It’s a pleasure to write you today with a winter pairing.

I’m on a working retreat at the moment, looking at some mountain-y landscapes as I write. While this week’s wine and song duo was in the works before I arrived here, you’ll see how landscape and soundscape are all coming together.

Oh, and happy Valentine's Day.❤️

Juice

This week’s wine is from a producer I have admired for a long time, both because of what’s inside the bottle and on the outside: the labels are some of the most beautiful and unique on any shelf. I think of Marilyn Monroe’s line from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” about not marrying someone simply because they're rich or beautiful, but it ‘sure doesn’t hurt.’ In this case we have a rich, beautiful label, and the contents to match.

I’m captivated by Immich-Batterieberg’s rieslings. The Escheburg trocken* 2022, is blended from vines grown on the steep slopes of several top-notch vineyards in the Mosel region of Germany. A dry Riesling of this quality will make a convert of anyone who loves something nervy and mineralic, yet might still associate this grape with the sweeter stuff (talking to you, Mom.)

Permeated with slatey stone, the fruit has both concentration and edge. Its precision and tension have the ascendent energy of an ice-pic-chiseled mountain climb.

You can find the bottle here.

*"trocken" means dry -- good word to know if that's what you like.

Jazz

Jared Schonig is one of my favorite drummers both to play with and listen to (you may recognize him as the drummer on “Holidays”.)

The drive, intensity and angularity of “Climb” on Two Takes v.2 (2021, Anzic) lives up to its title. The air feels thinner from the outset, something about that fine flute section and the insistence of the lower register of the band.

Schonig’s clarity and precision give the track backbone and laser-like direction. It’s an exhilarating listen thanks to some of the best players in the biz, and Mike Holober’s expansive arrangement.

(And yes, the album cover looks great, too ;))

Climb Jared Schonig PREVIEW   ​

I love to hear what you think whether you sip or listen, or any ideas you have for making this newsletter even more irresistible.:)

Truly,

Kristen