Larkmead Proprietary Red Firebelle 2018

Seriously, we could not stop drinking this when the winery offered to leave the bottle -- it’s just...fabulous is the best word. So harmonious, lush, yet precise, finely tuned, and irresistibly drinkable. This legendary property has been making great wines for years, but MAN! This ‘18 is next-level!

At the center of Larkmead’s genius is the remarkable diversity of soils that are more typical of a hillside than the valley floor. Centuries of alluvial flow have resulted in the accumulation of ancient riverbed gravel, clay, and loam. Located just north of St. Helena, the winery first began in 1895, and is still family-owned today by Cam and Kate Solari Baker.

Then there’s Dan Petroski -- Google him -- a master winemaker and one of the coolest, mellowest, wine-loving guys we know, who makes incredibly fine wines from the vineyard, along with his own label, Massican. Suckling’s writeup does do the wine justice, we have to say. As noted, it’s the balance and harmony here that work so beautifully.

We have a very fine price and HIGHLY recommend this one --- only 15 CASES!

PAIRING IDEAS: There’s so much nuance here...we’d go simple, and definitely something with cheese, to make the wine shine even brighter. Make a world-class batch of mac and cheese. Seriously. Have a salad on the side.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: The Beatles' “Revolver” -- front to back. So good.