Southold 2015 Lagrein "Trust the Pain"
Savage Grace 2016 Counoise Marchela Vineyard
Forlorn Hope 2018 Mondeuse Estate C/Ghost

Southold 2015 Lagrein "Trust the Pain"

The Wine: Made from 100% Lagrein, an ancient grape variety usually found in Alto Adige in northeastern Italy, this wine shows signs of its traditional brooding nature with quite a bit of animalistic qualities: leather, iodine, even meat, yet surrounded in mouthwatering freshness making it food-friendly. Fermented on native yeast. 12% alcohol.

The Winery: Based in Gillespie County, Texas, Southold Farm + Cellar is a winery that regularly bucks convention. Winemaker Regan Meador believes in farming first and non-interventionalist cellar methods to produce wines that reflect the vast rolling landscape of Texas Hill Country. By embracing unusual grape varieties and harvesting earlier in the season, his wines are elegant and refreshing: a deliberate departure from the often powerful, opulent wines coming out of Texas.

Savage Grace 2016 Counoise Marchela Vineyard

The Wine: Notes of tart cranberry and rhubarb, black pepper and anise mark this lively and expressive wine, made from 100% Counoise grapes, a variety common to the southern Rhone region. Made using 100% whole cluster and native fermentation, lightly pressed and aged for 2 years in neutral barrel. 11.8% alcohol.

The Winery: Established in 2011 by owner/winemaker Michael Savage, Savage Grace Wines is located on Underwood Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge. Michael’s vision is to make old-world-style, lower alcohol, balanced and terroir expressive wines through regenerative farming and low-intervention winemaking. The end goal is to make a wine that is delicate, balanced and approachable yet expressive.

Forlorn Hope 2018 Mondeuse Estate C/Ghost

The Wine: Made from 100% Mondeuse, a grape that is grown primarily in the Savoy region of eastern France, this wine leads with heavy vibes from tannins and aromatics of marijuana, black licorice and sandalwood incense but maintains a light body with blue and black fruit, preserves freshened with menthol and splashed with soy sauce with racy acidity to undercut. Fruit was hand-picked and fermented with 100% stem inclusion for 14 days before it was pressed down to neutral oak barriques. Wine was aged for a total of 18 months and was bottled unfined & unfiltered. 12.3% alcohol.

The Winery: Led by winemaker Matthew Rorick, Forlorn Hope was established in 2005 on 75 acres of organically farmed grapevines at Rorick Heritage Vineyard. They produce organically farmed estate wines and reconnect with California’s pre-Prohibition vinicultural traditions. Forlorn Hope borrows its meaning from the band of soldiers who volunteered to lead the charge and were given a slim chance of success, but immense rewards for those who were successful. With this in mind, Forlorn Hope takes great risks with great reward in their sights.