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Month: July 2026

Wine of the Week

The Savoie-faire

Published 31. July 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

Here is a vibrant expression of mondeuse, Savoie’s signature red grape. Nestled between dramatic mountains and cool lakes, Savoie is one of France’s most distinctive wine regions, where altitude and Alpine influences produce wines of freshness, precision and remarkable purity.

Domaine Genoux is a family estate based in Arbin, at the heart of the finest terroirs for mondeuse. The vineyards are farmed organically, with great care for biodiversity and soil health, while the cellar philosophy is one of minimal intervention, allowing each vintage and vineyard to speak for themselves.

La Belle Romaine is made from hand-harvested mondeuse, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged mainly in tank to preserve the grape’s vivid fruit, peppery character and natural energy. The result is a wine that is both authentic and highly drinkable, capturing the distinctive personality of Alpine viticulture.

La Belle Romaine 2024 (Domaine Genoux – Château de Mérande)

Deep ruby with a dark purple core in appearance. The nose offers blackberry and crushed black cherry, complemented by violets, mountain herbs and a hint of graphite. The palate is fresh and finely structured, with juicy dark berry fruit, vibrant acidity and silky tannins leading to a long, mineral finish. A beautifully balanced and expressive example of mondeuse, combining purity, depth and finesse.

Price: Medium

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Wine of the Week

Yecla ancestral

Published 24. July 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

From the limestone vineyards of Yecla in Murcia comes Ancestral Bizarría 2024, a sparkling expression of malvasía that combines Mediterranean warmth with remarkable freshness. Grown at around 650 metres above sea level, the vineyards benefit from warm, dry days and cool nights, helping the grapes retain both acidity and aromatic complexity.

Bizarría Wines is the personal project of Vicente Ovejero, dedicated to reviving indigenous varieties and producing wines with minimal intervention. The vineyards are farmed organically, the grapes are harvested by hand, and fermentation takes place spontaneously with native yeasts. Every decision in the cellar is aimed at preserving the vineyard’s natural character.

Produced using the ancestral method, the wine undergoes a single spontaneous fermentation that finishes in bottle, creating its fine, natural mousse. Extended ageing on the lees, together with careful handling of the fruit, gives the wine its layered texture and distinctive golden colour with amber highlights, while remaining completely dry with no dosage.

Enjoyed at La Gracia natural wine bar in Murcia.

Ancestral Bizarría 2024 (Bizarría Wines)

Deep golden with glowing amber reflections and a delicate, persistent mousse. The nose opens with ripe orchard fruit, preserved lemon, Mediterranean herbs, dried flowers and freshly baked bread, underpinned by subtle notes of almonds and honeycomb. The palate is bone dry yet generous, combining creamy texture with vibrant acidity and a marked saline minerality. A gentle phenolic grip carries through to a long, complex and gastronomic finish.

Price: Medium

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Wine of the Week

Magnificent monastrell

Published 17. July 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

There is another side to Jumilla. Beyond the powerful, sun-drenched reds lies a new generation of winemakers searching for freshness, elegance and a more transparent expression of monastrell. Camaleónica 2022 by Doble de Pérez is a perfect example of this exciting movement.


Doble de Pérez is a small family micro-winery committed to expressing place. Jennifer Pérez Pérez is in charge of the winemaking. The grapes come from 50-year-old ungrafted monastrell vines growing at around 900 metres above sea level on limestone soils in the Hoya de Santa Ana vineyard. Hand-harvested fruit is fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, without unnecessary additives. Around a quarter of the grapes undergo carbonic maceration with whole bunches, while the remainder is gently crushed and fermented separately before the wine spends six months ageing in a combination of clay amphorae and previously used 300-litre French oak barrels. It is bottled unfiltered and unfined, with only a very small addition of sulphur.


Camaleónica 2022 (Doble de Pérez)


In the glass, the wine shows a bright ruby colour with youthful purple highlights. The nose offers wild red berries, woodland herbs, strawberry, carob and delicate floral notes. The palate is vibrant and silky, combining juicy red fruit with lively acidity, fine-grained tannins and a mineral backbone that gives remarkable freshness for monastrell. Long, energetic and beautifully balanced.

Price: Medium

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Wine of the Week

Pim Pam of Penedès

Published 10. July 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

Produced by Vinyes Singulars in the hills of Alt Penedès, Catalunya, this wine reflects a landscape that is often overshadowed by Cava but is increasingly recognised for its vibrant, terroir-driven still wines. Old vineyards, limestone and clay soils, Mediterranean sunshine tempered by cooler nights and sea breezes all contribute to the wine’s freshness and energy. 

The estate is run by Ignasi Seguí, whose family has cultivated these lands since the early 15th century. Farming is organic, and the philosophy in the cellar is one of minimal intervention: indigenous yeasts, no fining or filtration, and no added sulphites. Pim Pam is a field blend of traditional local varieties including xarel·lo, macabeu, parellada, malvasia de Sitges, garnatxa blanca and sumoll blanc, creating a wine that captures both the vintage and the character of Penedès. 

Pim Pam 2023 (Vinyes Singulars)

Lightly hazy with a deep golden straw colour. Salty lemon, ripe citrus, melon, Mediterranean herbs, white flowers and a subtle savoury, nutty nuance. On the palate it’s fresh yet textural, with lively acidity, citrus fruit, mineral salinity and a gentle phenolic grip. The finish is long, savoury and remarkably refreshing.

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Wine of the Week

Alvarelhão rosé for summer

Published 3. July 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

When people think of Monção and Melgaço, they almost always think of alvarinho. Yet this cool, Atlantic corner of northern Portugal is also home to a number of fascinating indigenous red varieties. One of the most distinctive is alvarelhão – a historic grape that was traditionally used for light, fresh red wines. In recent years, however, a growing number of producers have discovered its remarkable potential for elegant rosés, where its naturally vibrant acidity and delicate red-fruit character come beautifully into focus.

This wine is made by Quinta de Santiago, a family-owned estate with deep roots in Monção. The family farms its vineyards sustainably, with great respect for the local terroir, aiming to produce wines that express purity rather than power. This alvarelhão rosé 2024 is made entirely from alvarelhão, with gentle pressing and careful temperature-controlled fermentation to preserve the grape’s freshness, aromatic purity and vibrant Atlantic character.

Alvarelhão 2024 (Quinta de Santiago)

Brilliant pale salmon with delicate copper highlights. The nose is refined and expressive, offering wild strawberries, raspberries, pink grapefruit, rose petals and a subtle hint of fresh herbs. The palate is dry, crisp and beautifully balanced, combining juicy red berry fruit with citrus freshness and a fine mineral backbone. The finish is long, clean and mouth-watering, making this an irresistible summer rosé and a superb partner for seafood, grilled fish and Mediterranean cuisine.

Price: Low

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