Innovative and always experimenting, the guys at Cantina Indigeno are obsessed with making primal/wild wines.

Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts without temperature control. Skin contact for 8 days in open vats, followed by ageing on the lees for 8 months in fiberglass tanks.

Foggy orange-gold in colour, very aromatic with grapefruit, lemon zest, sea spray, musk, baked pear, clover honey, wildflowers.

Lightening tanginess and racy acidity fuse with apple, lemon, grapefruit and nectarine.

Nuttiness accents the saline mineral finish.

Cantina Indigeno ‘Bianco’ Vino Bianco 2020

 Innovative and always experimenting, the guys at Cantina

2016 Domaine Font du Vent - Cuvée Élégance de Jeanne Châteauneuf-du-Pape (93 pts)

ℹ️ This wine is from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the Southern Rhône of France. The wine is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% field blend. The Grenache vines are 100 to 120 years old. The vines are from the famous lieu-dit of La Crau, which has soils made of clay and galets. All of the farming is certified organic, and grapes are hand-harvested. 50% to 100% of the stems are removed, depending on the vintage. The fermentation takes place with native yeasts, and the wine has 30 days of skin maceration. The wine is aged in demi-muids (600 L) barrels and concrete tanks. This Cuvée is only made in exceptional vintages.

👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of ripe raspberry, boysenberry, black cherry, blueberry preserves, licorice, lavender, rose, white pepper, bergamot, and beets.

👄 The wine is dry, medium acidity, medium+ spicy tannins, high alcohol (15%), and full body. It is very layered with a great texture. A long length finish of ripe and preserved black fruits with a earthy and spicy components lingering to the end.

🔔 This Cuvée is another stunning wine from Famille Gonnet. The charm and power of La Crau are highlighted with this wine. I love the darker fruit profile combined with the mix of florals and spice. The spicy and earthy notes dominate on the palate at the moment, but there is plenty of fruit concentration to go the distance. I enjoyed it after giving it the right amount of air. My recommendation is to enjoy it in another 5-7 years. I would like to try this Cuvée and the previous one side by side in the same vintage.

 2016 Domaine Font du Vent - Cuvée Élégance de Jeanne

2015 Domaine Xavier et Agnès Amirault - Les Clos des Quarterons Vieilles Vignes St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (92pts)

ℹ️ This wine is 💯 Cabernet Franc from the St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellation in the Loire Valley of France. The vineyards are certified Organic and Biodynamic. The Vieilles Vignes is less than 10% of the production from the best old vine plots that are at least over 40 years old. The soil type of gravel and silty clay with some limestone. The grapes are hand-harvested, then macerate in a tank for 5-6 weeks. The wine is aged for 12 to 18 months in demi-muids (500 l barrels), with 1/6 being new.

👃 Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of ripe red cherry, black currant, raspberry, rose petal, bergamot, basil, sweet tobacco, and wet rock.

👄 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium chalky tannins, medium alcohol (12.5%), and medium body. More earthy and spice notes on the palate. A medium length finish of ripe crunchy red fruit, flinty wet rock, and basil.

🔔Cabernet Franc, in the right hands, can be such an elegant grape, especially in St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. This wine is lighter and crisper than a lot of the wines from Chinon and Saumur. Honestly, it comes across more Pinot Noir-esque with charming floral, herbal, and mineral notes. Tasting a glass of wine like this reminds me that I need to be exploring more producers like Xavier Amirault.

 2015 Domaine Xavier et Agnès Amirault - Les Clos des

2015 Domaine Xavier et Agnès Amirault - Les Clos des Quarterons Vieilles Vignes St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (91 pts)

👃 Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of ripe red cherry, black currant, raspberry, rose petal, bergamot, basil, and wet rock.

🔔 Cabernet Franc, in the right hands, can be such an elegant grape, especially in St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. This wine is lighter and crisper than a lot of the wines from Chinon and Saumur. Honestly, it comes across more Pinot Noir-esque with charming floral, herbal, and mineral notes. Tasting a glass of wine like this reminds me that I need to be exploring more producers like Xavier Amirault.

