Kai Wright

9.0

Medellin isn’t a wine town, but a nice selection at Justo in Poblado. Funky verdejo with tropical fruit, lemon zest, and kernel is a nice respite from the valley sun — 5 years ago

with Jedd

Lindsey King

9.0

Upfront, powerful, high-pitched red and dark fruit. Black pepper and sweet balsamic and kindof a umami thing. The vigneron James Erskine is part of a group of winemakers in McLaren Vale who consider themselves more like a jazz band called "Natural Selection Theory". Whole cluster funky dudes who sound like endearing Dads hanging out in the garage. — 7 years ago

Melissa Kawecki

9.5

Somm friend said it was bonkers good and that all her natural-wine friends were head-over-heels for this selection. Really juicy red fruit, almost effervescent. Def tastes like a natural wine--maybe some carbonic.
All the good things! — 8 years ago

with Brandon

Emilie Dishongh

9.1

Was ready to judge, but am won over by its charms. Wild blackberries right off the bush, a dried herbal, tobacco note, powdery blood orange, and a background of funky Basque cider. Hint of natural wine fizz numbs the tongue after a wash of twangy acid. Glou glou glou. 2014 — 9 years ago

Craig Williams

9.2

This is my first Valentini but by no means my last. Honeyed, oxidative, earthy and saline aromas develop as the wine unfolds over an hour. Mystery shrouds the production techniques but one thing is clear: fruit selection is rigorous as is the winemaking. Described as a "natural" wine, the color is straw gold and the flavors quite fresh with good acidity and a textured non-bitter finish . Known as Ugni Blsnc in France, this wine is a testament to focused viticulture. Lovely. — 10 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.5

2012 badia a coltibuobo estate chianti classico. Extremely pretty. "We've identified 170 grape varieties in the old chianti blends. " if you ever get a chance you hang with Roberto do it! Conversation topics he's enlightening on include biodynamic farming, sangiovese clonal selection history, chianti subzone terrior, the Milan concert seen of the early 70's, the velvet underground, hitchhiking the American west safely and efficiently, Fela Kuti, southern Oregon communes, biodiversity in vineyards, macro economic theory and sangiovese as a soil amplifier. Roberto speaks softly and carries a massive wit. #greatpeopleofwine — 10 years ago

Erin Pooley

Owner/Winemaker Good Luck Wines

10

Dandy in the Clos. All love. Love love love. — 11 years ago

Dirk Pettigrew (Pirate)

Sales Pirate Cru Wines

9.7

My favourite wine of all time. Thinking of you Sam. — 12 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright straw gold. Yellow apples and underripe pineapple in the nose. Medium body and the aforementioned fruit plus some brown stone on the palate. Medium plus acidity and a medium finish. Probably the best dry Riesling out there right now, and it’s not from Germany (though it *is* the Germanic part of Italy)! A natural with fish and other seafood, poultry, pork, or light to medium vegetarian dishes. Drink now through 2023. — 5 years ago

with Jay

Derrick Barker

9.7

Delicious, full bodied, sweet notes of berries and a natural vanilla follow up with cherries. — 8 years ago

Stephen Piazza

8.9

Bold, smooth. Strong and fragrant — 8 years ago

S Butterfield

Sommelier Flask Fine Wines

8.9

Shepard's Pie wine. Bright acid typical of Minervois. Cherry fruit, tart and prickly. Crushed pepper, black. There is this earthy rubbery thing that dissipates over time. Not dirty biodynamie. — 9 years ago

See Taleggio

9.2

40 Maltby St really nail the natural wine selection, this on has a bold beeswax nose with everything I love about natural whites- texture, body, complex high notes and lingering finish. — 10 years ago

with Erika

Giulia Pasciuto

8.9

Really nice complex rose, meatier mouth feel. — 10 years ago

Joergen Nyholm

9.2

Vintage 2003.
Nice rounded and velvety but not opulent at all...
A natural deposit has revealed itself over time. Served with a piece of deer with creamy potatoes and fried field mushrooms... — 10 years ago

