Wednesday Wine Tasting 1/14

January 1: Merlot

Come join us for a fabulous afternoon of wine tasting at The San Francisco Wine Trading Company! Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just looking to have a good time, this event is perfect for you. Sample a variety of exquisite wines and mingle with fellow wine enthusiasts. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to expand your palate and enjoy some delicious wines. See you there!

2022 Domaine Mie Ikeno Merlot $178.94
Mie Ikeno is widely regarded as one of Japan’s most accomplished winemakers. She began her career as a respected journalist before discovering her passion for wine while spending time with friends in Burgundy. Inspired, she studied oenology in France and worked in Burgundy for two years.

Upon returning to Japan, she established her winery in the high elevations of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan’s most important wine region and the country’s first officially designated winegrowing area, recognized in 2013. She planted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Merlot on volcanic soils that remain relatively dry during monsoon season thanks to the surrounding mountains.

The winery was built into a mountainside to allow for gravity-flow winemaking, reducing energy use. Production is extremely limited, with only about 800 cases produced annually across all three varieties. This highly regarded Merlot comes from estate vineyards, is fermented in stainless steel, and aged for 15 to 18 months in French oak.

2021 Château Cheval Blanc $449
Château Cheval Blanc is one of the most iconic wines in the world. Its modern history began in the nineteenth century, with its first major recognition coming at the 1862 Universal Exhibition in London. This marked the start of a rise in prestige that eventually placed Cheval Blanc among the most sought-after wines, rivaling Médoc First Growths in both reputation and price.

The estate remained family-owned for 166 years until 1998, when it was acquired jointly by Bernard Arnault of LVMH and the late Baron Albert Frère. Awarded Premier Grand Cru Classé A status at the inception of the Saint-Émilion classification in 1955, Cheval Blanc famously withdrew from the classification system in 2022. Even so, it is still regarded by many as one of the greatest wines, if not the greatest, of Saint-Émilion.

The vineyards are located in the northern part of Saint-Émilion on the border of Pomerol, where a rare balance of gravel and clay soils gives the wine its distinctive character. The 2021 vintage features an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc, nearly equal to Merlot, with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged for 16 months in 100 percent new oak barrels.

2020 Le Macchiole Messorio $219.94
Le Macchiole is a renowned estate in Bolgheri, Tuscany, founded in 1983 by Eugenio and Cinzia Campolmi. After Eugenio’s passing in 2002, Cinzia assumed full leadership of the estate and continues to run it today alongside her sons, Elia and Mattia.

The winery is celebrated for producing three single-varietal Super Tuscans: Paleo, Messorio, and Scrio. Messorio, first produced in 1993, is made from 100 percent Merlot and exemplifies the power and finesse the variety can achieve in Bolgheri’s Mediterranean-influenced soils. The wine is fermented in concrete tanks and then aged for 16 months in new oak barrels and stoneware amphorae.

2014 Château Clinet $84.94
Château Clinet is a highly regarded estate in Pomerol, situated at one of the appellation’s highest elevations. Its vineyards are among the oldest in Pomerol, with records dating back to 1595. The estate was purchased by the Laborde family in 1998, who enlisted renowned consultant Michel Rolland to modernize the winemaking approach.

Rolland introduced updated techniques and increased the proportion of new oak used for the grand vin. Today, the château is run by Ronan Laborde, known for his meticulous and precise approach while keeping many winemaking details closely guarded. The vineyards are farmed sustainably with an emphasis on ecological balance. The blend is approximately 90 percent Merlot, 9 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1 percent Cabernet Franc, aged for an average of 16 months in about 60 percent new oak.

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