I went to The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan and I was on a mission.  I had to pick up the monthly club wine selections and there was another wine tasting to attend. The wine club not only introduces the members to a wine from the Old World and one wine from the New World.  Also as a member it allows me entry to the myriad of special wine tastings that are offered at the shop.   And as a very happy bonus, I ran into The Wine Raconteur, Jr. and his charming Bride, as they were picking up the club wines and attending the tasting as well. 

The first wine that represents the Old World is from Chateau La Grande Metairie Bordeaux Rouge 2022 from Vignobles Buffeteau.  Vignobles Buffeteau has two estates and has continued growing with four generations in neighboring villages.  They use traditional vinification methods and go out the day before harvest to eliminate unripe or rotten fruit, and then the next day the fruit is mechanically harvested, separating the grapes from the vines while in the plots and done at night to maintain the freshness and aromatics of the fruit.  They installed a new cellar in 2015 with thermos-regulated Stainless-Steel vats, and with a semi-underground ageing cellar with both concrete vats and traditional oak barrels.  The wine is ninety percent Merlot and ten percent Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine underwent Initial Fermentation and Malolactic Fermentation and aging for one year in Stainless- Steel vats with periodic stirring with fining and filtering.  This dark claret wine offered notes of ripe red fruits, spices and herbs.  On the palate this medium-bodied wine displayed tones of black and red cherry, blackberry and currants, with good acidity blended with medium tannins and a medium-count finish of fruit and herbs.

The second bottle represents the New World and is Pisoni Family Vineyards “Lucy” Rosé of Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Monterey County 2022.  Jane and Eddie Pisoni started farming in the Salinas Valley in 1952; and their pride in being stewards of the land has been taken up by their son Gary and his sons Jeff and Mark.  In 1982, Gary began planting grape vines, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah on the family’s forty acres in three vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Gary created the “Lucy” label and raises funds to support breast cancer research, ocean conservancy and the Big Sur Fire Department.  Rosé wines are either produced through whole cluster pressing or by Saignée, a practice which a proportion of the juice from pressed grapes is bled away in order to concentrate color and tannins.  “Lucy” is produced by combining both processes and is then cellared and aged in neutral barrels for three months, prior to bottling.  Since they began making this wine, they have contributed one dollar from each bottle sold and they have generated over $250,000 for Breast Cancer Research.  The wine is described as being a light salmon in color and offers notes of fresh strawberry, honey dew melon, raspberry, tangerine, lemon and rose petals.  On the palate the wine displays tones of grapefruit, raspberry and minerality in a completely dry and fermented wine with fresh acidity and ending with a medium-count finish of fruit and terroir.