Morgan Diamant

9.2

2019 Kobatl Rumble in the jungle. Made from Sauvignac in styria Austria. Grown on Volcanic soils, Fungus and disease resistant (PIWI) hybrid of Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, & unknown hybrid grape.
peach skins, dill, basil, slight bitterness from skin contact, more peach, saltiness, dried florals lime skin. True Balance of familiar and unfamiliar

Vineyard/cellar stats: organic farming, volcanic soils; macerated on the skins for a few days then gently pressed, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak barrels, bottled unfined, unfiltered with no added sulfites, no temperature control; zero-zero; 12.5% ABV

Kobatl is an organic garage winery, working with only fungus resilient grape varieties (PIWI) in the part of Austria with mineral-rich volcanic soils on a 3.3 hectare organic estate, cultivated by Michael, who fell in love with natural wines during his travels. He returned home and found out that his own area is one of the most unique wine regions of the world, with volcanic soil and an illyrian climate (transitional climate between mediterranean, alpine and pannonian climates) that are a magical combo for vines, and as it turns out, apples too. Their property has an old apple orchard alongide pristine grape vines of the PIWI variety, with lush grasses growing throughout that are happily grazed by the family sheep Hanni, Franni, Ganni, Sanni and Nanni. And what's PIWI, you ask? These are hybrid grapes crossed specifically for disease resistance - the new grape babies are so tough, no mold, insect or other ailment can infect them. They are SUPERGRAPES that need no treatment of any sort in the vineyard, making organic farming/natural winemaking easy peasy. People, this is the future!

Rumble in the Jungle is technically an orange wine, since the PIWI grape Sauvignac spends a few days cuddling with its skins, though the color is luminous gold. The nose is aromatic, like peaches, grass and summer sunshine, and it tastes like the most glorious combo of peaches, basil and juicy, salty tomato -- the perfect summer salad in a glass! Not grippy or tannic, just pure sunshine, which we could all use now as winter sets in. — a year ago

Connor Smith

9.4

There are a lot of California wineries out there that are valuable to the man at the top mostly as a way to impress their friends. There are not many that are primarily a way to satisfy the founder’s hopeless geekery for wine, soil, weather, and getting his hands dirty. 🍇🌞💨⛏

Kevin Harvey made his money in Silicon Valley as an entrepreneur and investor. But his journey to winemaking didn’t begin with a business transaction, but by planting vines in his backyard and vinifying it himself in his garage. He had the itch: he had to get real with it.

Harvey has spent most of the past 20 years developing brand new vineyard sites - often targeting old Christmas tree farms! He is deeply involved with research, planning, getting soil and grape analytics, setting up weather stations, and viticulture - though, with the fruits of his labor (pun intended) being of such remarkable potential, it is perhaps wise to turn the cellar work over to veteran winemaker Jeff Brinkman to realize it.

The result of Harvey’s outstanding grape material and Brinkman’s capable hands in undeniable. In a world full of California winemakers trying to take their shot at Burgundy, Rhys has accomplished what so often gets lost in the pursuit of style: an honest and clear communication from the vines. That’s the true Burgundian spirit.

Harvey has said their goal is to get you “staring into a glass of vineyard”. This Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir, facing west toward the Pacific taking in a daily blanket of foggy marine layer, can only come from one place. In what seems like the blink of an eye, Rhys has become one of the most celebrated wines in America, with good reason. 🇺🇸🍷 — 5 years ago

Aaron Means

9.0

Like Action Bronson says, "This tastes like adult grape juice!" Super fun wine, immense food friendliness. Such versatility. Wreaks of VA and fennel. Tastes like bright raspberries, underripe cherry, floral, and fennel. Natural wine. I might kill this whole bottle watching football. — 7 years ago

Barberry Garden

9.5

This bottle was tasted blind after a lengthy wine-tasting event. I was given two hints - it's available in Garage (Sabotage), and I haven't tasted it yet. Initially (???), my drunken mind suggested Clandestin. But after Vova asked me about the grape, I was like - shit, it's definitely Pinot Meunier. The wine is expressive, complex, aged (hehe, what an irony) and as delicious as promises of Heaven. It must be Bedel, and Jouvence is (probably) the only bottle I haven't tasted so far. Bingo!

What can I say? It's an incredible wine. Charming notes of mushrooms and wet cellar interleaved with honey, brioche, nuts, Jerez and honeysuckle. Intense, saline, perfectly balanced and prolonged. What else do you need? Authentic elixir of youth (c).

Disgorged in January 2020
72 months on lees

Tasted on 2023-07-04 — a year ago

Paul T HB

9.2

Interesting wine that I obviously opened too soon
Parker 95
K&L notes

Derek Mossman began Garage Wine Company at a time when there were relatively few smaller, family owned wineries in Chile. He not only started his venture to produce hand made wines on a human scale, but also to buy fruit from and support farmers with great quality fruit throughout the country. Along the way, he also banded together a group of like minded wineries to create MOVI, a platform to promote smaller production wineries in Chile.

2016 The Ploughmen Carignan Field Blend of Carignan, Garnacha and Mataró (Monastrell, they seem to use French, Spanish or American grape names interchangeably!) bottled exclusively for UK importers Bibendum. — 4 years ago

S. Schie

9.9

This is a gem! I really love this wine and was happy to buy it online for my cellar. Very good taste/price ratio, highly recommended. Taste of summer red berries. 2018 was one of the best if not the best vintage in Germany and you can taste it! — 5 years ago

Toby Aldenhoven

9.5

Found this bottle of organic beautifulness in the garage. From my favourite french region and involves the Carrignan grape giving it exceptional body. This along with the six years it’s had to mellow a bit make it a real treat. — a year ago

Kevin Løk

9.0

First wine grape planted in North America? You have my attention. Fascinating history of this varietal that I highly recommend reading up on if you’re lucky to have a friend like @Brendan Devine buy you the Wine Grapes tome. The wine itself is really tasty, desert-like in your mouth and has that full almost raisiny note that a lot of natural wines have. Give it a shot. — 4 years ago

with Caroline

Awe Some

9.0

An Elke-based wine, from when she and he partnered out of her winery. Dusty and faint grape jolly rancher in the glass. Boysenberry, slightly pine-y, and wet stone on the nose. Sour cherry, stem, mossy, and touch of leather on the palate. A layer of smoke and pear on the finish. Deliciously rustic, with nice subtleties. Opens up over 2 days nicely (opened in Dec 2019). The best kind of "garage wine', right here. — 5 years ago

Tim Eller

9.0

A collection of grape haymakers in a bottle. Great big fruit that comes from varietals known for body and presence (Cab, Merlot, petite sirah) almost overpower the stolid, subtle tannins in this Tank offering. A little spice hangs around for the looooong finish. I'd file this one "crazy casual". — 6 years ago