We at PJ’s love a little funk in our wine, and that special character and complexity funky wines can offer. Our following selections include wines made with grape varieties that typically offer funky notes, such as Syrah, especially from the Northern Rhône; Grenache-based wines from the Southern Rhône and the south of France; and Cabernet Franc from the Loire or even the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

Other common sources of funky wines are organic or biodynamic wines. These wines are generally smaller production wines made by individuals who believe that their vineyards are living organisms. They abstain from using pesticides and chemicals that will poison the soil and neutralize their wines’ unique character—that distinctive aspect of each vineyard in a given vineyard. Many such winemakers also refrain from using fining, filtration, or agents that can take down the funk.

We encourage everyone to explore the wild and sometimes heady world of funky wine.

France

’05 Domaine du Cros “Lo Sang del Païs” Marcillac $9.99
This charming and distinctive red shows aromas of violet, black plum, cherry, iron and damp earth. It also offers subtle undertones of Niçoise olive and green pepper. The palate is fresh and supple with ripe and fleshy plum skin flavors. The finish is long, satisfying, and laced with hints of chocolate, pepper, and pansies.

’90 Olga Raffault “Les Picasses” Chinon Loire Valley $49.99
The nose of this elegant library release opens with a haze of smoky barnyard hay and leather followed by crushed mixed berries interwoven with tobacco, tar, and hints of spicy game and minerals. On the palate, the wine is silky, almost suave, delivering waves of pure blackberry fruit surrounded by garrigue, smoke, and orange rind. Very complex and long.

’03 Redortier Suzette Gigondas Rhône Valley $34.99
This rich, elegant Gigondas features deep, ripe fruit and lacy animal undertones. The nose is filled with fragrant blackberry and black cherry with hints of fur, game ,and pepper. On the mouth dense and juicy fruit is balanced by iron and black pepper inflections. The finish is rich and long. Serve with pork chops or braised beef.

’06 Sablonnettes “Les Copines Aussi” Carignan Blend Anjou Loire Valley $13.99
This wine sings with deep scents of raspberry and creamy black cherry. The palate is loaded with ripe red fruit flavors of cherry and raspberry. Orange peel, cool mint, zingy mineral, and hints of musky earth plus a pleasing dollop of creamy acidity. Best served slightly chilled!

’04 J.M.B. Sorrel Hermitage $51.99
This affordable Hermitage offers a complex nose of red cherries, dried mushrooms, bacon fat, and damp earth. On the palate it has intense flavors of deep red berries, earth, roasted meat, and good acidity. It is full-bodied with superfine tannins and a finish of red berries and roasted meat that goes on and on.

Italy

Spain

USA