Afterglow: La Cave Noire Blog

Le Cave Noire - Quick pour: Bodegas Aroa  Le Naturel  Red (Spain) Bodegas Aroa’s Le Naturel is one of those bottles that quietly overdelivers. Unfussy, honest, and far more expressive than the price suggests, it’s a wine that feels right at home on the table or behind the bar. The nose opens with dark fruit straight away. Blackcurrant leads, followed by soft oak, worn leather, and a gentle tobacco note. There’s a subtle smokiness running through it that gives the wine a little depth and mood, without ever feeling heavy or overworked. On the palate, it stays light and easy. Low tannins keep things smooth and approachable, while juicy red fruit takes over. Raspberry comes through first, bright and fresh, with a light touch of vanilla extract rounding things out. Nothing cloying, nothing forced just clean, balanced drinking. The finish is where it really earns its place. Strawberry fades into a dry cranberry edge that keeps everything crisp and moreish. It’s the kind of win...

La Cave Noire - Quick Pour: DAVID-BEAUPERE Beaujolais -Villages 2023 (France) Some bottles just hit differently. This one? Absolutely. We opened it, took a sip, and knew we were coming back for more. No hesitation. No overthinking. Just pure, joyful Gamay. If you love Beaujolais the way we do, this ticks all the boxes. The 2023 Beaujolais Villages from David Beaupère sits in that perfect mid-price range where quality meets ease. Light, juicy, effortless. It has that fruit-forward punch you want from Gamay, but layered with a little funk, a hint of earthiness, and a soft leathery note that keeps it grounded. It’s playful, yet serious enough to make you pause and savour it.  On the nose, it’s a little show offy in the best way strawberry, raspberry, cherry, then a subtle balsamic thread weaving through, and a whisper of herbs that keeps it lively. It smells alive. It drinks even better. We love wines that feel like a moment. This one feels like walking into a warm, sunlit kitchen in ...

La Cave Noire: Quick Pour - Les Athlètes du Vin Pineau d’Aunis (France) This one is a joy. A fun bottle at a friendly price point and the perfect reminder that natural wine does not need to be expensive to hit the spot. On the nose you get vanilla, blackcurrant, dark fruit and a quiet earthy note that pulls you in rather than shouting for attention. Classic Pineau d’Aunis but softer around the edges. The palate is dry and smooth with a little hint of leather and very low tannin. Then comes the spice. Cranberry, pepper and that warm little tingle you get from this grape when it is treated with care. It feels light and comforting and surprisingly easy to drink. Les Athlètes du Vin is a collective of growers and makers who believe in keeping things simple. Honest fruit, clean farming, minimal intervention. The idea is to make wines that feel alive but still approachable. Nothing complicated. Nothing dressed up. Just the pure expression of the grape and the place it comes from. P...

La Cave Noire: Quick Pour — JAYBIRD BIANCO MACERATO (Australia) What can we say about Delinquente Wine. Their line up is always a joy. The hand drawn artwork, the energy behind every bottle, the way they approach natural wine with ease and honesty. We have been drinking them for a while and felt it was time to start sharing some of our favourites. Delinquente is based in South Australia, working mostly with family growers in the Riverland. The winemaker, Greg Grigoriou, has built a name by championing Italian varieties in a part of Australia most people overlook. He keeps things simple. Small batches, wild ferments, low intervention, all with a real respect for the land and the First Nations people who cared for it long before vineyards existed. There is nothing glossy about their approach. It is humble work that shows in the glass. Jaybird Bianco Macerato is fresh and bright from the first pour. Citrus and soft fizz on the tongue. A rush of lemon sherbet. A little apricot. A little fu...

La Cave Noire: Quick Pour — Weszeli ‘Mystique’ (Austria)  Riding the quiet wave of reds meant to be served chilled, Mystique blends black and white grape varieties into something light, floral and effortlessly drinkable. It’s the kind of wine that doesn’t ask for ceremony just a glass, a good vibe, and a little time to unwind. At this Austrian estate not far from the town of Langenlois, Davis Weszeli continues a long family tradition that traces back to 1679. The vineyards sit in the Kamptal valley, where cool nights and warm days keep everything bright, crisp and alive, the kind of landscape that makes you slow down and listen for the small things. Aromas of cherry, pomegranate and wildflowers drift up first. The palate follows with soft fruit, gentle texture, and a freshness that holds everything together. Best served lightly chilled. Pair it with a few easy things, charcuterie, soft cheese, maybe a platter of ripe melon for dessert. Then throw on your favourite playlist, g...

La Cave Noire: Quick Pour - JOÃO PATO – Duckman ‘Duck Ray’ We’ve been waiting to open this one for a while. With its striking label and that wild shifting colour, this pet-nat from Portugal knows how to make an entrance. Cloudy, funky, and full of energy, Duck Ray starts out a deep amber before the natural haze begins to swirl and the glass fills with a soft, glowing orange. The man behind the bottle is João Pato, better known as Duckman, the son of iconic Portuguese winemaker Maria Pato. He carries her spirit of experimentation, crafting wines that blur the line between serious and playful. His bottles feel like they were made for moments, not occasions, natural, a little unpredictable, and always fun to pour. The nose hits that perfect middle ground, a little funk, but never too far. On the palate, the natural fizz wakes everything up. Apricot, peach, and a little sour edge keep it bright and alive. It’s not your everyday bottle, but that’s the point. Sitting at a mid to higher price...