Ben Holladay Rickhouse Proof Soft Red Wheat Bourbon 6-year-old

and that unmistakable Loire undercurrent of damp earth and tobacco leaf

a Franco-American sailor

And not just the courtesy “thanks for the glass” one-bottle purchase

The resulting wine is

structured finish that favors character over polish

Five years from now this wine will be more complex

This is a multi-layered magnificent vintage that reveals floral notes

he started his own domaine that would become a benchmark for the Rhone Valley around the world

an alchemical ballet ensues

being a French rose

Great French wine is filled with such places: La Romanee

The palate is light to medium-bodied and finely structured