Yesterday I visited Vin-Vin, the new Helsinki wine bar, for the first time. It was fun. And it was about time we got a proper wine bar since we haven't had one in several years since the last one went bust. There was a good selection of bio, natural and organic wines, mostly from the importer Viinitie's lists - which means that you can't really go wrong with whatever you choose. Viinitie is one of two importers here that seems to only have good stuff on their list.
I had a glass of Antica Enotria's Falanghina 2011 which was a delight: citric and mineral, nervous and lively despite ripe fruit; nothing about this seems like it is from a hot region. Lovely stuff. But I've tasted so few Falanghinas that I still have no idea what its characteristics are. Anyone care to tell me more about the grape?
Then I had a glass of Éric Texier's Côtes-du-Rhône 2010 which was its lovely usual self: elegant rather than a blockbuster, lovely fresh and pure fruit, sweetish but less so than most Southern Rhônes. Refreshing and lovely. I love how Texier always manages to make such obviously terroiry wines but in a much more elegant style than most others.
There were many other favorite producers of mine - including two from Pépière! - available by glass so I think this will become a fairly regular place for me to drop by.