the Alps, sharing a narrative that combines tradition and modern sophistication.

The Details

Country: France

Region: Savoie

Vineyards: The vineyards of Maison des Ardoisieres are located on the steep slopes of the French Alps in the Savoie region. These vineyards are uniquely situated in a terroir characterized by slate soil, which imparts a distinctive minerality to the wines.

Varietals: Maison des Ardoisieres Slice Blanc primarily features the Jacquère grape variety. Jacquère is a white grape native to the Savoie region and is known for its ability to reflect the local terroir. It is a key component in many traditional Savoie white wines.

Winemaking: Maison des Ardoisieres is committed to organic winemaking practices. Their approach combines traditional winemaking techniques with modern innovations to produce wines that truly express their terroir. The winery's emphasis on terroir-driven winemaking includes minimal intervention, ensuring that the grapes' characteristics shine through. The winemakers employ gentle pressing and cool fermentation to preserve the delicate aromas and flavors of the Jacquère grapes. The result is a wine that embodies the pure, mineral essence of the Savoie region. While the winery practices organic viticulture, the exact winemaking methods can vary from vintage to vintage, allowing them to adapt to the unique qualities of each year's harvest.

Wine Review: Benanti Etna Bianco

A noble bianco

Benanti is a name synonymous with the Etna wine region. The winery has long been heralded as one of the wineries at the forefront of Etna’s rise as one of the finest wine regions in the world. You might say that some of the wines are indeed standard bearers for the region, something that all other wineries should measure up to, while others are recognized as some of the finest. Whatever you say about Benanti, their traditional approach to creating wines of finesse and elegance makes them a winery worth knowing and seeking out for any serious wine lover. The Benanti Etna Bianco is a wine that should be a go-to for anybody who wants to explore the delights of these volcanic white wines, or for the seasoned wine lover who cannot get enough of them either.

Pleasant and racy

There is a feint saltiness behind it as well as a hint of volcanic ash as the mind begins to imagine the grapes growing on such vicious soil, refreshed only by a gentle sea breeze. It is truly remarkable to think that something so pure can come from such a place.

Etna Biancos are incredibly fun and racy, and the Benanti Etna Bianco is no exception. The smell of lemon juice and rind as soon as you hold your nose up to the glass is delicious. The wine is lean, super fresh, and remarkably approachable. There is a feint saltiness behind it as well as a hint of volcanic ash as the mind begins to imagine the grapes growing on such vicious soil, refreshed only by a gentle sea breeze. It is truly remarkable to think that something so pure can come from such a place. The light to medium body is going to go so well with grilled fish like sea bass or even swordfish with plenty of lemon juice and capers.

To quench that craving

TWL Rating: Delightful! Great for parties, gatherings, and impressing people!

The Benanti Etna Bianco is a fantastic introduction into the world of Etna’s white wine. If you are curious about expanding your view of the finer wines in the world, then this is a must have, and something you will no doubt return to over and over again as you begin to explore the different contradas and expressions that Benanti and other wineries can offer. For the initiated, this is a wine that answers the call when you are craving one of Etna’s delightful white wines and need it on hand.

The Details

Country: Italy

Region: Etna, Sicily

Varietals: Carricante

Winemaking: hand-harvested and fermented in stainless steel tanks with Benanti’s own indigenous yeast.

Review: Fekete Pince (Fekete Winery) Somló Juhfark

From the slopes of a small hill

Hungary has an incredible wine scene and culture. Mostly known for the sweet wines of Tokaji and the spicy reds of Eger, its most underrated and exceptional wines may come from a tiny region of just over 800 hectares. There on a small hill, itself the remains of a volcano that has long since blown with fury and its last eruption, sits the region of Somló where Hungary’s most intricate and distinguished white wines are born. There you will find Juhfark, a grape that clings to the harsh terroir and brings forth a wine so distinct that it brings to question everything you know about white wine.

This is a serious wine, but none the less, it is glorious and will reward you with patience as its character begins to grow with many years in the bottle.

