A Return to the Classics

Wine friends,

As much as we love off-the-beaten-path regions and grape varieties, there’s something to be said about taking it back to the classics. For us, this looks like the traditional growing regions of Europe.

This week, we’re excited to share two of our favorite Old World bottles from the Southern Rhône and Bordeaux. These wines merit a place on any table laden with food, surrounded by friends and family – and if you’ve got the patience, perhaps a place in your cellar.

First up, we’ve got a 70/30 Grenache and Syrah blend from Gigondas. The wine is produced by the very talented Christophe Galon and his wife YuYen at Domaine les Semelles de Vent. The domaine’s house style is known for its purity, fruit-forwardness, and easy drinkability.

Fruit for this cuvée comes from sloping hillside vineyards planted on the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. In the cellar, grapes are destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks, and aged for 12 months in used French oak. Expect flavors of crushed raspberries, orange peel, cinnamon, and clove.

Next up, we’ve got a classic blend from Château Grand-Pontet, located in the Saint-Emilion appellation of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. Fruit for this Grand Cru Classé wine comes from the estate's 14-hectare vineyard, which is dominated by clay-limestone and sandy clay soils.

Crafted from Merlot (approximately 80%), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, the wine shows deep and complex notes of ripe red and black fruits, cedar, dried herbs, and dusty earth. Firm tannins and a bright, lingering finish make it the perfect companion for red meats, burgers or late-February / early-March stews.