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Cloudy wine, what the funk?

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C loudy wine, what the funk? People still assume clear wine means better wine. Bright, polished, see-through. Cloudy, on the other hand, feels like something went wrong. Like the bottle was mishandled, stored badly, or rushed out before it was ready. That reaction makes sense. We’ve been trained to read clarity as quality. Beer, spirits, even water follow that rule. Wine just quietly inherited it. Most natural wines aren’t filtered or fined before bottling. Filtration is a cosmetic step. It strips out yeast, grape solids, and sediment to make the wine look stable and uniform. Clean lines. No surprises. When that step is skipped, the wine keeps more of what it grew with. What you’re seeing in a cloudy wine isn’t rot or spoilage. It’s usually leftover yeast or fine grape particles that would otherwise be removed. They settle. They move. They shift depending on temperature, travel, and time. That’s why the same bottle can look different every time you open it. The reason this ma...

Salvatore Marino Turi Nero d’Avola 2023 Pachino DOC (Italy) Review | La Cave Noire

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Salvatore Marino Turi Nero d’Avola 2023 Pachino DOC (Italy) Review | La Cave Noire This one’s all about drinkability. Fresh, juicy, loads of crunch straight away. It hits the palate fast and clean, the kind of red you keep reaching for without thinking about it. Medium tannins give it just enough grip to hold its shape. It feels a bit more grown up than you expect, balanced, relaxed, nothing forced. There’s a quiet smokiness running through it, a touch of leather, subtle but present, adding depth without weighing it down. We opened this with sourdough pizza and it just clicked. Same with focaccia dipped in oil and vinegar, and a simple red sauce pasta. Tomato, olive oil, bread, wine. That’s the lane this bottle lives in. The finish is smooth and satisfying, gone just in time to make you want another pour. One of those bottles that empties itself while you’re mid conversation. 

Labes / Rosso Piedirosso Vesuvio DOC 22 (Italy) Review | La Cave Noire

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La Cave Noire - Quick pour: Labes / Rosso Piedirosso Vesuvio DOC 22 (Italy) Review | La Cave Noire Rosso has always been one of my favourite styles. It doesn’t try to dominate the room. It just exists comfortably in its place. Red wine without the over top performance. And when it comes from volcanic soil, that feeling goes even deeper, you know when you’re drinking a rosso. Wines from Vesuvius carry the ground with them. Black earth. Heat stored in stone. Old vines pushing through something that doesn’t give much back. You taste that struggle in the best way. There’s always a quiet savoury edge running underneath the fruit. Something dry, earthy, slightly smoky that keeps everything grounded. On the nose this opens slow. Leather first. Worn in, not polished. Then a soft hit of vanilla essence that feels natural rather than sweet. Nothing loud. Nothing forced. On the palate it does exactly what good rosso should do. Easy to drink. Medium tannins that stay relaxed and let ...

Delinquente Roxanne The Razor NAND (Australia) Review | La Cave Noire

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Delinquente Roxanne The Razor NAND (Australia) Review | La Cave Noire  Another banger from Delinquente! Honestly, you can pick pretty much anything from these guys and feel confident you are about to have a good time. From the striking label artwork to the way they work with the Australian land, it all feels intentional, playful and very much alive. This is the kind of bottle that gets things started before you even finish pouring. Roxanne is smooth and juicy straight out the gate. Light leathery notes wrap around raspberry and tart red fruit. Then it opens into red florals, clove spice and fresh strawberry. There is a wild edge to it, but it stays light on its feet. Floral on the tongue, energetic, and easy to drink without ever feeling boring. It is a great value wine that overdelivers every time. Perfect with red meat, chicken wings or blue cheese, but just as good on its own when you want something that wakes up the table and sets the mood. Looking ahead, I am genui...

A Year of Quiet Intention | La Cave Noire

Not every year is meant to be loud. This one asked for something different:  Patience. Attention. Care. We learned a lot this year. I learned a lot, too about what it really takes to build something that feels honest. Much of the work happens long before anyone notices. It is about choosing restraint over shortcuts, even when it would be easier to rush. The Philosophy of La Cave Noire La Cave Noire has never been about speed; it has always been about  feeling . It’s the kind of depth you cannot fake or force, the kind that stays with you long after you leave the room. Our mission is centered on the moments that linger: A glass you did not expect to love. A conversation that goes longer than planned. A space that makes you slow down without telling you to. Becoming, Not Just Building We are making something special. I believe that deeply. And special takes time. Nothing has been revealed yet, and that is intentional. Some things deserve to be protected while they are still form...

Bodegas Aroa Le Naturel Red (Spain) Review | La Cave Noire

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Bodegas Aroa  Le Naturel  Red (Spain) Review | La Cave Noire   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...

DAVID-BEAUPERE Beaujolais-Villages 2023 (France) Review | La Cave Noire

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DAVID-BEAUPERE Beaujolais -Villages 2023 (France) Review | La Cave Noire 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 ...