Fekete Pince (Fekete Winery) in Somló began life under Bela Fekete in the seventies, whose traditional methods are still used today by Gábor Reisz and his small team. Their approach remains artisanal, honest, and natural, as they look to bring the best out of the grapes and release them only when their true character begins to show. The Fekete Pince Juhfark is one such example of their careful attention to detail, and their ability to craft exceptional and notable wines that show us just how much of a treasure this combination of tiny region and rare grape is.

For the discerning modern wine enthusiast

The Fekete Pince Juhfark is a stunning and distinct white wine that is one for the most discerning modern wine enthusiast who revels in uncovering rare gems of exceptional quality. On the nose, there are hints of mint, salt, gravel, and grapefruit. Those notes carry on to the palate, accompanied by fresh herbs. The wine brings out a sense of sitting around a roaring fire, slowly roasting chickens, game fowl, or a cast iron clad stew while discussing intricate intellectual topics. This is a serious wine, but none the less, it is glorious and will reward you with patience as its character begins to grow with many years in the bottle.

The rarest of gems

TWL Rating: Glorious! Mind blowing, different, and impressive!

The seriousness of this wine is not to be discounted, and still, it remains a brilliant and delectable gem of a Hungarian white wine. Like many bottles of Juhfark this bottling from Fekete Pince might be a bit shy in its youth, but it will evolve and show its true savory character in time. We will be buying many bottles and opening them up slowly over the years just to see how they evolve.

The Details

Country: Hungary

Region: Somló

Varietals: Juhfark

Winemaking: Carefully hand harvested, the wines are fermented naturally with a few hours of skin contact, then aged in large Hungarian oak barrels.

Wine Review: Bisson “Marea” Cinque Terre

A triumph of heroic effort

Pierluigi Lugano’s Bisson wines are all a triumph of the effort it takes to make wines in Liguria. The Bisson “Marea” Cinque Terre is an example of just how rewarding these heroic efforts are in crafting a glorious bottle of wine. Rich in character, Marea is a beautiful example of just how complex and nuanced the white wines of Liguria can be, and how they should not be overlooked.

Like any great Italian wine, the Bisson Marea has this uncanny ability to transport your mind to the coasts of Liguria in an instant. The pale golden color invites you to savor its aroma of a fresh sea breeze alongside dried herbs, grass, and lemons.

Like any great Italian wine, the Bisson Marea has this uncanny ability to transport your mind to the coasts of Liguria in an instant. The blend of Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino is classic Cinque Terre. The pale golden color invites you to savor its aroma of a fresh sea breeze alongside dried herbs, grass, and lemons. The Marea has a slightly fuller body on the palate, marked by salt, lemons, and crisp green apples, with a strong and rich character.

Five stars for five lands

TWL Rating: Glorious! Mind blowing, different, and impressive!

The Bisson “Marea” Cinque Terre is a fascinating and intriguing wine. The character is rich, complex, and nuanced but remains fresh, aromatic, and romantic. A beautiful wine to have with seafood soups or pastas. Your mouth will salivate over the possibility of pairing this with langoustines, muscles, and octopus. Bisson’s “Marea” is a great wine to have on hand when you want to create a hearty seafood dinner for someone close to you.

The details

Country: Italy

Region: Liguria, Cinque Terre

Varietals: Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino

Winemaking: Traditional methods

Wine Review: Early Mountain Petit Manseng

How is this not a thing?

As with many things when it comes to Virginian wine, you are left asking yourself, “How is this not a thing?” Highest on this list of questions has got to be the question of why Virgnia Petit Manseng is not a thing. More often than not, in its native France, Petit Manseng is left until late in the year to harvest so it can be made into a sweet wine. In Virginia, dry wines made from Petit Manseng have become one of the state’s signature wines. Early Mountain Vineyard is known for producing wines that are as elegant as they are approachable, so you know immediately that this wine is going to be good!

