A shipment from Gnarly Vines

 

Gnarly wines wrap their bottles with love

our shipment of 4

Gnarly Wines is quite discrete. Their website is somewhat laconic. It is a shop, wine bar and importer in Walthamstow, London. It specialises in natural, organic and biodynamic wine. The usual details of who owns it or runs is are lacking apat from a suggestion that it is owned by Clapton Craft. 

This is strange because Gnarly Vines has a very lengthy repertoire of interesting wines obviously selected by a person or persons with knowledge and taste. As you can see from the nice way they wrap bottles there is an element of love in what they do.

Criolla mix, Bianco D'Alessano, Negrette and Pineau D'Aunis

We bought an Argentinian wine called 'El Montanista Criollas Tintas', This is a blend of Torrontés Sanjuanino, Torrontés Mendocino, Malvasías Criollas and Maticha.

'Criolla' varieties are descended from the first grapes brought to South America by the Conquistadors in the 16th Century. 'Criolla' is a catch all term to refer to these, but in reality there are a mind boggling number of different varieties - in Argentina alone, there are thought to be at least 54. (The Sourcing Table).

We need to research these Criollas more closely because our experience so far has probably been limited to Criolla Grande which is described as making 'humdrum wines' ('Wine Grapes'). 

Second from the right (above) is an Australian Bianco D'Alessano in the form of a Pet Nat from Riverland. Our love affair with Salena Estates Ink Series Bianco D'Alessano made this purchase almost obligatory. 

Next, one we have had before but also can't pass up when we see it, a 100% Negrette from Fronton.

Our fourth bottle was a Pineau D'Aunis called 'Topette'' Our faiblesse for Pineau D'Aunis also makes it hard to resist buying whenever we see one we haven't had before. This one is from Daviau, Brissac, Val de Loire and weighs in at only 10.5%.

Something these bottles had in common was a certain shyness around giving details of the grapes involved. 

1, Criolla. All we can learn from the back label is that 'Mountain farmers have grown these ancient criolla grapes in the foothills of the Andes for over 80 years.' The details above from The Sourcing Table were not included.

2. The Bianco D'Alessano has a kind of front label designed to put you off the scent. 'Tuff Nutt,' 'Deliquente,' not to mention the portrait of what is clearly a malefactor. The back label doesn't shed any light on this fascinating grape from Puglia. It just tries to underline the wine's independence. 

3. With the Negrette we are on more informative ground. The front label gives the synonyms of Negrette which is interesting for those who have never heard of this important grape. The back label doesn't add to this information. 

4. As for 'Topette,' nowhere iare the words 'Pineau D'Aunis' mentioned. Instead there the back label says

Topette. Vin de soif. Vin de convivialite. Vin pour porter des santes. Tutu pour s'arroser le gosier. Jja pour se deglacer la glotte. Pif a se gorgeonner entre copains. vin pour chopiner theologiquement. Vin a boire comme templier sur le soir. Jin jin du partage pour s'homecier le lampas. Piccolo pour licher un coup avec ses cenopotes. Vin gouleyant qui se laisse boire a grandes saillees. Vin facile et sincere. Il a de la rondeur de la cuisse et une pelle chute le rein. A boire frais avec tous plats et tartines.

The graphics are difficult to read but you are not missing much. Really, they should bring in breathalyser tests for people writing back labels.