Au Naturale (Episode Nine)
Cheers to another #ThirstyThursday, cutie pie!
This week, I’m taking a little dip into the world of Pét-Nat wines! Known formerly as pétillant-naturale, these fizzy and funky wines are so unique because of how they are made – not their actual style. Typically, grapes that may not create a very good still wine (according to the winemaker, of course) can go through the pét-nat process and be blending with other grapes to create a delicious masterpiece.
STILL WINE + YEAST + SUGAR = CARBON DIOXIDE —> PET-NAT!
For those wine lovers who like to experience different tastes, pét-nats are a great way to take a walk on the wild side. If you’re interested in learning more about the background of this funkdafied wine, check out this article, this one, and this one too.
Check out the full #ThirstyThursday episode along with my wine notes below, and be sure to let me know which pét-nat you’ll be sipping on this weekend - cheers!
WINE NOTES
WINE #1 - Lingot Martin Cuvee Suzanne Gamay Pet-Nat
ON THE EYES & NOSE: A pale salmon color. The aroma is a little funky and tart, with notes of floral and earth. Some citrus too – think grapefruit; definitely full of red fruit like sour cherry, strawberry.
ON THE PALATE: Medium-plus acidity, medium body, delicate sweetness from the strawberry. The bubbles are very, very tiny - they practically fade away when they hit your palate, but they give way to the full Gamay flavor profile of raspberry, sour cherry, and violet.
FOOD & WINE PAIRING: Keep in mind that this is a bubbly rosé, so this will pair well with almost anything. My suggestions: meats and cheese for a charcuterie board, spicy foods like Pad Thai, and yes - even barbeque.
CONCLUSION: 4 out of 5 wine glasses. This is absolutely porch pounder worthy. It retails at about $17 and it’s a French rosé so everyone will have no choice but to love it.
WINE #2 - Tank Garage Winery Super Geisha Pet-Nat Sparkling Wine
ON THE EYES AND NOSE: Has a lemon-green tint and it’s a little cloudy. Smells dusty but in a good way! Soft citrus notes – think lemon/lime, minerality (saline), a little spice - white pepper, is that you? Very herbaecous and floral.
ON THE PALATE: Medium-plus, very zippy acidity! Tart citrus flavors of lemon and pineapple. It’s light-bodied and dry, so it has a chalky finish which is great because I like my sparkling wines dry and not too sweet. Salt of the earth vibes and gives you a whole mouthfeel. Made up of 90% Picpoul and 10% Tocai Friulano
FOOD & WINE PAIRING: You could approach this bubbly almost like Champagne, so shellfish, seafood, fried fish, fried shrimp, and other fried foods would be a good compliment with this wine.
CONCLUSION: 5 out of 5 glasses. It’s funky and zippy with a finish reminds me of a yummy, affordable Champagne (it retails for $36). I’d totally share this with a few good friends on a cool summer evening.