The first sip is nothing short of magical, as the tropical notes you envision are wrapped in a rich, creamy, full-bodied white wine. This delicious Virginia Petit Manseng is daring you to change your perceptions of richer white wines…

No seriously, Petit Manseng should be a thing

The Early Mountain Petit Manseng is an amazing wine. The nose is gorgeous, with notes of pineapple and lemon giving you a hint at what you are in store for. The first sip is nothing short of magical, as the tropical notes you envision are wrapped in a rich, creamy, full-bodied white wine. This delicious Virginia Petit Manseng is daring you to change your perceptions of richer white wines and offering you so much more than the usual Chardonnay you might gravitate towards. This will take your lobster rolls, crab cakes, and rich butter basted halibut to a whole new level and makes those summer seafood cookouts a big deal with your friends and family if you are serving this wine.

Let’s make this a thing!

TWL Rating: Glorious! Mind blowing, different, and impressive!

There is just something about this wine that makes you want to share it with the world and show off this incredible find. It is a white wine that will please the pickiest wine lovers that you end up having at your house, from the Chardonnay-obsessed to the person who only ever drinks red wines. More than that, though, Petit Manseng made in this dry, rich style has everything to be considered a world class wine. It is worth a trip to Virginia to seek out this wine alone.

The Details

Country: USA

Region: Virginia

Varietals: Petit Manseng

Winemaking: Full malolactic fermentation gives the wine a rich creaminess

Wine Review: Domaine La Pepière “La Pepie” Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Stone cold

Muscadet is always interesting. It is the ultimate answer when someone is looking for a wine that is not “fruity” at all. Almost void of any fruit, Muscadet is lean, racy, and bone dry. There is a time and a place for Muscadet when you can find a great bottle.

Notes of lemon and pear hide behind a prominent saline texture. There is very little fruit but plenty of acid and saltiness. It is so incredibly lean and delightful that it really is a different experience from any other white wine.

“La Pepie” Muscadet is a wonderful and charming bottle of wine. The floral aroma opens up a little more to notes of honeydew and melons. On the palate, it is sharp, crunchy, and full of zest. Notes of lemon and pear hide behind a prominent saline texture. There is very little fruit but plenty of acid and saltiness. It is so incredibly lean and delightful that it really is a different experience from any other white wine.

The perfect oyster wine

TWL Rating: Charming! Easy, fun, delicious, great value!

“Pepie” is an old French word that means thirst, and the name is certainly appropriate here. La Pepie is a delicious, thirst quenching wine that will see you through a hot, sunny day. It is best served cold so you can enjoy how lean and vibrant this wine really is. A great wine to open up when enjoying shellfish, oysters, and shrimp cocktails.

The details

Country: France

Region: Loire Valley, Sèvre-et-Maine

Grape: Melon de Borgougne

Winemaking: Organic farming, native yeast fermentation

Wine Review: Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Blanc

Elegant white wine shows the other side of Provence

Provence can be mistaken for being all about rosé, but there is so much more to this beautiful region in southern France than pale pink wines. In fact, in Cassis, there is much more to say about the white wines from this small subregion in Provence than anything else. And much like a holiday exploring the coast of southern France from Saint Tropez to Cannes to Monaco, Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Blanc is elegant, classy, and incredibly rich.

Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Blanc - A luxurious and elegant wine for people who know what a great wine is, where the exceptional can be found, and what rich tradition truly means.

Immediately, you are struck with a floral and herbal aroma that would not be out of place in a Michelin-starred kitchen. A signature of Cassis Blanc wines is that herbal scent, coupled with a medium-to-full body and exquisite creamy texture. The tastes of lime, and a clean saline minerality will captivate your mind and have you dreaming of gastronomic masterpieces featuring fish in a creamy buttery sauce, provencal vegetables, or even a decadent veal blanquette.

Glorious

If nothing more, the Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Blanc will have you reaching for your sunglasses and wanting to jet off to sit at a café across from the beaches of Cape Town or Saint Tropez, or lounge in luxury while viewing a sunset from your home on the Hamptons or Nantucket. A luxurious and elegant wine for people who know what a great wine is, where the exceptional can be found, and what rich tradition truly means.

