February Wine Club
- sarah35558
- Feb 12
- 6 min read
Bora Tier
Château Coujan La Pinot Noir is a refreshing and expressive take on Pinot Noir from the sun-drenched Languedoc region in southern France. Rather than imitating the powerful, structured style of Burgundy, this wine leans into brightness, drinkability, and charm. It is light on its feet, approachable, and full of personality, making it a wonderful choice for both casual sipping and thoughtful food pairings.
The wine comes from Château Coujan, a fifth-generation, family-run estate near Saint-Chinian, now led by Florence Guy. The vineyard is farmed organically and managed as a complete ecosystem, with olive groves, beehives, medicinal plants, and wildlife coexisting alongside the vines. The soils, rich in clay, limestone, and ancient fossilized coral, contribute freshness and mineral energy to the finished wine. This commitment to biodiversity and low-impact farming is reflected in the purity and vitality of each bottle.
La Pinot Noir is made with a minimal-intervention philosophy. The grapes are hand-harvested, gently macerated, and fermented with native yeasts in concrete tanks. The wine is lightly filtered before bottling, allowing the natural character of the fruit and site to shine through. The result is a Pinot Noir that feels honest and transparent, with nothing hidden behind heavy oak or excessive manipulation.
In the glass, the wine shows a light ruby color and immediately offers aromas of fresh red berries, including raspberry, strawberry, and red currant. Subtle earthy notes and a hint of spice add depth and complexity. On the palate, it is juicy and lively, with bright acidity, soft tannins, and a smooth, easy finish. The balance between freshness and texture makes it especially enjoyable slightly chilled, particularly in warmer months.
At the table, Château Coujan La Pinot Noir is impressively versatile. It pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, charcuterie, soft cheeses, grilled vegetables, and simple pasta dishes. Its gentle structure also works well alongside duck, mushrooms, and classic French vegetable stews. This is the kind of wine that enhances a meal without overpowering it, encouraging relaxed conversation and unhurried enjoyment.
What makes this Pinot Noir especially appealing is its sense of authenticity. It does not try to replicate famous regions or follow trends. Instead, it reflects its Mediterranean surroundings and the thoughtful hands that crafted it. Joyful, balanced, and full of life, Château Coujan La Pinot Noir is a reminder that great Pinot can come from unexpected places and that some of the most memorable wines are the ones that feel effortless and genuine. Marioni Rosa Rosé is a refreshing and vibrant rosé from the North Coast of California crafted by Dan Marioni and his team, made entirely from Zinfandel grapes. It’s a rosé with personality that feels playful and inviting, inspired by old-school White Zinfandel styles but with brighter energy and livelier acidity that keeps it far from being a simple “blush” wine. The grapes are foot-tread and pressed, and the wine sees some aging in neutral barrels to build texture and balance before bottling, reflecting the maker’s belief that great wine begins in the vineyard and is shaped by thoughtful, minimal intervention.
In the glass, Marioni Rosa Rosé shows a vivid pink color and opens with notes that call to mind watermelon starburst candy, zesty lemon, and just a touch of creamy sweetness reminiscent of a cream puff. These aromatic and flavor elements make it easy to enjoy on its own, especially chilled on a warm afternoon, but they also give the wine enough character to complement a range of dishes. The palate is juicy with natural acidity that keeps each sip refreshing without feeling heavy.
At the table, this rosé pairs beautifully with light and bright foods such as fresh seafood, spicy bites, summer salads, and fruit-forward desserts, and it also works well as an aperitif to kick off a meal with flair. It’s the kind of wine that invites conversation and lingering, perfect for relaxed gatherings or outdoor dining.
What makes Marioni Rosa Rosé especially appealing is how it re-imagines classic Californian rosé with a sense of fun and drinkability, while still honoring serious winemaking rooted in careful farming and expressive fruit. It’s a bottle that feels effortless in style yet full of character, making it a delightful choice for anyone looking to enjoy rosé that’s both flavorful and unpretentious. La Mistral Tier
Julie et Toby Bainbridge Cuvée Les Jongleurs Blanc 2023 is a vibrant and joyful expression of Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France, crafted by the husband-and-wife team of Julie and Toby Bainbridge who farm organically and focus on wines that feel alive and refreshing. The grapes come from older vines planted in iron-rich soils on Côteaux plots, and after hand harvesting the juice is directly pressed to fiberglass tanks where it ferments and ages with indigenous yeasts, revealing a natural and thoughtful approach to winemaking that highlights purity and balance.
