Dylan here. Our wines this week have an interesting connection, as they both hail from projects whose owners were involved in professional sports in some capacity. The Tameran white has a very intriguing story to any fans of football out there. Manchester City and Spain national team player David Silva started the Tameran project in 2019 after retiring from professional football the year before. Growing up in Gran Canaria he always had an affinity towards wine and after befriending Jonathan Garcia, winemaker and owner of Suertes de Marques (one of the more famous vineyards in the Canary Islands), they discussed starting a new project together. Meanwhile, up in Beaujolais, the Domaine des Braves estate was, for a long time, run by Paul ‘Paulo’ Cinquin who once had dreams of becoming a professional cyclist. Upon his mother’s insistence on working the fields instead, he still kept a foot in both worlds, eventually combining them by setting up a charity race after which everyone would pull corks and sit together.
David Silva with his wines on the left, and Paulo Cinquin in his cellar of cycling memorabilia on the right!
Personally, I have fond memories of watching David Silva play (although he often was part of the Spanish national team that beat Germany on various occasions). Learning that this fantastic wine has links to such a caliber of football player, makes it all the more intriguing to me. And yet, these stories are just fun tidbits that compliment the outstanding quality of the wines themselves.
The Canary islands had been a hotspot for sweet and fortified wines exported to the U.K in the 16th and 17th centuries. The industry eventually collapsed as French and Portuguese wines gained in popularity, leaving only local winemakers behind. Among those who enjoyed Canary Island wines were British royalty, aristocrats and writers, including none other than William Shakespeare.
This is an unbelievably drinkable, dry Malvasia from Gran Canaria. We were enamored by this glass when we first sat with it. It has a wonderful volcanic minerality and notes of orange rind, honeysuckle, hay, florals, and a slight saline character that is just so delicious. The wine opens up beautifully in the glass, and possesses an undeniable complexity. This young project showcases the true character of the Canary Islands. Have this while watching your next football match or with a delicious Won Ton soup!
Our red this week comes from Régnié, one of Beaujolais’ more elegant crus. We love really good Beaujolais, and this is certainly one of them. Former semi-professional cyclist Paulo Cinquin now works with son Franck on this estate that has been passed from generation to generation. The higher up the slopes you go in Beaujolais, the more granite you get in the soils which, among other factors, often leads to purer, more concentrated wines. In this case the wine is very clean and full of plums, elderberries, and raspberries, with a fresh character and incredibly versatile nature - it can be enjoyed on it’s own or with a variety of foods including a simple camembert cheese. Imagine sipping this after a beautiful sunny day cycling through the French countryside.
NEW VINTAGE
A quick shoutout to the new vintage of this great rosé from the Loire Valley in France. This 100% Pinot Noir is full of fresh raspberries, strawberries, red currant, and hints of mango. A balanced, clean and refreshing wine to sip in the sun this summer.