2015 Domaine Xavier et Agnès Amirault - Le Vau Renou St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (92 pts)

ℹ️ This wine is 💯 Cabernet Franc from the St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellation in the Loire Valley of France. The vineyards are certified Organic and Biodynamic. This wine is a blend of two vineyards: one with chalk soils and the other with clay and flint soils. The grapes are hand-harvested, followed by native yeast fermentation in small barrels with daily punch downs. The wine is aged for 24 to 30 months in a combination of French oak barriques (228 l) and demi-muids (500 l).

👃 Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of ripe black currant, pomegranate, sweet cherry, black licorice, clove, dried roses, dried violets, and tobacco.

👄 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium fine-grained tannins, medium alcohol (12.5%), and medium+ body. The silky texture on the palate. A medium+ length finish of ripe red and black fruit and dried potpourri.

🔔 My favorite of the three wines tasted from Domaine Xavier et Agnès Amirault. This is the silkiest texture and is seamless on the palate. The palate’s initial attack is all ripe fruit. The mid-palate shows earthiness and subtle oak spice. The finish leaves you holding a dried flower bouquet that is wonderful. Altogether a very nicely put together. Given this is 2015, it is not showing any signs of development yet, which leads me to believe that this still has considerable room to improve. At the $50 price range, this is excellent quality for the money.

 2015 Domaine Xavier et Agnès Amirault - Le Vau Renou

Super juicy blend with both the Shiraz and Cab Sav working in balance to give the best of both varieties. The team

 have outlined they have made small changes to their wines. I never tasted their previous vintages but whatever small changes they have made its working. This wine is not trying too hard it is just a classic blend...simple...

 Small Changes Red 2018 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

2018 Yangarra Estate PF Grenache from McLaren Vale

Buy Again: Yes, I’m getting more tomorrow

A great Grenache. So much flavour and length for $22. Every now and then you get a wine that is not only amazing value but also an amazing wine. I’m saying this is one of the best Grenache wines I’ve had for this price. If you haven’t had Grenache before or not a fan, try this. It is very good...simple...

 2018 Yangarra Estate PF Grenache from McLaren Vale Rating:

Stefano Lubiana 2018 Primavera Tasmanian Pinot Noir

Recommendation: Buy; let them rest for a few years.

It is such a crowded market at the moment with pinot's, especially in that $40 price range. It is hard to differentiate between the good and the outright average. Price is never a good indication.

_lubiana_wines pinot recently being sold for $32, there is no question, it's a complete steal. Beautiful Tasmanian pinot noir. Estate grown, handmade elegance.

Bright and juicy, but I feel it is too young at the moment and needs time. I taste its potential and I'm excited for the future, so I've bought a few for the cellar. I think this will be great in a few years...simple...

 Stefano Lubiana 2018 Primavera Tasmanian Pinot Noir Rating:

Recommendation: Buy. A special red for a special occasion.

The BFR is a blend of the best of the best from Salena Estate. The 2016 is a blend of Touriga, Lagrein and Cabernet Sauvignon.

It appears the owners Bob and Sylvia are happy with any positive combination but I think it personally stands for Bobs Favourite Red.

For the technical side and direct from the website: The Touriga was added to this blend as is contributes a big nose of grapey florals as well as some black fruit. It is also the reason for the intense colour, a vivid deep dark purple.

The Lagrein was selected for this blend as it fills in any missing structure very well, as well as adding s silkiness to the texture. It also adds in some savouriness through selected herbal notes

The Cabernet Sauvignon was the final instalment for this blend as it generates some additional fruit weight and complements the fruit characters from the Touriga and Lagrein. In addition, it also creates balance on the palate and nice length as the perfect finish.

🔒 Will last a long time. I’d recommend 5+ years

 BFR By Salena Estate Rating: A Price: $80 Recommendation:

From the legendary Eric Pfifferling, and his son Thibault, another ♦️ Grapes are from the vineyards of Gaël Petit, of Domaine Moulin-La-Viguerie fame.

Ruby red in colour, with aromas of raspberry, strawberry, iron minerality, garigue and white pepper.

Raspberry liqueur, strawberry, blackberry and mint are framed by Darjeeling tea tannins and fresh acidity.

Cherry, garrigue dark chocolate and baking spice linger on the plush finish. Intense, vivid and powerful.

