14 Aug Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Marchelle Wines 2023 Pinot Meunier, van der Kamp Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain

As I have said in the past, I have not found a Pinot Meunier I have not loved. And this week is no exception. On a quick trip to Sonoma, I had the privilege and pleasure to spend the day with renowned Sonoma winemaker Greg La Follette. And one of the bottles he opened up for me was the Marchelle Wines 2023 Pinot Meunier, van der Kamp Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About

Marchelle Wines was launched in 2021 by Greg La Follette and partner Kevin Lee. They named the label after their two wives, Mara and Michelle. The focus at Marchelle Wines is to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as wines from old vines sourced from unique vineyards. The Pinot Meunier comes from the organically farmed van der Kamp Vineyard, home to one of the oldest plantings of Pinot Meunier (planted in 1952). The vineyard sits at 1500 feet elevation on the north facing bench of Sonoma Mountain. The soils include a thin topsoil combined with loam, volcanic material, and decomposed river bed which result in a more structured wine.

Tasting Notes

The Pinot Meunier is whole cluster carbonic fermented and then aged for 6 months in neutral oak. The resulting wine is a translucent brick red color. This is a red wine that could easily be mistaken for a dark rosé wine. It has a fragrant nose with notes of ripe cherries, wild raspberry, roses, and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is textured with savory notes.

Food Pairing

The structure and texture of this wine make it an easy wine to pair with food. I enjoyed this wine with crackers and dips (hummus, caramelized onion dip, spinach dip, and artichoke dip) and then with a grilled chicken salad with avocado, fresh greens, and toasted pine nuts.

Where To Purchase

There were only 70 cases made of this wines, which retails for $54. You can purchase the 2023 Pinot Meunier directly from the Marchelle Wines website.