< Tasting Notes

Wines for a Walk on the Wild Side
- March 2026

Tension. Verve. Anxiety. Vigor.
Allow these wines to surprise you with their angst and energy.
For our volatile world, we humbly submit these wild wines.
Salud!!

(**NOTE - Links are embedded in each winemaker’s names to direct you to their respective websites. Know thy vintner!**)

BATARD-LANGELIER 'Les Prières' 2023 * Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Loire Valley, France
Jérémie Batard-Langelier represents the third generation of his family working these vineyards southeast of Nantes. After traveling the world, he returned home in 2014 and immediately began converting the estate to organic viticulture, achieving certification in 2020. Working alongside his parents Régine and Pascal, Jérémie tends 24 hectares of gently sloping vineyards planted on varied metamorphic soils including granite, gneiss, and gabbro. The estate sits at about 60 meters elevation, positioned between the Sèvre and Maine rivers, just 50 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. The 2023 vintage of Les Prières marks a naming shift from what was previously called "Polaris," representing the same granite-based parcels that have defined this cuvée's character.

Les Prières comes from vines planted on draining granitic arena soils where the mother rock of granodiorite lies shallow beneath the surface, just 40 to 50 centimeters down. Jérémie harvests by hand, employs gentle pneumatic pressing, and allows the juice to settle naturally for 12 hours before fermentation begins. Indigenous yeasts drive fermentation in underground cement tanks lined with glass tiles, a traditional vessel type characteristic of Muscadet cellars. The wine rests on fine lees for seven months, building texture and complexity without losing its essential tension. Bottling happens unfined and unfiltered at 12% alcohol, preserving the granite's signature minerality and the oceanic influence that defines this corner of the Loire.

NERD ALERT!! - Muscadet's underground cement tanks lined with glass enamel tiles were developed in the region during the mid-20th century as an inert aging vessel that maintains stable temperatures year-round. These tanks allow the wine to develop on lees without picking up any extraneous flavors, letting the granite soils speak clearly through the Melon de Bourgogne. Jérémie's father Pascal abandoned chemical fertilizers in 1995, nearly two decades before the estate's formal organic conversion, establishing a foundation of soil health that continues to define these wines today.

Grape(s) - 100% Melon de Bourgogne

Flavors - Lime, gooseberry, green apple, and wet stone. The palate opens with bright acidity, salty minerality, and a persistent, refreshing finish.

Serving - Classic oyster pairing territory, but also brilliant with scallop carpaccio, moules marinières, or grilled sardines. Serve well-chilled on a spring afternoon when the sun finally breaks through Pacific Northwest clouds.

Album Pairing - THE FEELIES - ‘Crazy Rhythms’ - 1980 * Like Les Prières, this album is all about clean lines and propulsive tension. The jittery, minimalist guitar work and driving rhythm section mirror the wine's bright acidity and mineral backbone. Both strip away excess to reveal something essential and endlessly refreshing, proving that restraint and precision can generate more energy than bombast ever could.

POGGIO DEL MORO 'Attenzione Fragile' Sangiovese 2024 * Val D'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy
Tatiana and Alex established Poggio del Moro over the past decade in the Val D'Orcia near Chianciano Terme, south of Montepulciano, though the estate itself has produced wine and olive oil on these rich agricultural lands for over three centuries. Working with a young international team, they've built a modern certified organic operation across 14 hectares of vineyards and olive groves. The estate cultivates Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Nero for reds, alongside Trebbiano Procanico, Grechetto, and Malvasia Toscana for whites. Poggio del Moro produces wines across several distinct lines, from classic DOCG Chianti to their Natural line of wines made without added sulfites, which includes Attenzione Fragile..

Attenzione Fragile belongs to Poggio del Moro's Natural line, a collection of wines produced entirely without added sulfites and with minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar. The Sangiovese is grown organically in their Val D'Orcia vineyards, where the soils are predominantly sand with some clay and light loam. The wine is vinified naturally, allowing indigenous yeasts to drive fermentation, and sees minimal manipulation throughout the winemaking process. The result is a lighter expression of Sangiovese, one designed to be served with a slight chill during warmer months. The wine maintains Sangiovese's characteristic red fruit and herbal notes while offering an approachable, juicy texture that makes it perfect for casual drinking.

