presented by Nikole Elkins from Winebow
Micro-Cosme Sauvignon-Viognier ~ 2025
The historical Château de Saint Cosme is an iconic estate located in the heart of Gigondas, where ancient Roman vinification vats carved into the rock remain visible today. Renowned winemaker Louis Barruol leads the estate with a deep commitment to terroir expression and creative, unconventional viticulture. Traditionally across France, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier grow in completely opposing regions and are rarely combined. However, Barruol bucked strict regional rules by planting Sauvignon Blanc on his Rhône Valley estate, fully believing the two disparate varieties possess natural, complementary qualities.
The 2025 vintage of the “Micro-Cosme” white bottling delivers a beautifully aromatic, fresh presentation by fermenting and aging the grapes entirely in stainless steel tanks to safeguard their raw fruit energy. The winemaking formula allows the structural traits of both grapes to balance each other elegantly.
Appellation: Vin de France, France
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier – ABV: 12.5%
Tasting notes: Aromatic, tropical, and crisp. It highlights striking aromas of grapefruit, elderflower, and ripe mango, transforming into a highly fresh palate where fleshy stone fruit textures meet zesty lemon acidity.
Pairing: Serve chilled at 8–10°C. Exceptionally flexible at the dinner table, it acts as a great match for garden salads, fresh ceviche, poultry, turkey, or simply grilled white fish. [7, 8]
Producer: Château de Saint Cosme (Louis Barruol)
Catena White Clay Semillon-Chenin ~ 2025
The Catena Bodega y Viñedos family has been driving the absolute forefront of revolutionary, high-altitude winemaking in Argentina for four generations. Sourced from premium estate vineyards planted roughly 950 meters above sea level in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, this specific white cuvée highlights unique clay topsoils. These dense clay layers cool the vine roots, forcing them to preserve remarkable natural freshness and balancing acidity. By combining Semillon with Chenin Blanc—a historic white grape once heavily utilized across early Argentine viticulture—the Catena family honors a century-old traditional blending formula.
The 2025 vintage stands as a serious, medium-bodied gastronomic white wine that balances rich, waxy textures against a transparent, mineral-driven framework. Following a cold settling period to capture maximum fruit essence, the juice undergoes extended fermentation before being aged for several months in fine French oak barrels.
Appellation: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Grapes: 60% Semillon, 40% Chenin Blanc – ABV: 13%
Tasting notes: Bright, nervy, and complex. It delivers pleasant aromas of yuzu, stone fruit, and honeycomb, giving way to a texturally rich yet dry, mineral-laden palate with a refreshing, long-lasting citrus bite.
Pairing: Best served well-chilled at 8–10°C. It serves as an ultimate companion to fresh garden salads, green vegetables, creamy pasta dishes, or grilled white meats.
Producer: Catena Zapata (Catena Bodega y Viñedos)
Vajra Langhe Rosso ~ 2024
The independent, family-owned G.D. Vajra estate has been heavily rooted in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy since the late 1800s. In 1968, a young Aldo Vajra assumed management of the family property and steered it into becoming a highly respected pioneer of modern organic farming and the preservation of long-forgotten, native heirloom varieties. The estate vineyards sit at remarkably high elevations across the prized hills of Barolo, La Morra, Sinio, and Serralunga. These breezy, cooler mountain positions allow the grapes to develop immense finesse, structural complexity, and perfume rather than brute power.
The 2024 Langhe Rosso is a lively, multi-varietal red blend crafted explicitly to be approachable, vibrant, and thoroughly enjoyed in its youth. Each component grape variety is meticulously harvested in independent stages to guarantee perfect ripeness before undergoing separate fermentations. The final blend matures for 10 to 14 months primarily in clean stainless steel vats with a small portion in neutral casks to limit heavy oak signatures.
Appellation: Langhe DOC, Piedmont, Italy
Grapes: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Freisa, Albarossa – ABV: 13.5
Tasting notes: Vibrant, perfumed, and bright. It layers enticing aromas of plum, black currant, and tobacco leaf over a balanced palate featuring crunchy red fruits, hints of peppery spice, and a clean, refreshing finish.
Pairing: Best enjoyed at a cool cellar temperature of 14–16°C. An incredibly versatile everyday red, it pairs beautifully with tomato-based pasta dishes, artisanal charcuterie, roasted poultry, or brick-oven pizzas.
Producer: G.D. Vajra
Ancient Peaks Renegade 2021
Ancient Peaks Winery is a rugged, family-owned estate situated on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch within the southernmost AVA of Paso Robles, California. The estate vineyards are uniquely positioned on a complex patchwork of ancient sea bed soils, fractured shale, and volcanic loams. Here, just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vines endure a highly dramatic climate featuring baking afternoon sun balanced by sharp, freezing maritime wind drops at night. This cooling pattern slows down grape ripening, allowing the thick-skinned Syrah fruit to capture exceptional structural concentration and deep, savory meatiness.
The 2021 Renegade is a bold, dark, and intentionally daring red blend that proudly breaks traditional varietal boundaries. Each specific vineyard lot undergoes a 48-hour cold soak to optimize rich color extraction before being aged for 20 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels.
Appellation: Santa Margarita Ranch, Paso Robles, California
Grapes: 83% Syrah, 14% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec – ABV: 14.5%
Tasting notes: Bold, smoky, and deep. It boasts complex aromas of blackberry cobbler, coffee, and violets, resolving into a rich, full-bodied palate packed with dark wildberries, savory smoked meat, and fine, chewy oak tannins.
Pairing: Best served at 16–18°C. This heavily structured red blend requires robust food, pairing exceptionally well with a rich beef stew, smoked game, grilled lamb chops, or vegetable lasagna.
Producer: Ancient Peaks Winery
