Alan Nance
@amicdelvi.bsky.social
Tasting my way through Catalan and Spanish wine, regular guest wines from elsewhere. Writer with the Spanish Wine Collective.
www.spanishwinecollective.com
www.spanishwinecollective.com
Waymarks on a wine road traversing Catalunya, Eastern Loire, Sicilia, Alicante, Jerez and Beaujolais
February 21, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Waymarks on a wine road traversing Catalunya, Eastern Loire, Sicilia, Alicante, Jerez and Beaujolais
Domaine Sérol Chez Coste 2023 kicking off my 2025 Loire road trip with @billboll.bsky.social Unsulfured Gamay St-Romain, fermented & aged in amphora. Deeply coloured with a lingering savoury freshness, this waltzed with peppery pork sausage and then made friends among tonight’s cheeses. Santé !
January 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Domaine Sérol Chez Coste 2023 kicking off my 2025 Loire road trip with @billboll.bsky.social Unsulfured Gamay St-Romain, fermented & aged in amphora. Deeply coloured with a lingering savoury freshness, this waltzed with peppery pork sausage and then made friends among tonight’s cheeses. Santé !
Come on folks, let’s all give a 🖕 to the January abstainers and drink champagne on a Monday. The energy and vitality in Le Fruit de ma Passion Millésime 2019 from #VincentCharlot has set me up for the week. Santé !
January 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Come on folks, let’s all give a 🖕 to the January abstainers and drink champagne on a Monday. The energy and vitality in Le Fruit de ma Passion Millésime 2019 from #VincentCharlot has set me up for the week. Santé !
First outing with the wines of Hervé Grenier, Domaine Vallée Moray (Montlouis-sur-Loire). The ‘22 Arcadian is a Pinot Noir–Gamay mash-up, unsulfured, just 12% ABV. Shy at first, this unfurled into an uncomplicated yet fascinating interlocutor with a bit of time. A producer to explore further. Santé!
January 26, 2025 at 5:44 PM
First outing with the wines of Hervé Grenier, Domaine Vallée Moray (Montlouis-sur-Loire). The ‘22 Arcadian is a Pinot Noir–Gamay mash-up, unsulfured, just 12% ABV. Shy at first, this unfurled into an uncomplicated yet fascinating interlocutor with a bit of time. A producer to explore further. Santé!
Esmeralda García knocking it out the park with the ‘23 Santyuste. If you think you know Verdejo but haven’t tried this… Electric, layers of complexity, moreish, and that’s even before we talk about the pre-phylloxera vines and overall winemaking philosophy. Top in all respects
January 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Esmeralda García knocking it out the park with the ‘23 Santyuste. If you think you know Verdejo but haven’t tried this… Electric, layers of complexity, moreish, and that’s even before we talk about the pre-phylloxera vines and overall winemaking philosophy. Top in all respects
Good to be back in the once-home city again
January 17, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Good to be back in the once-home city again
Celebrating the passing of my years with some genuinely spectacular Catalan wine, a superb Blanc de Noirs sparkler (2018) and a world class still white from the masters of Xarel.lo (2015). Salut!
January 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Celebrating the passing of my years with some genuinely spectacular Catalan wine, a superb Blanc de Noirs sparkler (2018) and a world class still white from the masters of Xarel.lo (2015). Salut!
Crime scene from a weekend lunch. One helluva journey from the Penedès to l’Isola di Pantelleria via the Loire. I’m no proselyte for sans soufre, but when the producer knows (as these do) how to work the land, the grape, then it makes for some truly original juice that I’d happily sup all day long.
January 13, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Crime scene from a weekend lunch. One helluva journey from the Penedès to l’Isola di Pantelleria via the Loire. I’m no proselyte for sans soufre, but when the producer knows (as these do) how to work the land, the grape, then it makes for some truly original juice that I’d happily sup all day long.
I’m of an age to remember when Muscadet was enjoyed but not respected. Well, here’s why that was so, so wrong. Le Fief du Breil (2018) from Jo Landron, a wine that cloaks its complexity and profundity in upfront approachability. Some really serious juice in this bottle. Santé !
January 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I’m of an age to remember when Muscadet was enjoyed but not respected. Well, here’s why that was so, so wrong. Le Fief du Breil (2018) from Jo Landron, a wine that cloaks its complexity and profundity in upfront approachability. Some really serious juice in this bottle. Santé !
A masterclass in Carinyena Blanca from Nin-Ortiz (Porrera, Priorat), the Planetes (2021) is an old friend re-encountered. White fruit and flowers, almond and stone, salt and seduction over time (give it an hour or two, and go to bed happy). Salut, i bona nit!
