a new old world.
release 31. january 2025.
a new old world.
release 31. january 2025.
a new old world. release 31. january 2025.
I can’t promise you a lot, but I can promise that in 2025, we will learn how to become better versions of ourselves. Crunchy Red Fruit started as a personal project to answer the question “what would it look like if I shared the types of wines that I deeply believed in with people who were willing to explore with me?”
We have put (especially in the six-bottle release), three pairs of wines that represent something from the Old World (Europe) and the New World (Americas & Southern Hemisphere)–but rather than the sometimes “colonial” connotation of this, I want to use it to showcase just how special, unique and powerful the examples that aren’t from Europe are! There’s some incredible classic wines here, but also some wildly unique interpretations of these grapes. Tori Barr, our chef partner for this release, has paired a single dish for each set of wines to showcase their versatility, and to inspire you to open these pairs in tandem so you can explore and taste for yourself!
Gorgiste Grüner Veltliner 2022
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Grapes: 100% Grüner Veltliner
ABV: 13%
Region: Rainmaker Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, WA
Winemaker: Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen
Viniculture: Organic and sustainably
Winemaking: Winemaking: 36 hours on skins, light bentonite juice fining, spontaneous fermentation in 50% stainless steel and 50% concrete egg, aged 4 months on fine lees.
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“This wine reads like Granny Smith Apple and Bartlett Pear smashed against river rock!”
Jackson’s Notes:
“Hey man, do you have any white left?” I text as I check in with one of my favorite winemakers, Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen, to see if he has wine I can put in the club. “Grüner?” reads his reply, to which I write “Let’s do it.” As far as I know, Jeff was one of the first 2 or 3 people to attempt growing quality Grüner Veltliner in the Columbia Gorge here in Washington. He’s done a tremendous job here with this high-altitude fruit coming off of these vines above the Columbia River–it’s clean and earthy, but has an alpiney Pacific Northwest imprint all its own.
This wine reads like Granny Smith Apple and Bartlett Pear smashed against river rock–an upturned picnic basket by the banks of the mighty Columbia, strewn with wildflowers, ocean breeze and damp grass.
Food Pairing: Chicory Salad with Smoked Oysters by chef Tori Barr (see PDF link above)
Music: “Exit Time” by Chris Joss
Description: something about this song’s twang and crispness reminded me of a peppery Grüner
Alois Kracher Grüner Veltliner 2022
Grapes: 100% Grüner Veltliner
ABV: 13% ABV
Region: Burgenland, Austria
Winemaker: Gerhard Kracher
Viniculture: organically farmed
Winemaking: Manual harvest and selection of the grapes; gentle pressing and clarification of the must; slow fermentation at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks, aging on the lees in steel tanks for 5-7 months.
“green apple, fresh honey and new rain.”
Jackson’s Notes:
The Kracher family is behind some of the most interesting wines I’ve ever had. Based in Austria’s Burgendland region on the shores of the large, shallow lake Neusiedlersee, they are considered one of the world’s foremost producers of late-harvest sweet wines.
Making sweet wines takes immense patience and skill. When this focus is turned towards the production of dry white wines, the results can be gorgeous. This Grüner is a very different expression than the more “typical” Grüners made in other parts of Austria like the Wachau. Here we find a profound lifted floral character along with Grüner-y mineral notes, and plenty of green apple, fresh honey and new rain. This is perfect with lighter fare like fish, pickled vegetables or salads.
Food Pairing: Chicory Salad with Smoked Oysters by chef Tori Barr (see PDF link above)
Music: “One of Us” by Slenderbodies
Description: I couldn’t resist this wonderful, thoughtful, vibey song. Just feels like something you can put on and enjoy while sipping.
Poe Dolcetto 2022
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Grapes: 100% Dolcetto
ABV: 12.5%
Region: Split Rock Ranch Vineyard, Mendocino, CA
Winemaker: Samantha Sheehan
Viniculture: Split Rock Ranch is farmed organically, and this Dolcetto is pulled from old vines on the property–a very special, cool place!
Winemaking:: All lots were destemmed, crushed lightly, and fermented in stainless steel at our home in Rutherford With the broad array of sources, picking started on September 6th but didn' t finish until October 18th. After finishing their fermentations, the Flycatcher lots were aged in a combination of 2- to 5-year-old oak barrels for 8 months, with two gentle rackings. No new oak was used in Flycatcher.
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“wild strawberry, arugula and sweet tomato”
Jackson’s Notes:
This was a wine that elicited a collective “wow” from the team in the shop–what a surprisingly delightful and juicy red. The general vibe and flavor profile of this won’t catch any longtime subscribers off-guard, as you know we love a chillable, brilliant, food-friendly red.
