WineSiders Wine of The Day

2021 Thoma 24 Merlot & Cabernet Franc

Overview & Context

From Winnice Czajkowski, one of Poland’s largest and most forward-looking estates, comes Thoma 24 — a Bordeaux-inspired blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day. While Charbielin pushes cool-climate whites, Czajkowski is intent on showing that Polish terroir can carry structured, elegant reds. With its modern label and bold stance, Thoma 24 is very much a statement wine.

Aromas & Nose

Lifted, expressive aromatics of dark cherries, ripe plums, and blackberries open the show. Subtler layers of violets, cocoa powder, and clove peek through. A hint of tobacco leaf and dried herbs underscores the Cabernet Franc element.

Palate & Flavor Profile

Polished and smooth — the first impression is dark fruit, fleshy but never heavy. Black cherry and plum dominate the mid-palate, joined by bittersweet chocolate and a brush of baking spice. Tannins are present yet velvety, lending support without grip. The acidity keeps everything lively, preventing the 13.5% alcohol from weighing down the wine.

Balance & Harmony

Where many Polish reds can feel rustic, Thoma 24 aims for refinement. The fruit, oak, tannin, and alcohol are in clear alignment. It’s medium-bodied, layered, and shows restraint — more elegance than sheer power.

Drinkability, Cellaring & Pairing

Accessible now, though it will hold for another 3–5 years as secondary notes of spice and leather deepen. Pair with roasted duck, braised beef cheeks, venison, or hard cheeses. It also works with mushroom-based dishes where earthy flavors echo the wine’s darker undertones.

Verdict

Thoma 24 is an ambitious red blend from Poland, but it succeeds in balancing familiarity with intrigue. It nods to Bordeaux while letting Polish terroir add its accent. This is not just a curiosity — it’s a confident, well-structured red that shows the credibility of Poland’s emerging wine landscape.

And that’s why the Thoma 24 is today’s, Winesiders Wine of The Day.

Today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day lands outside the traditional centers of viticulture. The Dom Charbielin “C” Souvignier Gris 2023 steps into the spotlight from Poland — a region only beginning to draw international curiosity. With this bottle, Charbielin stakes a claim: Poland can make serious white wines.

Origin & Context

This wine hails from Charbielin, a producer pursuing sustainable / low-intervention practices in Poland. The 2023 vintage is the label’s “C” bottling — an expression of Souvignier Gris, a white grape with aromatic proclivities that thrives in cooler climates. While Poland is not yet among the household names of wine, “emerging region” is no longer an excuse — it’s an opportunity.

Aromas & Nose

On first swirl, the nose offers a crisp citrus lift: lime peel, grapefruit, and a drop of green apple. As it breathes, whispers of white florals and stone fruit (think white peach) emerge, and beneath lies a subtle mineral / wet-stone nuance, hinting at the terroir’s presence.

Palate & Flavor Profile

This wine isn’t all lightness — the palate delivers mid-weight structure. The citrus and green apple flavors move forward with energy. A faint creamy note on the mid-palate suggests some lees contact, smoothing the edges. The acidity is lively but integrated. In the finish, the wine leans toward herbal tension — gentle tea leaf, faint flintiness, and lingering citrus skin.

Balance & Harmony

The 12 % alcohol keeps things modest, letting acidity and fruit remain center stage. Residual sugar is low, giving overall dryness. Nothing feels forced; rather, the elements—fruit, acid, texture, and minerality—cohere into a unified statement. This is more than a novelty — it’s a credible wine with internal logic.

Drinkability, Cellaring & Pairing

This bottle drinks well now or over the next 2–4 years. It gains nuance with short aging — the herbal / mineral side may become more pronounced. For food, lean toward lighter proteins: grilled fish, shellfish, citrus-herb dressings, or goat cheeses. Asian dishes with ginger / citrus accents will also resonate.

Verdict

The Dom Charbielin “C” Souvignier Gris 2023 isn’t about heavy extraction or showmanship. It’s about place, restraint, and a hint of ambition. It may not rival the white greats of the world, but it stands tall among wines from regions striving to find their voice. For enthusiasts interested in the fringes of viticulture, this is a wine to explore and appreciate.

And that’s why the Dom Charbielin “C” Souvignier Gris 2023 is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day

When I first sipped the Vigneti Tardis “Lunedi” Rosato 2022, I was struck immediately by its ambition — in that it carries hints of orange-wine contour without losing its rosé brightness.

