The holiday season is almost upon us—tables are set, family will gather, and it’s time to bring wines that feel thoughtful, memorable, and fitting for the season’s generosity. This quarter we’re pleased to share four delicious wines that pair well with rich fare, festive gatherings, and those moments worth savoring now—and saving for later.
We begin with the 2022 Château Haut-Breton Larigaudière Margaux. If you remember the 2021 from this estate—remarkable despite the vintage challenges—you’ll be pleased to find that this year brings even denser, more layered aromas of blue fruit, herbs, and dark chocolate, framed by round tannins that reveal themselves slowly. Decanting brings out the depth right away, and cellaring will reward with even greater nuance over time. With Cabernet playing such a central role in Margaux blends—especially in a Cabernet-heavy harvest like 2022—this wine shows how the grape brings both power and refinement to the appellation’s signature blending style.
New to the box this quarter is the 2023 Broad Brush Cabernet Franc Blend from Bennett Valley in Sonoma, our first Cabernet Franc from Broad Brush offered to club members. This wine opens with red fruit, savory herbs, and subtle spice—all hallmarks of a cool-climate Cabernet Franc—lifted by bright acidity and a mineral-driven finish. Malbec adds plushness, Cabernet Sauvignon brings structure, and the volcanic soils give it a compelling texture. Enjoy it now after a light decant, or tuck it away to watch its complexity bloom over the next 5 to 8 years.
Before circling back to Bordeaux, we head to Tuscany with the 2021 Viniferia ‘Castel Luciano’ Super Tuscan red blend. It greets you with black fruit and sweet oak, then unfolds with currant, cherry, herbs, and toast. Dense and evolving, it’s a wine that reveals new layers over hours in the glass—and stands up beautifully to grilled meats or roasted holiday fare. This is Tuscan elegance turned up a notch: bold, structured, and dressed to impress. Even with its richness, the wine carries the natural grace that defines Italian reds—softer edges and a lifted finish that set it apart from similar blends grown elsewhere.
Finally, we return to Bordeaux with the 2022 Château Tour Perey Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. Ripe black plum, cassis, violets, graphite, spice—it’s a full-bodied Grand Cru with a refined structure and a mineral lift that keeps it fresh. A generous decant will open up its depth now, while cellaring over the next decade will reveal its full evolution. This wine also makes for a fascinating comparison with Broad Brush, showing how Cabernet Franc and its companions express themselves so differently when grown in Bordeaux limestone versus Sonoma volcanic soils.
These bottles are chosen not only for the joy of bustling holiday tables, but also for the quiet pauses that follow. In the midst of the season’s rhythm, may they hold space for reflection as well as celebration, and may each glass offer a delicious memory to be savored again when the moment calls.