In Dolcetto’s native Piedmont region, you’ll see these wines made in a lush, spicy, grippy style that’s perfect with pizza or lighter meat dishes. This is a more bright and juicy style made by the clever minds at Poe. It’s a fun counterpoint to the Voerzio Dolcetto in this month’s six bottle box–they’re both delicious and classic in their own ways, although this lovely California red suggests they should be planting more of it in Mendocino! It’s full of wild strawberry, arugula and sweet tomato notes.
Food Pairing: Herbed Boar + Pancetta Ragù by Tori Barr (see PDF for recipe)
Music: “Table for Glasses” by JOSEPH
Description: I love the original by Jimmy Eat World - my millennial emo kid roots continue to show. This cover by JOSEPH does true justice to the original’s emotive vibe and build, crescendoing fantastically with waves of harmony.
Roberto Voerzio “Priavino” Dolcetto 2022
Grapes: 100% Dolcetto
ABV: 14%
Region: Alba, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy
Winemaker: Roberto Voerzio
Viniculture:
Winemaking: stainless steel fermented and aged to preserve primary fruit.
“spiced plum, wild blueberry and curing spices”
Wine Summary:
AH! I am so stoked to put this wine in your box. It’s not every release that we can throw down with a top-flight producer’s wine, but this is one of those times. Roberto Voerzio makes some absolutely incredible wines, and this Dolcetto is made with the same love and care that go into his $350+ per bottle Barolo wines.
So this wine is to be contrasted with the Poe Dolcetto (6 bottle release) and is a showcase of how lovely these richer, quality bottlings of the Dolcetto grape can be. This has notes of spiced plum, wild blueberry and curing spices, as well as a lovely palate that brings rich, powerful fruit and keeps giving and giving on your second and third sips. It’s a showcase not just of the winemaker’s brilliance, but of how good this grape can be in the right hands.
Food Pairing: Herbed Boar + Pancetta Ragù by Tori Barr (see PDF for recipe)
Music: “Space” by Luttrell
Description: starts ethereal, comes on with a rich middle, stays with you.
Clos des Fous “Grillos Cantores” 2020
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.5%
Region: Valle de Cachapoal, Chile
Winemaker: Pedro Parra, Francois Massoc, Paco Leyton and Albert Cussen
Viniculture: organically-farmed vineyards in the southern part of Chile’s central valley (Maule)
Winemaking: wild yeast fermentation, 18 months in stainless steel and concrete tank
“cassis, mint and tobacco”
Jackson’s Notes:
This lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is meant to contrast the Bordeaux offering in this box. I wanted to showcase that just because something is “new world,” it doesn’t automatically mean that it’s bigger or higher alcohol. The more gentle of the two wines is the Chilean one, not the French one!
This single vineyard Cabernet from Clos des Fous showcases how absolutely incredible Chilean wine has gotten–the work is being done in the vineyard and winery to produce varietally expressive wines with a real sense of terroir and quality. This has classic Cabernet notes of cassis, mint and tobacco, but with a distinctly Chilean edge of freshly cut herbs and dusty backroads.
Food Pairing: Blackened Lamb Chop w/ Blackberry Herb Chutney by chef Tori Barr
Music: “Ghost (Find Me Again)” by Klangphonics + Anna Metko
Description: great beat, great vibes, nice and uplifting
Château Gaby “Princess Gaby” 2015
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Grapes: 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
ABV: 15.%
Region: Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux, France
Winemaker: Damien Landouar
Viniculture: organically-farmed vineyards in the Canon-Fronsac region of Bordeaux’s right bank, surrounding Château Gaby.
Winemaking notes from The Walls: The 20
“dark chocolate and smoky tobacco”
Wine Summary:
I thought you deserved a lovely, aged, textural red from a classic region in this box! Princess Gaby is produced by the modern and exciting Château Gaby on Bordeaux’s right bank, in the emerging Canon-Fronsac region.
Merlot reigns supreme on the right bank, and it really blossoms into its potential in warm years where the heat makes for velvety, soft Merlot wines that can pair with food but still have plenty of power in their makeup. This one showcases silky red plummy fruit, lovely green bay leaf notes, and a finish of dark chocolate and smoky tobacco. It’s a surprisingly good wine with a decade of combined barrel and bottle age. Curl up with this one by the fireplace, preferably with a good book in hand. Pair it with richer foods and stewed things!
Food Pairing: Blackened Lamb Chop w/ Blackberry Herb Chutney by chef Tori Barr
Music: “Old Tape” (feat. Adam Granduciel) by Lucius
Description: something spicy and deep to go with a wine that feels soft and lived-in like a buttery recliner