Vigneti Tardis is a relatively recent project (started around 2017) in the Cilento hills, and the “La Settimana” line (days of the week) positions this Lunedi as their Monday/starting point. 

This bottle earns your attention: light on the surface, but intent in its structure.

The nose is compelling with wild strawberry and redcurrant fruit at the forefront, but there’s a spice twist—white pepper and dried herbs—plus a faint citrus peel brightness. That skin contact (3 weeks on Fiano skins) gives a whisper of texture and depth to the bouquet. 

A slight flinty- or stone-like minerality dances behind the fruit, giving lift and breath.

On the palate, it’s medium in body: fruit-driven but with backbone. The Primitivo brings along that red berry richness — cherry, raspberry — while the skin contact influence (from Fiano skins) gives nuanced tannin grip and a textured finish. 

Acidity stays fresh, giving lift especially in the mid-palate. The wine avoids heaviness; instead, it’s lithe, tensioned, and engaging.

The finish lingers with saline edge, a peppery note, and a slight echo of dried herbs. The structure, fruit, and minerality remain in equilibrium — nothing dominates. It feels like a rosato that could evolve with a bit more age (2–4 years), though it’s already rewarding now.

Compared to the flood of pale Provençal rosés, Lunedi stands apart by virtue of its structure and skin-contact subtlety. It leans more toward the orange/rosé hybrid style, yet keeps a rosé’s freshness. In its price class, it offers more intrigue than many straightforward pink wines.

Within the usual more rustic wines of Campania, this is a forward-looking wine that embraces innovation while respecting local varieties and soil.

Food Pairing + Drinking Window

Great with seafood (grilled prawns, scallops), Mediterranean salads with herbs, or dishes with a bit of spice (Moroccan-style grilled chicken). It will shine now through the next 2–3 years, but if cellared gently it may add tertiary notes beyond that window.

Verdict / Takeaway

The 2022 Vigneti Tardis “Lunedi” Paestum Rosato is a rosé that wants to be taken seriously — playful yet structured, with skin contact adding complexity without overpowering lightness. An excellent expression of Campanian innovation in rosé.

That’s why it’s today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.

Discovering English still wines feels like stumbling upon a well-kept secret in plain sight. The 2023 Henners Gardner Street Classic arrives from a respected Sussex producer that has become part of England’s evolving wine landscape. What’s immediately clear is the ambition: crafting a still wine in a country better known for its sparkling expressions.

A blend of Bacchus and Chardonnay (typically around 90% Bacchus, 10% Chardonnay), the nose suggests a lively aromatic profile. There’s a crisp, mineral-driven opening with hints of green apple and citrus zest, accompanied by subtle floral notes that speak to England’s cool-climate advantages. A faint herbaceous quality—perhaps nettle or fresh grass—adds complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

The palate reveals a wine of surprising depth and focus. Medium-bodied with bright acidity that cuts cleanly through the fruit flavors. Stone fruit notes emerge—white peach, perhaps some pear—balanced by a mineral backbone that suggests chalky soils. The texture is clean and precise, with enough weight to avoid feeling thin, yet maintaining the freshness that defines quality English whites.

The finish is clean and persistent, with citrus notes lingering alongside a pleasant mineral salinity. The balance feels well-judged—neither too austere nor overly fruity. There’s a sense of place here, tied to Henners’ Sussex vineyards and their chalky terroir.

This wine positions itself among England’s growing roster of serious still wines. It shares DNA with quality English whites from established regions like Kent or Sussex—that characteristic brightness and mineral precision that comes from marginal climate winemaking. The “Classic” designation suggests this may be a flagship bottling.

Pair with fresh seafood, goat cheese salads, or light poultry dishes. As a 2023 vintage, this wine is likely intended for near-term consumption—drink within 2–3 years to capture its youthful freshness and bright fruit character.

The 2023 Henners Gardner Street Classic represents the promising direction of English still wine—focused, mineral-driven, and genuinely food-friendly. The combination of Bacchus and Chardonnay is particularly well-suited to Sussex’s cool climate, speaking clearly of quality intentions and careful winemaking.

