Tasting notes, January 24, 2026; Old World v. New World

                    Old World vs. New World

Old World #1
2020 JN Gagnard Sous Eguisons
On Sale for $36
Hautes Côtes de Beaune / Côte d’Or / France
100% Chardonnay
Sourced from a single vineyard located west of Saint Aubin, the Sous Eguisons is the product of 20 – 25 year-old vines. Primary and malolactic fermentation take place in used barrels while aging takes place in 33% new French oak for 12-14 months.
New World #1
2023 Catena High Mountain Vines
On sale for $22
Mendoza / Argentina
100% Chardonnay
Catena’s High Mountain Vine Chardonnay is sourced from three different high elevation vineyard sites. The resulting wine is aged for 10 months in a combination of new and used barrels.
Old World #2
2016 Fon du Berger Rouge
On Sale for $24
Haut Médoc / Bordeaux / France
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
A classically styled left bank Bordeaux, the Fon du Berger is aged for 12-14 months in 33% new French oak. The soils here are mostly gravel, perfect for the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal.
New World #2
2019 Hightower Cabernet Sauvignon
On Sale for $32
Red Mountain / Washington / US
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec
Sourced from two vineyards planted in the sand and gravel of Red Mountain, Hightower is made by the husband and wife team of Tim and Kelly Hightower. Having founded their small winery and vineyard in 1997, the Hightower’s produce just 200 cases per year of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Old World #3
2020 Bastide Blanche Rouge
On Sale for $28
Bandol / Provence / France
mostly Mourvèdre with Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault
2020 yielded powerful, still very youthful wines from the Bandol region. Bastide Blanche is typically one of the more forward styles for the genre, however, the wines are also capable of a secondary evolutionary period as the fruit recedes and the earthy, savory characteristics of the wine come to the foreground.
New World #3
2019 Thorn Clarke Hoffman Vineyard
On Sale for $20
Barossa Valley / Australia
100% Mourvedre
A dense example of the Mourvedre varietal, this single vineyard expression is aged for 18 months in old barrels. Thorn Clarke is a leading family owned estate in the Barossa Valley.