Miodrag Bukvic

10

Top-quality wine of dark red colour, full-bodied and extractive. It has stronger but harmonious tannin flavour with forest fruit note. The concentration of proanthocyanidins, the natural grape ingredients that can neutralise free radicals and have beneficial effect on human health, has been increased by a special technological procedure. Vranac Pro Corde has a pharmacological value if consumed regularly in reasonable quantities, as part of a meal. Made of Vranac, Montenegrin autochthonous grapevine variety. — 12 years ago

David Kline

9.5

Greatest single grain I’ve personally sampled. Rich texture, glowing nose of complex citrus, brown sugar, bay and rosemary, lemon peel, and sweet tobacco. Unctuous mouthfeel over-delivers the purest scotch imaginable. Smooth with heat returning spasmically. Sherry in full effect, and depth of whiskey paramount. — 6 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Wonderful Sicilian natural wine! Deep gold (let’s call it light orange) in color. Hints of grilled lemons with a hint of smoke. Beautifully “funky.” A true winner! Great with appetizers! Thank you Franky Bella for this selection. — 7 years ago

with Kasey

Mark Lindzy

9.1

Basque natural cider from a small family house outside San Sebastián. 30 apple varieties, all certified organic and selection massale orchards. Tart and tangy, grippy and funky, with a touch of spritz. So refreshing! — 9 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.6

There’s a lot of wine being made in California and abroad that is, in theory, similar to this wine… Extremely old vines of obscure varietals, natural production and so on. However, in this case, winemakers Pax Mahle and Loren Grossman have delivered something that shines brighter than the rest - including their other labels. 

Titular “Pax” wines have a similar sense of spice, animal and force, but often lack the subtly found here. His other label “Wind Gap” capitalizing on the trend of hardly ripened fruit to give the wine telling minerality and that mouth-puckering tart freshness at the expense of body.  All of which is also evident in this wine, but much more balanced and slowly revealed. 

This wine is sexy and nimble, but has depth and a sense of place. Reminiscent of  Northern Rhone but less narrowly focused. It’s all you can ask for from California. They only made about 100 cases, and it retails for under 40 dollars. We have 9 bottles left at Joy Wine & Spirits, come in and get it. — 9 years ago

Jason Sliwa

9.2

Thanks to Andrew for turning me onto this winemaker. A great selection at 30 euros in the wine list. Not too stinky for such a natural wine. Moderate tannins, present fruit and moderate acidity.Deep ruby color. This could probably age more, but it Is a pleasure to drink now. Only 65% sagrantino. — 10 years ago

Brian McMahon

Sales Polaner Selections

9.2

Varietals: Gamay
Organic: Certified
Biodynamic: Practicing
Vineyard: From La Roche Pilée vineyard in the heart of the Morgon appellation at the base of the famed Cote du Py hillside (1.70 hectares).
Orientation: South facing with a slight slope.
Soil: "Decomposed granite and crumbly schist referred to regionally as "rotten rock"". Natural composting kick-starts bacterial activity in the soil that is very beneficial to the vines. "
Viticulture: 60-year-old vines with very low yields. Extensive pruning to further limit the yield; No chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides used, giving a totally natural wine; all bunches are picked by hand and very carefully sorted to retain only the fully ripened whole bunches.
Vinification: No sulphur pitched for fermentation. Semi carbonic maceration for up to 12 days. Using an old vertical press, pressing is very slow and gentle, crushing only the fruit and not the seeds.
Aging: In barrels on fine lees between 5 and 13 months. The barrels are old as the aim is to allow the wine to breathe without giving it a woody taste. The end of alcoholic and malo-lactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels. Light sulphur is added after malo-lactic fermentation and at bottling to ensure the wine keeps well over time.
Notes: Bio-Vitis is the name Michel Guignier gave to this wine composed of 100% Agribio-certified fruit from La Roche Pilée, a site located at the base of the famed Cote du Py hillside in Morgon. The wine is a selection of old vines that are barrel fermented in neutral oak. It is the most structured wine in the Guignier lineup with classic red fruit character, sappiness and a seductive, round mouthfeel. — 10 years ago