The details

Country: France

Region: Cassis, Provence

Varietals: Marsanne, Clairette, and Ugni Blanc (Trebianno)

Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks, organic and biodynamic vineyards.

Wine Review: Channing Daughters Tocai Friulano “Sylvanus Vineyard”

Uncovering a gem from Long Island

Uncovering a rare wine gem feels like an incredible superpower. Treading off the beaten path, being brave and trying something you just do not see too often. It makes you feel like an explorer with a glass and a thirst for adventure. The more new wines you try, the greater your ability to uncover rare wine gems becomes. And if you want to train those powers and impress your friends with your prowess, may we suggest the Tocai Friulano from Channing Daughters and their incredible Sylvanus Vineyard?

The grape itself is hardly seen outside of Italy, and not too many people are praising Long Island, New York, as a go-to wine destination…but we are! And so should you!

The Tocai Friulano from Channing Daughters is an interesting wine in every regard. The grape itself is hardly seen outside of Italy, and not too many people are praising Long Island, New York, as a go-to wine destination. But you should! Meanwhile, Friulano takes up a fair amount of a very diverse vineyard that includes Blaufrankisch, Pinot Bianco, and Sauvignon Blanc, among others. Those notes are a great starting point that could make for an interesting wine, but the wine itself needs to live up to it. You expect a wine from a region that is not one of the major players in the world to be less than, but this is not the case with Channing Daughters. The Tocai Friulano from Channing Daughters is a fleshy, medium bodied white wine with a subtle aroma but bold profile of pears and peaches. The wine is pleasantly drinkable, and a hint of Sauvignon Blanc adds a bit more tropical fruit notes to it that heighten the fun of this wine.

Delightful

TWL Rating: Delightful! Great for parties, gatherings, and impressing people!

The Channing Daughters “Sylvanus Vineyard" Tocai Friulano is a delightful wine that is perfectly suited for cool spring evenings where you crave eating outdoors in the fresh air. The switch from the hearty meals of winter to the delicate meals of spring cries out for a white wine with a bit more character and body, and this wine is perfect for just that. A great wine to have with Italian (or Italian American)-inspired pasta dishes loaded with clams, mussels, and other fish. You’ll find the people you drink this with will be pleasantly surprised when they taste it, and amazed when you share with them its origin story.

Wine Review: Trefethen Dry Riesling

Your go-to white wine

Everybody loves a good Riesling, even if they are too afraid to admit it loudly. Riesling is fun and delicious, and there is nothing wrong with gulping down glass after glass with gleeful abandon. As fun and easygoing as Riesling can be there is also great complexity and finesse that define every bottle. It is perhaps the most approachable and relaxed of all great wine grapes.

The easiest way to describe it would be an explosion of lemons and limes with a big bite of crunchy green apples.

Trefethen’s Dry Riesling is an amazing wine, and not something you would usually find in the heart of Napa Valley. Riesling used to be a thing in Napa Valley but now there are only a few wineries that still make it, and Trefethen has been making this beautiful wine for decades. They know exactly how to work with the grapes and what a good Riesling should be. The easiest way to describe it would be an explosion of lemons and limes with a big bite of crunchy green apples. It makes this wine super fun and easy to drink with flavors that captivate and excite the mind. This is everything that a good white wine should be, and it can be super fun to imagine pairing this with all sorts of dinners.

Charming!

The Trefethen Dry Riesling should be one of your go-to white wines. It is something worth having on hand for those nights where you want to add some flair and excitement to the moment, even if it is as simple as a weeknight dinner with you and your partner or a friend. Cool, crunchy, and crisp, the Trefethen Dry Riesling will not pose any great intellectual challenge to your tastebuds, but it will add a touch of class and elevate any occasion you can throw at it. Everybody needs a go-to Riesling that will never disappoint, and Trefethen has the perfect one for you!