Maison Tardieu-Laurent was founded in 1996 by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent, though for many years the business has been the exclusive domaine of the Tardieu family. Today, it is run by Michel, his son, Bastien, and daughter, Camille. When Michel started the business, he would ask the growers he worked with two questions: which producers in the same appellation wines they liked to drink, and if they had some friends or producers with well-located old vines who might be interested to work with him. The result is an extensive network of “partner vignerons” — farmers with whom the family have long-standing relationships, almost all of whom have enviable holdings of old vines in the northern and southern Rhône’s most prestigious appellations. Today, this word of mouth and handshake model is still how the family conducts their business.

The 2022 Tardieu-Laurent Tavel is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 10% Syrah from organically farmed vines that are between 40 and 60 years of age. All grapes are vinified and aged in concrete tanks to ensure the freshness of fruit. Medium scarlet in the glass, this wonderful Tavel emits enchanting aromas of peaches, crushed rocks, white flowers and muddled red berries. The palate delivers exceptional refreshment but also a surprisingly strong build; it drinks with a weight, texture and persistence reminiscent of a light red wine. There's a slight tannic sheen that frames the fruit beautifully, allowing it to cascade across the palate on a mineral spine that flows effortlessly into a bright, energetic finish. What I love most about this Tavel is its versatility: It is great on its own but is also a chameleon on the table, pairing with any array of salads, roasted vegetables, fish, white meat, even sausages and burgers! 

Château Guillon is located in the village of Castres-Gironde. There is evidence of a Roman presence in Castres in the first century BC, leading one to suspect that the Romans had already realized the potential for great wine production. Indeed, five centuries later, the Roman poet Ausonius described the banks of the Garrone as being overgrown with vines. Château Guillon's vineyards lie in the heart of the Graves appellation, on the combination of gravel and sand that leads to such high quality wines. In 1992, the Castel family purchased the estate's 94 hectares, after they had been taking care of the vineyards for the previous 16 years. Since then, Castel has continued their immaculate vineyard work, while also updating the winemaking facilities, all of which has allowed Château Guillon to create inspiring wines. 

The Château Guillon is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine pours a mid-purple with ruby highlights. On the nose, aromas of red currants and plum are intermingled with a subtle earthiness and touch of vanilla. On the palate, the underlying oak influence becomes more apparent, with notes of clove and pipe tobacco mixing with the concentrated fruit flavors. The mid-palate is dominated by the soft, silky texture of the Merlot. The tannins are suave and broad, fine-grained and perfectly balanced by an integrated acidity that provide structure for the fruit and oak flavors to linger on the savory finish. Try this wonderful Graves with a pork pozole or a vegetarian chili with winter vegetables.

La Follette Wines is a winery dedicated to crafting site-specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from cool-climate vineyards along the California coast. Founded by Greg La Follette is 2010, the estate's goal is to produce wines that speak to their origin and combine both outstanding quality and exceptional value. La Follette is currently owned and operated by Pete and Terri Kight, proprietors of Quivara Vineyards and from whom Greg previously sourced grapes. Today, La Follette focuses on maintaining long term partnerships with the best farmers and vineyard managers in the most storied AVAs in Sonoma and Mendocino to offer some of the finest terroir-driven wines from California.

La Follette's Los Primeros Chardonnay, which means "the first", is dedicated to the early winegrowing pioneers who planted vines along the coast of California. This 100% Chardonnay is composed of fruit from two Monterey County vineyards [73%], (McIntyre Vineyard and Escolle Vineyard) and one Sonoma County vineyard [27%], (Sonoma Creek Vineyard). One half of the final blend is comprised of tank fermented lots — all of McIntyre and half of Escolle — to preserve the energy and freshness of the wine. The second 50%, the barrel-fermented portion — Sonoma Creek and the other half of the Escolle lots — was vinified in neutral oak. All fermentations were conducted using native yeasts and the wine goes through partial malolactic fermentation. A light golden color in the glass, Los Primeros offers an intoxicating nose of white orchard and citrus fruits with hints of sweet cream and fresh herbs. The palate is medium-bodied with flavors of apple, white peach and preserved lemon that interweave with notes of  freshly-churned butter and toasted oak. This wine is textured and rich, though balanced with a zesty acidity that carries you through to a long, refreshing finish. Pair with a plate of soft cheeses and fruit, seafood dishes or light chicken pastas.