Produttori di Manduria – Italian White from Puglia

Stumbling upon this bottle felt like discovering a hidden corner of Puglia’s wine landscape. Alice Verdeca from Produttori di Manduria represents the kind of indigenous Italian varietal that whispers stories of sun-baked limestone soils and ancient Mediterranean traditions. Verdeca, a native white grape of Puglia, rarely ventures beyond its homeland—making this encounter feel particularly intimate.

Aroma / Nose
The nose opens with bright citrus—lemon zest and green apple—layered with subtle herbal notes reminiscent of wild fennel and Mediterranean scrub. There’s a mineral backbone here, chalky and clean, with hints of white flowers (perhaps orange blossom) that speak to the grape’s southern Italian heritage. A faint saline quality emerges, as if the Adriatic breeze has somehow found its way into the glass.

Palate / Taste / Texture
On the palate, this Verdeca displays crisp acidity that immediately awakens the senses. The texture is lean yet purposeful—not austere, but focused. Flavors of green citrus dominate initially, followed by subtle stone fruit (white peach) and a distinctive herbal quality that feels uniquely Puglian. The mouthfeel has a pleasant mineral tension, with enough body to suggest this isn’t just a simple quaffing wine.

Finish & Balance
The finish is clean and persistent, with lingering citrus and a gentle bitter note—like the pith of a perfectly ripe lemon. The balance feels natural and unforced; the acidity provides structure without overwhelming the delicate fruit character. There’s an appealing salinity that emerges at the very end, adding complexity.

Comparisons & Value / Regional Notes
This Verdeca reminds me of other indigenous Italian whites that prioritize terroir expression over international appeal—think Falanghina from Campania or Pecorino from Abruzzo. Within Puglia’s context, it offers a refreshing alternative to the region’s more common Fiano or Greco bottlings.

All in all, the wine clearly reflects Manduria’s limestone-rich terroir.

Food Pairing + Drinking Window
Perfect alongside crudo di ricciola, grilled branzino, or Puglia’s famous burrata with a drizzle of local olive oil. The wine’s mineral backbone and citrus character would complement seafood beautifully. Drink now through 2025 while the primary fruit character remains vibrant.

Verdict / Takeaway
Alice Verdeca from Produttori di Manduria offers an authentic taste of Puglia’s indigenous wine culture. It’s a wine that doesn’t try to be anything other than itself—crisp, mineral-driven, and unmistakably southern Italian. For those seeking to explore beyond mainstream Italian whites, this represents excellent value and genuine regional character.

Today’s WineSider Wine of the Day is the 2019 Marabino Rosso di Contrada which exemplifies the artistry of Sicilian winemaking, especially from the organic and biodynamic perspectives. The 2019 vintage hails from the sun-drenched landscapes of Southeast Sicily, where the Marabino winery dedicates itself to expressing the full potential of local grape varietals through natural farming techniques.

Marabino’s approach to viticulture emphasizes harmony with nature, utilizing organic and biodynamic methods to cultivate vines that are robust and expressive of their terroir. The winery’s commitment to minimal intervention extends from the vineyard to the cellar, aiming to produce wines that are true representations of their origin.

The 2019 Rosso di Contrada is crafted primarily from Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s flagship grape, known for its bold flavors and adaptability to the region’s climate. The 2019 vintage presents a deep ruby hue, with an aromatic bouquet that blends notes of black cherries, plums, and a touch of herbal undertones, indicative of the organic practices employed during cultivation.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with a structure that balances fruit intensity with acidity, making it both approachable and age-worthy. The tannins are soft yet present, adding depth and leading to a clean, persistent finish that echoes with hints of spice and earthy nuances. At nearly age five the red wine shows how well it is developing in the bottle with at least another 5-7 years to go, but likely more with proper cellaring

Marabino’s 2019 Rosso di Contrada is incredibly versatile at the table. Its combination of fruit and acidity pairs wonderfully with Sicilian cuisine, such as pasta alla norma or grilled lamb. It also complements dishes with rich tomato-based sauces or aged cheeses, making it a go-to choice for varied culinary encounters.

The Marabino Rosso di Contrada 2019 is more than just a red wine to throw back and guzzle as it’s a reflection of Sicilian heritage and the winery’s dedication to ecological winemaking practices. For enthusiasts eager to explore high-quality, sustainably produced Sicilian wines, this bottle represents both tradition and innovation. It is a stellar choice for those who appreciate wines that speak of their place and principles. And that’s why the 2019 Malabino Rosso di Contrada is today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.