Values of the Month
by Tom Wolf
2023 Pinot Blanc
France | Alsace
I find it particularly moving when I take a sip of this luscious, mouthwatering white wine from Alsace and think of the massive oak foudre over one hundred years old where it spent many months, deep in Kuentz-Bas’ cellar. I imagine the young couple who married in 1895 to join the local Kuentz and Bas families, a decade after these foudres were built. I can’t help but think of the first world war and especially the second, during which the Kuentz-Bas cellar kept refugees hidden, presumably behind the grand barrels that rise almost all the way up to the ceiling. I picture the vignerons who have filled this foudre with their own wines over the past century. This blanc may appear to be a humble “value” offering, but it’s filled with deliciousness, class, tradition, and over a century of history.
2023 Cahors
France | Southwest
Last year, my family purchased a quarter cow share from our local farm, returning home with a variety of cuts, mostly ground beef and chuck. We got enough ribeyes and New York strips to have a steak night once a month or so, which always feels like a special occasion. For steak night wine pairings, we’ve opened red Burgundy, Saint-Joseph, Bandol, Chianti Classico, and this Cahors, which holds its own among these celebrated appellations. The 2023 vintage has a slightly wild streak, which goes perfectly with a medium-rare ribeye and roast rosemary potatoes. Of course, I can think of plenty of pairings beyond red meat: cassoulet, vegetable stew, quesadillas—the list goes on.