I recently attended a fascinating tasting event titled "Unusual Grape Varieties" hosted by Anna Kielsznia, the General Manager at Shrine To The Vine in Broadway Market. As a fan of lesser-known grape varieties, I was excited to explore eight unique wines highlighted during the evening.
Champagne Olivier Horiot Petit Meslier 2018 (France)
This wine is made from a rare grape found in Champagne, Petit Meslier, with only 20 hectares planted in France. Horiot produces this from just two of their seven hectares in the Côtes des Bar. This complex wine offers ripe apple flavors, baked pastry, nuts, honey, and a bright, salty finish. A remarkable sip with a score of 95/100.
Sclavos Tsaousi 2024 (Kefalonia, Greece)
The Sclavos family, known for their biodynamic farming, produces Tsaousi, a grape with disputed origins. This rounded wine exhibits lovely pear and white peach notes with a salty, refined purity, earning it a 94/100.
Etienne Courtois Les Cailloux du Paradis Romorantin 2022 (Vin de France)
Romorantin is an exclusive varietal in the Cheverny AOC. This natural wine has no added sulfites, presenting floral, honeyed aromas and a lively palate with textured stony notes. It rates at 94/100.
Niepoort ‘Ururabo’ Gouveio 2019 (Douro, Portugal)
Gouveio is a unique white variety made under flor in sherry casks. This golden wine combines texture and power, with subtle flor characteristics and a finish that is both expressive and salty. It deserves a 95/100.
Matassa ‘Romanissa’ Lledoner Pelut 2024 (Roussillon, France)
Known as ‘hairy Grenache’, Lledoner Pelut brings bright red fruits with a peppery edge. This is a pure and linear wine, with a touch of tannin on the finish, scoring 94/100.
Suertes del Marqués ‘Los Pasitos’ Baboso Negro 2022 (Orotava, Tenerife)
Baboso Negro, sharing similarities with Portugal’s Alfrocheiro, is known for its linear structure and brimming with black cherries and peppery notes. This wine captures purity and energy, achieving a score of 95/100.
Fattoria Ruschi Noceti Pòllera 2021 (Tuscany, Italy)
With roots in preserving rare vine varieties, Pòllera offers an expressive palate of wild strawberry, cherry, and raspberry, finished with a musky edge. This lovely wine earns a 94/100.
Viúva Gomes Colares Tinto Ramisco 2017 (Portugal)
The Colares region has drastically reduced its vineyard area, yet this Ramisco variety produces age-worthy wines full of structure. Its savory flavor profile hints at black fruits and sour cherry, achieving a respectable 93/100.
The evening was not only enjoyable but also educational, as Anna adeptly presented each wine and its origins. This tasting highlighted the rich diversity of lesser-known grape varieties, urging wine lovers to broaden their horizons.