Wine Wednesday | January 15th, 2025

Selected by Marte Belisle

Producer: Peter Franus
Year: 2022
Varietal: Merlot
Price: $50

Color: Red
Location: California, USA

Tasting notes: Full, ripe fruit are front and forward both on the nose and the palate. Followed by firm but soft tannins, a well-integrated wine with a long finish. This is a wine to remember for a long time.
Nose: Dark red fruit, roasted plum, and dried herbs.
Food pairing: Enjoy this wine on its own or with meals that include mushrooms and fresh herbs. A versatile wine that can enhance a meal of fish and seafood, as well as a charcuterie board with pancetta prosciutto, or Spanish jamón.

What makes this wine special?
Although California is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, this Merlot is an excellent representation of this grape varietal grown in a location that does it justice. Enjoy this wine while you can.

Selected by Daniel Drexler

Producer: Mongeard Mugneret
Year: 2018 or older
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Price: $46.99

Color: Red
Location: France / Burgundy / Vosne Romanee
Additional tags: Red Burgundy

Tasting notes: Some anise /cherry / little peppery but not like a Rhône just lighter
Nose: Flowers / Raspberry
Food pairing: Duck

What makes this wine special?
Mongeard Mugneret was one of the first bottles of wine that really got me interested and wanting to learn more about wine. It's a producer that won't break the bank (Not too bad at least). The Specific bottle was a 1988 Grands - Echezeaux.

Selected by Yehuda Natan

Producer: Penfolds Bin 389
Year: 2015
Varietal: Cabernet Shiraz
Price: $59.99

Color: Deep Ruby with Purple Hue
Location: South Australia - Australia (Multi-Region)
Additional tags: Organic

Tasting notes: Rich and complex filled with blackberries, anise, licorice. Very ripe tannin with layered flavors from coffee, toast, leather, and meaty.
Nose: Bold and intense as you will have blackberries and black currant lingering up with licorice, chocolate, and tobacco.
Food pairing: I suggest heavier meat such as sirloin steak A5 from Japan that has good marbling and juiciness (medium rare cooked) to pair with the beautiful tannins. I prefer not to use any sauce to let the original flavor of the beef dance together with the complexity of the wine. Cheers!

What makes this wine special?
This wine carries a unique history, with some portions matured in the same barrels once used for the iconic Penfolds Grange. Affectionately known as the "Poor Man's Grange" or "Baby Grange," it offers a taste of the prestige at a more accessible level.

Meet the Experts

Marte Belisle

Experience: 15-year industry expert
Background: Marte’s love for travel and wine has taken her on a journey spanning three decades, exploring and studying wines from around the globe. Along the way, she deepened her expertise by returning to school for formal training, turning her passion into mastery.

Want to get in touch?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sommevents/
https://www.facebook.com/sommevents
https://www.sommevents.com
https://www.instagram.com/sommevents/

Daniel Drexler

Experience: WSET 1
Background: Professional chef by trade / Sommelier for fun.

Want to get in touch?
https://www.facebook.com/people/Gastronome
https://www.gastronomecatering.com/
https://www.instagram.com/gastronomecateringnyc

Yehuda Natan

Experience: WSET LV 3 Wine & CMS - Certified Sommelier
Background: Sommelier in Hakkasan - 1 Michelin Star, Finalist of Indonesia Sommelier Association 2020 - Jakarta Chapter.

Want to get in touch?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yehuda-natan-sumampouw-1a0ab6112/

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