NERD ALERT!! - The name "Attenzione Fragile" translates to "Handle with Care," a fitting designation for a wine made without the protective buffer of added sulfites. Natural wines like this require careful handling and storage, as they lack the preservative shield that SO2 provides against oxidation and microbial instability. The fragility, however, is also the wine's charm: it offers an unmediated expression of the fruit and the vintage, presenting Sangiovese in its most naked, honest form.

Grape(s) - 100% Sangiovese

Flavors - Fresh, fruity, and lightly spiced with red berries and herbs. The palate is juicy and refreshing with bright acidity and a clean, crunchy finish.

Serving - Serve slightly chilled with pizza margherita, grilled vegetables, or simple pasta with tomato and basil. Perfect for picnics, backyard gatherings, or any occasion where you want serious wine without the serious attitude.

Album Pairing - KHRUANGBIN – ‘The Universe Smiles Upon You’ - 2015 * This Houston trio's hypnotic, sun-drenched grooves match the wine's easy-drinking character and warm, inviting personality. The album blends Thai funk influences with psychedelic textures, creating something both exotic and familiar, much like this Tuscan Sangiovese that feels approachable yet distinctly itself. Both ask you to slow down, relax, and enjoy the ride.

JUPITER WINE COMPANY 'No One Can Keep You Afraid' 2022 * Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Thomas DeBiase founded Jupiter Wine Company in 2020 after nearly a decade working in California wine, including stints managing restaurant wine programs and directing operations at Idlewild Wines in Mendocino. Originally from New Jersey, Thomas moved to Sonoma County in 2006 and gradually developed what he calls a borderline sociopathic passion for Italian grape varieties grown in California. Working in collaboration with Michael Richardson, Thomas created Jupiter as an economic engine that challenges corporate wine culture. The project focuses exclusively on Italian varietals grown organically in California, made with minimal intervention in the cellar. Jupiter donates 100% of its profits to affordable housing solutions for the agricultural and hospitality workers who make the wine industry possible, establishing what they call an alternative to the economic apartheid perpetuated by consolidated corporate wine.

No One Can Keep You Afraid takes inspiration from St. Magdalener, a historic blend of Schiava and Lagrein that has been produced in Alto Adige's Südtirol region since the Holy Roman Empire. Jupiter appears to be the only American winery making this particular combination, bringing these northern Italian mountain grapes to California's warmer climate. The grapes were harvested together on November 4th, the last fruit to come into the winery for the vintage. Thomas sealed the fruit with dry ice to conduct a full carbonic maceration lasting 13 days, then opened the tanks and foot-tread the grapes, allowing wild yeasts to complete fermentation. Secondary fermentation occurred naturally, and the wine rested for 10 months in neutral acacia puncheons before bottling. The wine's inky black color comes from the Lagrein, a grape genetically related to Syrah and Pinot Noir, while the Schiava contributes aromatic lift and lighter body, creating what Thomas describes as exuberant and playful yet savory and serious.

NERD ALERT!! - The wine's name "No One Can Keep You Afraid" speaks to Jupiter's broader mission of challenging industry norms and creating community-focused alternatives to corporate wine culture. The choice to make St. Magdalener in California represents a direct connection to winemaking traditions that predate modern commercial wine production. Lagrein historically struggled with fertility issues and irregular yields, which kept it closely guarded within Trentino-Alto Adige. In 1526, rebellious peasant leader Michael Gaismair allegedly demanded Lagrein for all as part of his call for reduced noble privileges, demonstrating how highly this grape was regarded even five centuries ago.

Grape(s) - Schiava and Lagrein

Flavors - Mountain herbs, red berries, graphite, rubbed sage, and dark plum. Despite saturated color, the wine shows medium body with bright acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish.

Serving - Built for substantial cuisine including braised or slow-roasted meats, aged cow's milk cheeses, and creamy polenta. The wine's structure and savoriness can handle rich, hearty preparations while maintaining enough brightness to keep the palate engaged.

