Domaine Taupenot-Merme Gevrey Chambertin 2018Varietal: Pinot Noir Dynamite Gevrey wine, this is serious Pinot with a broad frame. The fruit is woodsy and punchy, ripe and brambly, offset by a wonderful minerality you find in the best wines from this village in Burgundy. Very nice structure, lots of savory stuff going on here, great food wine and a crowd pleaser as well. M. A.

Average age of vines: 40-60 years Vatting for 4 to 6 weeks in cement vats

Owned and run by winemaker Ignacio Valdera

Prior to his arrival at Force Majeure

who call their rosé “Les Rascasses” (scorpion fish in French) as an homage to Lulu Peyraud

All are committed to farming and winemaking practices that respect the environment

terroir driven fruits

Grape: Malvasia

offering more fruit than the 2003 Valandraud it was paired with: feisty black pepper and allspice finish with a decent aftertaste

The Carignan goes through a full carbonic maceration

fermented and aged in concrete

Arista Winery was founded by the McWilliams family in 2002 with a mission to create the most elegant expression of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

with the emphasis on finesse rather than power