Meza Wine Club - July 2025
Enthusiast White / White
Wine 1: les vignes du fresches radicalment blanc
90% Chenin Blanc / 10% Chardonnay from organically cultivated vines in Anjou. Grapes are hand-harvested in September and slow-pressed whole-bunch in a pneumatic press. Spontaneous fermentation and aging for 5 months prior to bottling unfined, unfiltered, minimal (<15ppm) added SO2.
Anjou, France— A fresh, steely Chenin blend that channels purity and elegance. Delicate apple, crisp pear, lemon zest, subtle nutty and a waxy notes. Clean, linear and refreshing! 90% Chenin Blanc, 10% Chardonnay. Low S02
Wine 2: Florez Edelzwicker White
Florèz Wines was started by James Jelks in 2017. James grew up in the Santa Cruz area and was schooled in winemaking at nearby UC Davis. He worked in wineries all over the world for 10 years before returning home to make wine in the Santa Cruz area. He is farming some vineyards himself, always dry-farmed, and is also sourcing some fruit from organic and sustainable vineyards. He always works with native yeasts, does not use additives except for a minimal amount of sulfur at bottling, and does not filter the wines. The labels are Japanese-style woodcuts by James’s friend & tattoo artist Drew Nelson.
Grapes: 42% Pinot Gris, 33% Gewurtztraminer, 25% Riesling
Vineyard: Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer from McFadden Vineyard in Potter Valley. Alluvial and gravel loams. Certified organic, run by Guiness McFadden, “a tall war veteran, fluent in at least three languages with stories of being blown off a battle ship. He proudly farms his bucolic and remote property CCOF. Amongst the vineyard you’ll find composting projects and organic herbs and veggies growing. In 2022 he did not even find it necessary to apply organic sprays in the vineyard.”
2023’s Riesling from the fabled old vine (planted 1964) planting of Wirz vineyard in Cienega valley. The McFadden vineyards Riesling was becoming virused and unproductive so they are in the process of replanting. Grown in nutrient poor deep granitic and limestone soils, these old bush vines drive their roots deep into the earth in search of water and nutrients.
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