HIRSCH VINEYARDS West Ridge Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

HIRSCH VINEYARDS Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast The Hirsch Reserve Pinot Noir is a selection of their best barrels from the oldest and finest vineyard blocks at Hirsch. It is the highest expression of this complex and deeply expressive site, and a true reserve of very limited production. The Reserve may be the finest wine of their portfolio, with classic Hirsch tannins providing backbone and gravitas. A true reserve of very limited production.

Thomas Bouley is very much the insiders secret, more famous with his fellow vignerons than with collectors chasing the next 'superstar' seen on social media. That Thomas resists putting his name on the front label of his wines (preferring to keep his father's) is typical of his humble and low key approach. Based in Volnay may also add to his relative anonymity, however we suspect this is changing rapidly as word gets out of just how spectacular his wines are, and of the continual improvement seen since he began working with his father in the early 2000's. Meticulous attention to detail in both the vineyard and winery are notable here, and key to why Thomas is so highly regarded by his peers. Yields are moderate, and in the cellar whole cluster ferments are used more with his clay rich sites (Pommard Fremiers, Volnay Clos des Chenes), while those with thin white soils (Pommard Rugiens-Hauts, Volnay Caillerets) are largely destemmed. New oak use is minimal, and each wine spend two winters on fine lees before bottling.

The maritime climate of the Mornington Peninsula creates the perfect conditions to enhance the sappy plum and berry flavours in this wine. Secondary characters of truffles and cigarbox will develop with careful ageing.

COESSENS LARGILLIER Vendange Entiere, Coteaux Champenois

In 1775, Bouchard purchased 3.76 hectares of Volnay Caillerets Premier Cru from the Carnot family. It was the first vineyard they purchased and the label has "Ancienne Cuvée Carnot" written on it in memory of the family that owned the land before them. Medium bodied, this always elegant, persistent and fragrant wine is the epitome of Volnay and usually looks at its best with about ten years cellaring.