2022 Chateau de Vaux - Pinot Noir Moselle Les Hautes Bassieres (750ml)

Château de Vaux sits in the tiny Moselle appellation near Metz in Lorraine, a corner of northeastern France just over the Vosges mountains from Alsace. The property was purchased in 1999 by Marie-Geneviève and Norbert Molozay, who consolidated scattered parcels, restored the old cellars, and helped revive winemaking in what is now France's most northerly appellation. The estate has been certified organic since 2014 and produces entirely vegan wines.

Les Hautes Bassières is a single vineyard bottling made from one hundred percent Pinot Noir. The grapes are picked by hand, destemmed, and left to macerate for three weeks with daily pigeage to build color and structure without over-extracting. After pressing, the free run and press wines are blended and aged for twelve months in barrels of varying origin, age, and toast level, then bottled at the end of September.

The wine pours a pale ruby color and offers aromas of black cherry, peppery carnation, and peony. On the palate the tannins are silky and refined, with a fruit-forward finish that carries hints of spice. It pairs nicely with rabbit in prune sauce, coq au vin, breaded brie, or simple grilled meats.