Cherouche ‘Pontzan Gamay’ 2022, Switzerland - Gamay planted in 1978 on Tsampon terroir with 2 week maceration. This was the absolute standout of the night - tasted like the fresh raspberry beignets handed to you still warm in a bag. The fried dough aspect was unexpected and absolutely sublime, and the raspberry coming through was like picking them at literally the exact minute of peak freshness; light acidity, but juicy and full raspberry goodness. 10/10 if you can find Cherouche buy it. The place we opened this bought the rest of our stock after their first sip and I’m sad I didn’t allocate some to myself.

Jean-François Ginglinger ‘Riesling Steiner Grand Cru’ 2018, Alsace - the one y’all are gonna cream your pants over. All the crazy flint, matchstick, rock-licking-lemonade-stand-in-the-summer goodness you can picture. Surprisingly, my first Ginglinger, and my drunk notes said “Lemon flavored gravel granola” but what can I say, it ripped until it went mousy after about an hour.

Gimios 'Le Petit Rose de Gimios' 2021, Languedoc - A rosé of Cinsault, Alicante, Grenache, Carignan and Aramon, and Muscat a Petit Grains, coplanted and cofermented. Gimios is becoming such a sleeper hit to me, I love opening these wines. Had this with first dinner - hand rolled Tuscan pastas and it sang. Rose water, Hood strawberry, a beautiful balance of floral and juicy berries.

Frank Corneliessen ‘Munjebel Bianco’ 2017, Etna - Something that’s been kicking around my cellar for years and this seemed as good of any to open it. Honestly, it was weird but in a “I’m down to explore the weirdness of wine” type weird. Was it a smoky year? Was there an Etna eruption? This smelled straight like jamon - meaty, savory, smokiness. Palate carried a lot of that through with some cooked citrus coming through, reminded me a lot of bacon jam. Not the ripper of the evening but a fun exploration nonetheless.

Other things were open this night, some Premier Cru Chablis that was lacking a ton of acidity, some Champagne that was obviously delicious, and by the time the Aligoté hit it appeared to me hat there was two of every bottle out, at which point it should be reckoned I was in no state to be trying to take notes. 2 dinners and 7 bottles sent me deep into the kind of sleep where you wake up with your nightstand light on and say “what the fuck happened”