Limited Edition!
The Academy Award-winning film, SIDEWAYS, will stream on hulu in honor of its 20th Anniversary. Hitching Post Wines has partnered with Searchlight Pictures (and a few select retail partners!) in an exclusive partnership that showcases Hitching Post Highliner Pinot Noir, the wine featured in the hit movie. The 2021 Highliner Pinot Noir is considered to be one of the best of all the 2000s. It is an assemblage of only the best lots of all the different Pinot Noirs made by Hitching Post Wines.

The fruit for 2021 Highliner came from 5 different vineyards with the majority sourced from the iconic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. All vineyards and clones are harvested and produced separately using traditional burgundian techniques. 20 months barrel age in French oak, 40% new, along with masterful blending, brought all the elements to a harmonious whole. "We enjoy making Highliner the most of any of our wines,” states Frank Ostini. “Utilizing the different flavors and textures from all of these vineyards creates a complex and balanced wine that plays to the many keys of Pinot Noir. The 2021 vintage is the best vintage of the 2000s to date.”

The moniker “Highliner” refers to the best fishermen in the fleet and references Gray Hartley’s nearly 30 years in the fishing industry prior to winemaking. Highliner Pinot Noir is meant to be the “best of the fleet” of Hitching Post wines.

This 2021 vintage has a special neck label to commemorate the film and the Anniversary.

Welcome to my world of delicious, go-to, reasonably priced red Burgundies 💫

The grandfather of the current proprietaire, Jean-Michel Jacob, created this domaine based in the village of Echeveronne in the hills above the villages of Pernand Vergelesses and Aloxe Corton.  Upon taking the reins of the domaine, Jean-Michel Jacob modified the vinification to produce wines of considerably more structure than those crafted by his father, Lucien. Prior to Jean-Michel’s arrival, the wines were charming with an appealing fruitiness. Jean-Michel has worked to reduce yields in the vineyards and has also extended the cuvaison to bring more backbone to the wines while maintaining the lovely aromatics and elegance that are the hallmark of wines from this part of the Cote de Beaune.  This Savigny is a classic rendition of this appellation with an expression of a range of seductive red fruits that sit on a base of soft and supple tannins. Elegance, finesse and purity are the watchwords here. Sourced from a series of vineyard sites within the appellation, this wine harkens back to an earlier era in the Cote d’Or when the wines of Savigny were referred to as “chat” (cat) in recognition of the delicate, lithe wines that made this appellation famous.

I was able to get my hands on a bottle of this in Restoration Hardware Restaurant in Toronto, of all places. I recognized the name and got excited, because I’m quite familiar with this wine’s “sibling”, the Tête de Biliers Rosé as one of the best French rosés I know. I was not dissappointed and I decided to make it my go-to everyday rosé as an alternative to the more pricey Biliers.

Pale pink in color with a fresh nose of exotic fruits. The palate is fresh and crispy. It is a thirst-quenching rose perfect for apéritif, grilled fishes and salads.

Grape Variety: 60% Grenache, 40% Cinsault

Saxon Brown is one of those special wineries. The kind that doesn’t come along all that often, that you wish you could drink every day and share with everyone you know. Which I guess I kind of am sharing it with everyone I know 🤔…

Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir! 2016 is the fourth vintage from Ferrington and it’s the first time that Jeff’s produced a Saxon Brown wine from Anderson Valley (although he’s been making Black Kite there for years)… Ferrington is considered one of the most prestigious vineyards in Ando Valley and its rocky soils and multiple clones are known to produce very low yields of complexly flavored Pinot Noir. In his 2013 lineup it was my absolute favourite Pinot. I wouldn’t say it’s a typical Ando Valley Pinot at all. It’s really deep and complex, not really cherry or red fruit forward. It’s just incredibly pleasant and gulpable… I probably gulped more of this than any other wine last year 😆

Bottom line: Winemaker Jeff Gaffner is one of the best winemakers out there. He’s truly passionate about his craft, without being a douche about it (Bonus!) and he’s just an overall great human being. When it comes to his wines, everything he touches turns to gold. So whether you’re drinking his semillon, his unreal Syrah, “zin the way God intended”, burgundy-esque Chardonnay, or one of his 6 Pinot Noirs, you will NEVER be disappointed. He just nails it, across the board.

