< Tasting Notes

Wines for Strolling Among the Autumn Leaves
- October 2025

Orange & Red. Red & Orange. May your October wines match your front yard. And as the fall breeze comes in, and makes a mess of all your raking, let these lovely bottles warm your soul and keep you smiling!

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

Klet Brda ‘Krasno’ Orange 2022 * Goriška Brda, Slovenia
’Krasno Orange’ is Klet Brda’s expressive foray into skin-fermented whites, reflecting both tradition and curiosity. Darinko Riboliča (the winery’s oenologist) vinifies each variety separately—Ribolla Gialla in oak foudres, Sauvignonasse in steel, and Malvasia in amphora or neutral vessels—before assemblage. The extended skin contact brings structure and tannin, while the separate aging preserves the personality of each grape. The result is a wine that’s both rich and energetic, with enough grip and depth to feel serious, but also bright and alive. It's built to evolve over years, showing more harmony and complexity with cellar time.

Klet Brda is a large cooperative, bringing together roughly 400 growers under one roof, and its ‘Krasno’ line expresses the collective ambition of the Brda region. Oenologist Darinko Riboliča leads the orange project, pushing for authenticity and minimal intervention. The cooperative emphasizes sustainable and nature-conscious practices, with a commitment to capturing the identity of the Goriška Brda hills. The communal nature of the project means many voices, but the unified goal is a wine that balances bold skin contact with finesse.

Grape(s) - 40% Ribolla Gialla, 30% Malvasia, and 30% Sauvignonasse.

Flavors - Copper-amber in hue, the nose opens with quince, baked pear, dried apricot, and a touch of Mediterranean scrub (thyme, sun-warmed rock). On the palate it offers citrus peel, almond skin tannins, a saline-mineral backbone, and gentle bitterness that frames the fruit in tension. The finish lingers with herbal lift and stone dust texture.

Serving - Pair it with spicy grilled chicken, roasted root vegetables, or even richer fish dishes like branzino with herbs. Think of evening light, outdoor tables, a bit of breeze, and laughter echoing across stone terraces—you want a setting that feels earthy yet inspired.

Album Pairing - MENAHAN STREET BAND – ‘The Crossing’ - 1980 * Soulful and sun-warmed, ‘The Crossing’ moves with the same quiet confidence as this orange wine. Its horns, rhythm, and atmosphere feel like the sound of late afternoon light—steady, textured, and deeply human. Both the album and the wine unfold in layers: familiar at first, but full of nuance, patience, and understated groove.

UCO DEUS ‘Golem’ Malbec 2022 * Mendoza, Argentina
’Golem’ derives its name from the mythical guardian, an apt metaphor for this bold yet thoughtful Malbec. Crafted with low intervention, it’s aged for eight months in large concrete egg amphorae (~3,300 liters), preserving freshness and allowing gentle oxygen exchange—and flavor layering—to develop. By bottling unfined and unfiltered, the wine retains a tactile purity and textural resonance. The high-altitude Uco Valley sun, stony soils, and careful amphora aging result in a wine that feels powerful yet precise—deeply Argentine, but with clarity and control.

Uco Deus is a boutique project born within the Uco Wines estate, a family-run operation focused on both innovation and terroir. The team celebrates Paraje Altamira’s expressive microclimate through organic practices and low-intervention cellar work. By harnessing large concrete amphora instead of oak, they embrace freshness and site expression over varietal swagger. This Malbec feels as much about place as personality—a respectful, soulful expression rather than an overt statement.

Grape(s) - 100% Malbec

Flavors - Aromas of lush dark cherry, blackberry, and blueberry unfold with violet florals, mint accents, and a touch of black pepper and earthiness. On the palate, rich fruit gives way to round texture, moderate acidity, and polished tannins—finishing with a savory, mineral lift. It’s plush yet balanced, with a quiet power that lingers.

Serving - Think grilled flank steak tacos, empanadas with chimichurri, or mushroom ragù over polenta. Absolutely at home around anything that has been kissed by the grill.

** AUDIOPHILE LP OF THE MONTH CLUB VINYL**

Album Pairing - ILLA J - 'John Yancey' - 2018 * Smooth, layered, and deeply personal, ‘John Yancey’ is the perfect echo of this Malbec’s mood. Illa J’s soulful blend of jazz, R&B, and hip-hop feels both grounding and expansive, much like the wine’s dark fruit core, violet lift, and stony minerality. Together, they create a pairing that’s bold yet unpretentious—made for slow evenings, easy conversation, and a little reflection as the night lingers on.

