Tasting notes, March 7, 2026; US v. France

                    France vs. USA

2022 Thibault Liger-Belair Les Charmes
On Sale for $30
Mâconnais et Chalonnaise / France
100% Chardonnay
Fermented and aged in stainless steel, Thibault’s Les Charmes takes its name from its main source vineyard in Macon Lugny. A smaller amount of Montagny fruit is also employed here, adding weight and tension.
2023 Neyers“304”
On Sale for $24
Sonoma Valley / California / USA
100% Chardonnay
The Neyers family began farming and producing wine in the early 1990’s starting with a 15 acre parcel in Napa’s Conn Valley. Today 15,000 cases of wine are produced under the Neyers label with much of the fruit sourced from trusted neighboring growers.
2023 Dupont Fahn Derrière le Four
On Sale for $44
Auxey-Duresses / Côte de Beaune / France
100% Pinot Noir
Sourced from a single hillside vineyard, the Derriere le Four is an elegant, well balanced Beaune red. The wine was aged in French oak barrels of which 20% were new.
2019 Racines Cuvee
On Sale for $35
Santa Rita Hills / California / USA
100% Pinot Noir
Racines is a project founded by several French winemakers in search of the best terroir for Pinot Noir in California. They settled on the Santa Rita Hills and produce this cuvee from several single vineyards.
2014 D’Aiguilhe Rouge
On Sale for $30
Castillon / Bordeaux / France
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Sourced from 225 acres of vines planted in clay and limestone, D’Aiguilhe is aged in 50% new French oak. The 2014 is wonderfully mature and showcases the tension and grip of the vintage.
2021 Kiona Merlot
On Sale for $24
Red Mountain / Washington State / California
87% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, 3.5% Petit Verdot
Four distinct sites are brought together to create Kiona’s Red Mountain Merlot. The wine is aged in a combination of new and used oak barrels.