In the glass this wine often shows a bright character with lively acidity and a sense of energy that makes it feel expressive and engaging, inviting you into its aromatic profile. While specific tasting notes for the 2023 aren’t widely published, this cuvée from Bainbridge historically offers fruit intensity and freshness with citrus, stone fruit, and floral hints that keep the palate animated and bright. The combination of cool-climate Chenin and careful minimal-intervention handling gives the wine a texture that can be both vibrant and slightly textural, making it feel versatile and food-friendly.
At the table Cuvée Les Jongleurs complements a broad range of dishes from simple summer salads, shellfish, and goat cheese to more aromatic preparations like citrus-seasoned poultry or grilled vegetables. Its natural acidity helps it pair with lighter foods while also standing up to dishes with a touch of richness, making it a great choice for gatherings where versatility matters. The wine’s lively character and thoughtful craftsmanship reflect the personalities of its makers and the unique terroir of Anjou, resulting in a white wine that feels both engaging and thoroughly enjoyable to explore. La Boheme Festejar! Rosé is a sparkling natural wine from Domaine la Bohème in the Auvergne region of France that celebrates the joy of pét-nat and the playful spirit of its makers. Crafted by Justine Loiseau and Patrick Bouju, this wine is made in the traditional méthode ancestrale style where fermentation finishes in the bottle, creating fine, lively bubbles that contribute to the wine’s effervescent personality. It’s typically made from a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir grapes sourced from volcanic soils, and the wine is vinified with minimal intervention using native yeasts, no added sulfur, and often bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its natural character and vibrancy.
In the glass, Festejar! rosé shows a bright ruby or deep pink shade with an inviting nose that can offer ripe red fruit aromas like cranberry, brambly red raspberry, and hints of spearmint or subtle spice. The palate is juicy and energetic, marrying fruit intensity with a refreshing feel from the natural bubbles and light acidity. While it’s dry and slightly textured on the finish, the overall demeanor is fun, quaffable, and expressive — a wine that is as much about the experience of celebration as it is about flavor.
At the table, La Boheme Festejar! rosé is endlessly versatile. It pairs beautifully with simple seafood, fresh salads, light pasta dishes, and soft cheeses, and its cheerful bubbles make it an excellent aperitif for gathering with friends. The wine’s vibrant fruit and delicate effervescence also stand up well to spicier fare or grilled foods, making it a great choice whether you’re hosting a casual summer lunch or simply popping a cork to mark a moment.
What makes this rosé particularly compelling is its sense of authenticity and carefree energy, reflecting both the terroir of Auvergne and the low-intervention philosophy of its makers. It feels like a toast to good times — fresh, engaging, and impossible not to enjoy.
Domaine La Boheme 'Mol' 2021 is another captivating natural wine from Domaine la Bohème. The blend brings together an array of grape varieties — typically including Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Merlot, Cinsault, Muscat, and Gamay — each vinified separately with spontaneous fermentation on indigenous yeasts before being combined, creating a richly layered and expressive profile that feels both thoughtful and intriguingly complex.
In the glass, you’ll often find a medium-bodied red that balances vibrant fruit with earthiness and spice. Aromas and flavors can include dark red and black fruits like currant, blackberry, and bramble, woven together with herbal nuances and a hint of cedar wood or savory spice. The tannins tend to be well-integrated and supple, giving structure without dominating the wine’s expressive fruit, and the finish is typically refreshing with just enough grip to invite another sip. Some bottles reveal a lightly wild, almost rustic quality that’s characteristic of natural wines and part of their charm, though this never feels unbalanced or overly rough.
Because of its multi-varietal blend and textural complexity, this wine pairs beautifully with a broad spectrum of foods. It can hold up to grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and hearty stews, and is equally at home alongside charcuterie or dishes with rich, savory sauces. The interplay of fruit, spice, and subtle earthiness gives it versatility at the table and makes it an excellent choice for gatherings where food and conversation are equally important.
What makes this version of Mol especially compelling is how it embodies the philosophy of Domaine la Bohème: a focus on authenticity, terroir expression, and vibrant energy rather than heavy manipulation or overt winemaking artifice. It’s a wine with personality, depth, and a sense of place, one that invites exploration and rewards curiosity.