Welcome to my world of delicious, go-to, reasonably priced red Burgundies 💫

David Trousselle and his wife farm 6 hectares of vines in the bucolic village of Baubigny located just west of Saint Romain in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. He is already known as a fine and meticulous viticulturist and is currently transitioning his vineyards to organic farming. The Cuvée Olympe, produced from the finest barrels each year, honors the birth of David & Marjorie Trousselle’s daughter, born immediately following the harvest in 2018.
Expect a wine that is fuller and more plump than their already stellar bottlings, this cuvée shows black cherry fruit with nice fresh acidity. The minerals, every present in the soils of the villages in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune combined with ripe, coated tannins provide a firm backbone which will allow for at least 10 years of graceful aging.

Welcome to my world of delicious, go-to, reasonably priced red Burgundies 💫

Guillaume Camus is one of the rising stars in the Côte de Beaune, making wine from vineyard holdings in Savigny-Les-Beaune, Pommard and Beaune. While many of the more famous names in the area have caused a stir by trying one experimental technique after another in the wine-making process, Camus has been concentrating on his vineyards. He firmly believes that one can only make wine as good as the grapes that you grow.  The Saussy is supple, round and fleshy middle weight flavors also possess a caressing and rounded mouthfeel.  There is better density and volume to the succulent, round and punchy medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a moderately rustic and youthfully austere finale. This is very good for its level.

Northern Rhône LEGEND, Alain Graillot, is recognized for his passion of Syrah. Prior to starting his own domaine, Alain worked in Burgundy, where he received guidance from the reputable Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac. In 1985, Alain founded Domaine Alain Graillot just outside the village of Pont de l’Isère, about 6 km south of Tain-l’Hermitage. He is now considered one of the most highly sought-after producers in the Northern Rhône due to his exuberant, robust and impeccably made Syrah-based wines.

Alain Graillot stumbled upon these vineyards and the Thalvin winery while bicycling in the Zenata region of Morocco between Casablanca and Rabat. It is a beautiful area with cool winds blowing off the Atlantic and no polluting industries. The Thalvin winery has been around since the 1920s and after some discussion, a deal was reached and Thalvin provided Graillot with parcels of Syrah vines to produce Syrocco. Fruit is grown primarily around the winery, which is located near the village of Ben Slimane (40 km from the ocean between Casablanca and Rabat in Morocco). The wine is crafted from vines 10-40 years old (average age 25 years) and no herbicide or fungicide treatments are used.

Domaine de Triennes-

This is one of the best value wines coming out of the famed region of Southern France, Provance.  Two of Burgundy’s finest producers put their minds together purchasing this property due to the location and terrior, perfect for making rose. This typical blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah has a bouquet of strawberries and white flowers. This rose is a perfect accompaniment to a sunny summer afternoon.

Hannah Decanted McIntyre Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, SLH, CA

Hannah and I have been friends for a few years now, and wine paths have crossed many times. She is indeed one lovely human, and also one heckova winemaker! This Pinot Noir would not be here if it hadn't been a smashing success in wine. Much like its creator, this wine is not shy. It's got personality, balance and grace, expertly crafted and from a great vineyard in the SLH region. I look forward to sharing it in all forms. It is part of the December Wine Club, available online in both my “Cellar” and “Multi-pack” sections, and we have some fun things planned for 2023!

Please also take note of:
1 - The beautiful label, created especially for Hannah by a local Alaskan artist, Shilo Cederberg.
2 - Lola makes a special appearance on the cork… Possibly one of my favourite touches of all time!

The Vineyard!
McIntyre Estate Vineyard, within Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, is in a most desirable location of the AVA. Perfectly positioned to produce great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Originally planted in 1973, the 80-acre site (60 acres planted) boasts some of the Highlands’ oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines.

The backbone of the Disciples Red Wine comes from the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford and the Tofanelli Vineyard in Calistoga. The Morisoli's have been farming their plot of land for 5 generations, dating back to the 1890's. The Tofanelli's have been farming their ranch since 1929 and grow some of Napa's most coveted field blend varietals. Predominantly Zinfandel, this wine jumps out of the glass with blackberry coulis, juniper and toast. Fantastic acidity carries the wine through to a satisfyingly long, lingering finish. 49% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 10% Charbono, 9% Grenache, 7% Syrah, 6% Merlot