ZÖHLHOF ‘Dionysos’ Gewürztraminer 2020 * Alto Adige, Italy
’Dionysos’ takes its name from the god of wine, and this vintage embodies that balance of passion and poise. Hand-picked fruit underwent a brief maceration and spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel, capturing both aromatic intensity and precision. Biodynamic farming at 600 meters, combined with the cooler vintage conditions, gives the wine its dual nature: floral and spicy, but sharpened by citrus brightness and alpine energy. It’s Gewürztraminer with poise—a wine that lingers gracefully without ever tipping into heaviness.

Josef Unterfrauner and his family steward Zöhlhof with patience and purpose. This centuries-old estate, located west of Feldthurns, adopted organic practices back in 1994 and transitioned to biodynamics by 2009. They farm small parcels - about 2.2 hectare - on steep slopes where vines grow amid sand, gravel, and klausite. Josef left the local cooperative in 2001 to bring his vision to life independently. Today, he crafts Gewürztraminer with minimal intervention and deep reverence for terroir. The result is wines that feel like statements of regional serenity and parts of an ongoing family legacy.

Grape(s) - 100% Gewürztraminer

Flavors - Golden-green in the glass, with aromas of rose petals, citrus peel, and dried apricot layered over nutmeg and mountain herbs. The palate is full yet taut—stone fruit and florals balanced by spice, mineral lift, and a long, refreshing finish that shows more structure than sweetness.

Serving - Pair with spiced duck breast, Thai coconut curry, or aged Munster cheese. Ideal for a late afternoon in the garden, surrounded by blossoms and fresh air.

Album Pairing - BJÖRK - ‘Post’ - 1995 * Bold, eclectic, and richly textured—’Post’ is the audio equivalent of ‘Dionysos.’ Björk’s voice weaves flowers, wonder, and edgy artistry, much like the wine’s wild-rose and spice core wrapped in clarity. It’s a pairing that rewards curiosity and lingers long after the final note.

NICOLAS-JAY ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot Noir 2022 * Willamette Valley, Oregon
CLUB EXCLUSIVE!! ‘Bishop Creek’ captures the extremes of its terroir—rugged elevation shifts, shallow roots plunging into nutrient-poor soils, and a cool, delayed 2022 harvest that stretched deep into October. These conditions yielded tiny, thick-skinned berries with profound texture. Harvested in mid-October, the grapes were destemmed and subjected to native yeast fermentation with no fining or filtration. After 15 months in French oak (50% new), the wine emerges with bright, cool-climate acidity, energetic precision, and a brooding, ageworthy depth that unfolds over time. It’s a powerful yet poised Pinot Noir that speaks of grit, grace, and place.

Jean-Nicolas Méo, one of Burgundy’s most respected vignerons (Domaine Méo-Camuzet), founded Nicolas-Jay in 2012 alongside music entrepreneur Jay Boberg (a lifelong Pinot lover). Together with assistant winemaker Noah Roberts, they apply Burgundian rigor and Willamette curiosity. Jay handles vineyard logistics and cellar rhythm, Noah spearheads daily cellar work, and Jean-Nicolas weaves their shared vision into every barrel. The partnership blends Burgundian technique, organic stewardship, and artistry, with a focus on terroir, tension, and timelessness.

Grape(s) - 100% Pinot Noir

Flavors - Deep garnet in color, aromas unfold with brambly mountain blackberry compote, sagebrush, lavender, and a hint of pencil shavings. The palate is initially muscular—tight-structured tannins swirl within flavors of roasted plum, crushed granite, and smoked fennel. With air, it unlocks layers of black tea, roasted herbs, and a persistent mineral thread that fades slowly, leaving your glass echoing its presence.

Serving - Best shared in twilight with a serving of wild mushroom risotto, duck confit with cherry glaze, or roast beet and goat cheese salad. Bring your wool sweater, and let the wine unfold slowly beside good conversation and soft laughter.

** EXTRA SPECIAL LP OF THE MONTH CLUB VINYL - A GIFT FROM THE ARTIST**
Queen Anne local Daniel G. Harmann wants to share this amazing album with you! Aren’t you glad you’re in the club!

Album Pairing - DANIEL G. HARMANN - ‘Unspoken Ghosts’ - 2023 * This wine finds a haunting resonance in ‘Unspoken Ghosts’, where Harmann’s layered arrangements and film score-like intimacy echo the ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot’s depth and quiet intensity. Just as the wine reveals brambly fruit, mineral edges, and a slow unfurling of detail, the album carries a hushed gravity that deepens with each listen. Both ask for patience, both reward it—and together, they create an atmosphere of reflection, warmth, and a little mystery, lingering long after the glass (or the last track) is empty.

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.