Domaine L’Anglore ‘Argialas’ Tavel 2017

 From the legendary Eric Pfifferling, and his son Thibault

Gérard Bertrand Grand Terroir ‘Tautavel’ Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel 2013

Aromas of dark fruit, black pepper and a hint of forest floor. Pepper spice driven, with cherry and blackberry, herbs and leather notes framed by firm tannins. Tobacco and black pepper comprise the lengthy, dry finish. Rustic and robust, fantastic with hearty dishes.

 Gérard Bertrand Grand Terroir ‘Tautavel’ Côtes du

Located in Torgiano, south of Perugia, friends Simone Lazzarin, Rocco Trauzzola and Alessandro De Filippis revitalized an estate once belonging to the famed Lungarotti family.

Following biodynamic and organic principles, the trio is dedicated to manual and traditional methods, such as following the lunar cycle, manual harvesting and destemming, foot pressing and pied di cuve fermentations with native yeasts.

Grapes are from vines around 10 years in age, in sandy soils of clay and marl, rich in minerals and limestone, at 200-300 meters in elevation. Destemmed by hand, gently pressed with feet, spontaneous fermentation with maceration on the peels for 6-8 days in small concrete tanks, followed by fine lees aging for 8 months in concrete tanks, racked and bottled during the waning moon.

Transparent red-violet in colour, with aromas of cherry, violet, licorice, black olive, wisp of campfire smoke and Brothers Johnson funk.

Cranberry, cherry, pomegranate, a bite of tart red apple are framed by silky black tea tannins and tangy acidity. White pepper, bramble, cherry and blackberry infuse the earthy mineral finish.

 Located in Torgiano, south of Perugia, friends Simone

In 1999, 3rd generation winemaker Antoine Joly, along with his wife Laurence, began running his family’s southern Rhone estate [his father Pierre pioneered organic viticulture in the area].

Viticulture is organic and biodynamic. Hand harvested grapes are from a 4hectare vineyard with vines 25 years average age, with limestone, clay and silt soils. Spontaneous fermentation in concrete tanks with wild yeasts, aged 6-8 months in concrete, unfined, unfiltered with minimal SO2.

Inky red violet in colour, with aromas of wild berry jam, baking spices, black currant, earth.

Black currant, blueberry, blackberry, red currant, eucalyptus, black pepper are flanked by tangy acidity and silky tannins.

Black currant and cocoa powder infuse the iron mineral driven finish.

Roughly a 50/50 blend of Grenache & Syrah

La Roche Buissière ‘Petit Jo’ Vin de France 2019

 In 1999, 3rd generation winemaker Antoine Joly, along with

Roberto Conterno, along with his sons are dedicated to preserving the legacy of the historic Nervi estate.

Hand-harvested grapes are from the Molsino, Valferana, Garavoglie, and Casacce vineyards, 290-420 meters in elevation. Fermented in stainless steel vats at controlled temperatures, macerated for a minimum of 15 days, malolactic fermentation in cement vats. Aged for 4 months on the lees

Light coral in colour, with subtle aromas of strawberry, raspberry and chalky minerality.

Citrus acidity shimmers behind delicate strawberry, pear, melon.

Lemon and pink grapefruit linger on the chalky mineral driven, crisp finish. Diaphanous and refined.

Nervi-Conterno ‘Il Rosato’ Vino Rosato 2020

 Roberto Conterno, along with his sons are dedicated to

Pioneering winemakers Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barber began farming at the edge of the forest on Mount Hunger in Barnard, Vermont in 1999.

In addition to vines, they cultivate vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs with low intervention, organic and biodynamic methods.

Grapes are in clay and limestone soils on a western facing slope. Fermented with wild yeasts on the skins, unfined and unfiltered. ‘Loup d’Or’ is named in homage to the “fireside tales” of the golden wolf of their Alpine terrain.

Foggy gold in colour, with aromas of mandarin orange, nectarine, smoke, wildflowers, clover honey, roasted nuts and saline minerality. Orange, mango, nectarine, sea salt, wildflower hint along with summer earth glazed by tangy acidity and light green tea tannins. Herbs, orange zest and marigold linger between each shimmering sip.