January 8, 2025 at 9:17 PM
A masterclass in Carinyena Blanca from Nin-Ortiz (Porrera, Priorat), the Planetes (2021) is an old friend re-encountered. White fruit and flowers, almond and stone, salt and seduction over time (give it an hour or two, and go to bed happy). Salut, i bona nit!
Needed the verve of bubbles to perk me up after a long day at the desk. I chose well, the year is off to a good start. Santé !
January 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Needed the verve of bubbles to perk me up after a long day at the desk. I chose well, the year is off to a good start. Santé !
Easing myself into 2025 with book and bottle, a bit of prep for the virtual road trip (east–west) along the Loire that I’ll be doing over the next 12 months in the company of @billboll.bsky.social (Long-term forecast: wine porn imminent)
January 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Easing myself into 2025 with book and bottle, a bit of prep for the virtual road trip (east–west) along the Loire that I’ll be doing over the next 12 months in the company of @billboll.bsky.social (Long-term forecast: wine porn imminent)
An indisputable wine highlight of 2024 has been my virtual road trip through the ten Beaujolais Cru in the company of @billboll.bsky.social Some really fine wine, a lot of learning and the foundation for a lasting appreciation of what Gamay can be. Santé !
December 30, 2024 at 11:01 AM
An indisputable wine highlight of 2024 has been my virtual road trip through the ten Beaujolais Cru in the company of @billboll.bsky.social Some really fine wine, a lot of learning and the foundation for a lasting appreciation of what Gamay can be. Santé !
Sod it, it’s Christmas, more champagne
December 25, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Sod it, it’s Christmas, more champagne
A final highlight in this year’s virtual road trip through the 10 Beaujolais Cru with @billboll.bsky.social Delicious the Bonnet Cotton Côte de Brouilly 2021, a wine which, on its label, bears a slogan that will be one of my life's guides from here on in: "Trust in Gamay". Indeed I will. Santé !
December 23, 2024 at 8:24 PM
A final highlight in this year’s virtual road trip through the 10 Beaujolais Cru with @billboll.bsky.social Delicious the Bonnet Cotton Côte de Brouilly 2021, a wine which, on its label, bears a slogan that will be one of my life's guides from here on in: "Trust in Gamay". Indeed I will. Santé !
Well, despite me making a hash of the uncorking, the wine itself was in really good shape as it approaches its 40th birthday. Salut!
December 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Well, despite me making a hash of the uncorking, the wine itself was in really good shape as it approaches its 40th birthday. Salut!
My oh my, this was good. Don’t ask me what’s in it, as apparently Claude Courtois draws on 30 or so varieties for the Racines Rouge. Gonna have to drink another of these with @billboll.bsky.social in 2025 as we hit the (virtual) Loire trail
December 17, 2024 at 8:52 PM
My oh my, this was good. Don’t ask me what’s in it, as apparently Claude Courtois draws on 30 or so varieties for the Racines Rouge. Gonna have to drink another of these with @billboll.bsky.social in 2025 as we hit the (virtual) Loire trail
On a wet and grey winter’s day, this wine has brought the light and scent of spring to my table. If you are yet to discover what Frappato can be in the hands of Arianna Occhipinti, then one of life’s great pleasures still awaits you. Salut !
December 12, 2024 at 8:17 PM
On a wet and grey winter’s day, this wine has brought the light and scent of spring to my table. If you are yet to discover what Frappato can be in the hands of Arianna Occhipinti, then one of life’s great pleasures still awaits you. Salut !
When a friend from the south gifts you this, you know you’re mixing with a good crowd. Such a beautiful wine, which despite its name I will not forget. And neither will I forget the generosity of @billboll.bsky.social
December 6, 2024 at 6:31 PM
When a friend from the south gifts you this, you know you’re mixing with a good crowd. Such a beautiful wine, which despite its name I will not forget. And neither will I forget the generosity of @billboll.bsky.social
The joy of living from the first sip, all for around €14. Lovely expression of Baga in this D.n.m.c (Dinâmico) Tinto 2023 (Bairrada region) from Filipa Pato & William Wouters
December 4, 2024 at 10:54 PM
The joy of living from the first sip, all for around €14. Lovely expression of Baga in this D.n.m.c (Dinâmico) Tinto 2023 (Bairrada region) from Filipa Pato & William Wouters
The week has started very well, a run through the wines of Fedellos do Couto in Cuvée3000 (Barcelona), led by their makers, Curro and Jesús
December 2, 2024 at 8:00 PM
The week has started very well, a run through the wines of Fedellos do Couto in Cuvée3000 (Barcelona), led by their makers, Curro and Jesús