Album Pairing - WEEZER – ‘Weezer (Blue Album)’ - 1994 * This California power-pop masterpiece mirrors the wine's deceptive complexity perfectly. Songs like "Say It Ain't So" and "Only in Dreams" deliver catchy melodies with real emotional weight underneath, just as this wine pairs an inky, saturated appearance with surprising medium body and bright acidity. The album's balance between exuberant hooks and vulnerable introspection matches the wine's tension between playful fruit and savory depth. Both are approachable and immediately enjoyable while revealing layers the more time you spend with them. Plus, pairing a Sonoma wine with LA's finest feels right - two California originals that refuse to take themselves too seriously while still delivering something substantial.

PRANZEGG 'Laurenc' 2018 * Alto Adige, Italy

Martin Gojer purchased the old Pranzegg farm in Campill, in the province of Bolzano, in 1997. He initially sold grapes to the local cooperative before beginning to produce his own wines in 2010, working alongside Marion Untersulzner. The estate extends across just four hectares of biodynamic vineyards located on the hillside opposite Santa Maddalena, at the mouth of the Isarco Valley above Bolzano. The vineyards benefit from an exceptional microclimate created by warm air rising from the Bolzano basin meeting the fresh breezes descending from the valley. Martin cultivates Müller Thurgau, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Chardonnay, Merlot, and crucially both Lagrein and Schiava, which he has worked to restore to their former prominence in the region. All farming is done biodynamically with significant manual labor, using only sulfur, natural remedies, and copper for disease management, never herbicides or pesticides.

Laurenc is the masculine counterpart to Pranzegg's Caroline cuvée, both names reflecting the estate's approach to expressing individual grape varieties. The Lagrein comes from vineyards around 500 meters altitude in Mitterberg, planted approximately 13 years before the 2018 vintage. Martin ferments the grapes spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, using 70% whole clusters including stems during a four-week maceration period. The wine then ages for 25 months, with 90% spending time in large conical oak vats and 10% in small used barrels. The wine sees no fining or filtration and minimal sulfite additions, bottled at 12.5% alcohol. Martin aims to reveal Lagrein's structured and elegant facets while respecting the grape's natural intensity and expansive character, which in many ways stands in stark contrast to the lighter Schiava that also thrives in these vineyards.

NERD ALERT!! - Lagrein's historical significance in Alto Adige extends back centuries, though the grape's tendency toward fertility issues and irregular yields kept it largely confined to South Tyrol and Trentino. The 2018 vintage at Pranzegg reflects Martin's conviction that meticulous vineyard care, proper harvest timing, and restraint in the cellar are essential to tempering Lagrein's natural potency. The 70% whole cluster fermentation adds aromatic complexity and structural finesse while moderating extraction, allowing the wine to express power without heaviness. The long aging period in neutral wood allows the fruit to integrate fully with the tannins before bottling.

Grape(s) - 100% Lagrein

Flavors - Deep ruby red with aromas of blackberry, plum, violet, and spice. The palate shows black cherry, subtle earthiness, fine tannins, and persistent length.

Serving - Pairs naturally with braised beef, game meats, aged hard cheeses, or mushroom risotto. The wine's structure and depth make it ideal for cooler evenings when something substantial and warming is called for.

** AUDIOPHILE LP OF THE MONTH CLUB VINYL**

Album Pairing - JOHNNY CASH – ‘Live From Austin, TX’ - Recorded 1987, Released 2005 * This Austin City Limits performance captures Cash in powerful, stripped-down form, delivering classics with unwavering authority and zero pretense. Like Laurenc, the album presents something deep and intense without unnecessary embellishment. Both honor tradition while maintaining fierce independence. The biodynamic farming and minimal intervention winemaking mirror Cash's direct, authentic approach to performance. The wine's dark fruit and structured elegance match the Man in Black's gravitas, while the 25 months of aging echo the patience and wisdom evident in this late-career performance. Both prove that integrity and restraint can carry more weight than flash.

REMINDERS

• To celebrate our valued club members we offer 20% off all food ordered on the day you pick-up. 

• If you can not pick up on the pick up dates please contact mckay@barmiriam.com and we will hold your allotment offsite and can arrange for a future pick up.

• Email mckay@barmiriam.com to buy more single bottles or a case with special club pricing.

• Queen Anne Bottle Shop is open Tuesday-Saturday from 3:00pm — 8:00pm.

• Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.