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Showing posts with the label Natural Wine

Cuvée Thaddeus Bordeaux Rouge (France) Review | La Cave Noire

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Cuvée Thaddeus Bordeaux Rouge (France) Review | La Cave Noire Every once in a while, you open a bottle that makes you double check the price. This was one of those. Cuvée Thaddeus Bordeaux Rouge is an organic, naturally fermented Bordeaux that just quietly overdelivers. No gimmicks. Just really good wine. In the glass it leans into those deeper fruit notes. Black plum, blackberry, a little dark cherry. It has that cozy, rounded Bordeaux feel where the fruit is generous, but the wine never gets heavy or over the top. What I liked most is how easy it is to drink. It has enough structure to feel like a proper red, but it stays relaxed and smooth the whole time. We ended up drinking it with sourdough pizza, focaccia dipped in olive oil and vinegar, and a bowl of red sauce pasta. Honestly it felt perfect for that kind of meal. Simple food, good wine, nothing complicated. This is exactly the type of bottle I love finding. Something that tastes like it should cost more than it does, and that ...
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Cuvée Thaddeus Bordeaux Rouge (France) Review | La Cave Noire

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Cuvée Thaddeus Bordeaux Rouge (France) Review | La Cave Noire Every once in a while, you open a bottle that makes you double check the price. This was one of those. Cuvée Thaddeus Bordeaux Rouge is an organic, naturally fermented Bordeaux that just quietly overdelivers. No gimmicks. Just really good wine. In the glass it leans into those deeper fruit notes. Black plum, blackberry, a little dark cherry. It has that cozy, rounded Bordeaux feel where the fruit is generous, but the wine never gets heavy or over the top. What I liked most is how easy it is to drink. It has enough structure to feel like a proper red, but it stays relaxed and smooth the whole time. We ended up drinking it with sourdough pizza, focaccia dipped in olive oil and vinegar, and a bowl of red sauce pasta. Honestly it felt perfect for that kind of meal. Simple food, good wine, nothing complicated. This is exactly the type of bottle I love finding. Something that tastes like it should cost more than it does, and that ...
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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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...
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Location: Brighton and Hove, UK
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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. 
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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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...
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A Year of Quiet Intention | La Cave Noire

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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...
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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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...
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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 ...
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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JAYBIRD BIANCO MACERATO (Australia) Review | La Cave Noire

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JAYBIRD BIANCO MACERATO (Australia) Review | La Cave Noire 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 fun...
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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Weszeli ‘Mystique’ (Austria) Review | La Cave Noire

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Weszeli ‘Mystique’ (Austria) Review | La Cave Noire 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, gather ...
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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JOÃO PATO – Duckman ‘Duck Ray’ Review | La Cave Noire

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JOÃO PATO – Duckman ‘Duck Ray’ Review | La Cave Noire 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 ...
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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Let the people faire la Teuf GMY by L.C.D.B Review | La Cave Noire

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Let the people  faire la Teuf  GMY by L.C.D.B Review | La Cave Noir e We can’t get enough of these natural reds. GMY is made from 100% Gamay grapes, grown in the rolling hills of Beaujolais the spiritual home of juicy, bright reds that just make you smile. On the nose, it’s all cranberry, wild strawberry, and a flicker of rhubarb. There’s something cheeky about it too, a light funk that reminds you this isn’t a polished corporate wine, it’s alive. Swirl it once and it opens up with red currant, a hint of pepper, and that soft Beaujolais freshness that keeps you coming back. On the palate, it’s vibrant and effortless. Crunchy fruit, a little earth, a lot of energy. It dances between playful and serious, like it knows how good it is but doesn’t need to prove it. Food & Wine Pairings: Aperitif, red and white meats, cured meats, hard cheese or just good company and bad decisions. Since 2008, Louis-Clément David has been running the estate after switching careers ...
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Laura Lardy Beaujolais Villages Rouge (France) Review | La Cave Noire

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Laura Lardy Beaujolais Villages Rouge (France) Review | La Cave Noire From the hills of Fleurie comes something quietly confident. Laura Lardy’s Beaujolais Villages Rouge feels familiar the moment it hits the glass. The nose carries a soft mix of leather, smoke and oak, grounded and calm, with a hint of something deeper waiting underneath. Made from 100 percent Gamay grown on granite soil and picked by hand, it is a wine that holds onto its roots. On the palate, dark fruit and spice take the lead, with blackcurrant, pepper, tobacco and that same leathery thread from the nose. It feels more classic than wild, shaped by the land and the touch of someone who knows when to let the fruit speak. The finish is dry with a whisper of cranberry and light tannins that fade cleanly. It is simple, honest and beautifully made, the kind of bottle that reminds you why Beaujolais never needs to shout to be heard. Picture it with roast chicken fresh from the oven, the skin just crisp enough to ...
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Location: Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
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