FEATURED IN THIS SET:

2023 Antoinne et Philippe Delaunay, L'Ouche du Four, Muscadet Sérve-et-Maine, France
(100% Melon de Bourgogne)

The Delaunay estate is in the village of Vertou, where the archdeacon of Nantes, Martin de Vertou, founded a monastery in the 6th century and planted extensive vineyards. Some 1,400 years later, Antoine Delaunay is the fourth generation in his family to carry on winemaking from this land. The region of Muscadet has defined "10 Cru Communaux," which is considered a higher ranking in quality. The Delaunay vineyards are part of the Cru Château Thebaud. Their 22-hectare estate is certified organic and has vines ranging from 1 to 90 years old, mostly Melon de Bourgogne. L’Ouche du Four refers to the name of the parcel planted by Antoine’s great-grandfather. This is a fantastic Muscadet with a slightly hazy lemon-green color, notes of lemon cream, white peach, apricot, crème fraîche, and an abundance of seaside minerality. On the palate, it is dry, textured, and creamy with medium body and ample acidity through its delicious lengthy finish.

2023 Domaine de La Barbiniere, "Les Silex", Fiefs Vendeens Chantonnay, France
(Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay)

This wine is a fantastic aperitif choice, bringing the elegance and finesse of France’s Fiefs Vendéens. Domaine de La Barbinière, established by Philippe Orion in 1978 and now run by his sons, has grown from just 2 hectares to one of the region’s most respected organic vineyards. Recognized as an official AOC in 2011, the Chantonnay region showcases wines with distinctive minerality and freshness, traits beautifully expressed here. This Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay blend reveals a mineral-driven nose with notes of fresh apples, pears, lime zest, and white flowers. Its balanced palate is dry, medium-bodied, and refreshing—a delightful choice to welcome guests with a thoughtfully made small-producer wine that’s elegant and refreshing.

2023 Champalou, Vouvray Sec, France
(100% Chenin Blanc)

If you select just one white from this set for Thanksgiving, this is our top recommendation. It is best enjoyed third if you plan to try all the whites. Catherine and Didier Champalou founded their Vouvray estate over 20 years ago, planting a mere half-hectare parcel that they have since grown to 20 organically farmed hectares. The Champalou family, now joined by their daughter Céline, has been crafting exceptional wines for over two decades in Vouvray’s limestone-rich soils. This dry (sec) style shows off the versatility of Chenin Blanc with a delicate interplay of stony minerality and floral, almost honeyed fruit. From its apple-laden, honeyed, and floral nose to its fresh limestone finish, this wine brings both vibrancy and richness to the Thanksgiving table, pairing beautifully with everything from savory sides to delicate poultry.

2021 Georges Descombes, Morgon, France
(100% Gamay)

Georges Descombes grew up working in the vineyard with his vigneron father and drinking the wines of their family friends, including the famed "Gang of Four" of Beaujolais. Taking over the family winery in 1988, Georges later became an unofficial 5th legendary vigneron of Beaujolais. He has two Morgon bottlings: one from old vines and this one, from the younger vines ranging from 5 to almost 50 years old. Grapes are hand-harvested in whole clusters and fermented with natural yeasts in a cold semi-carbonic maceration, which is traditional in Beaujolais. The wine is medium-concentration of ruby with a vivid pink rim with notes of bright, fresh, and juicy red cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and clementine zest, with violets, earth, and minerality. It’s dry and medium-bodied, with moderate and fine-grained tannins that bring a nice texture to the palate and a freshness from medium+ acidity. The minerality lingers on the textured finish.

2021 Domaine de la Chanteleuserie, Cuvee Beauvais, Bourgueil, France
(100% Cabernet Franc)

Just outside the village of Benais, in the heart of the Touraine, sits the lovely Domaine de la Chanteleuserie. This "place where the larks sing," as the name means, is perched on a limestone plateau in an idyllic landscape. The seventh generation farm this estate in this homeland of Cabernet Franc. Bourgueil is among the most age-worthy of the Loire Valley's reds, and the wines from this estate are no exception. These wines have a suppleness and generosity of fruit that sets our hearts on fire! This "Cuvée Beauvais," is from one of Bourgueil's greatest sites and 50-year-old vines. We scooped up every single bottle in the state the instant it hit our palates! The wine is perfumed with ripe, lush blackcurrants, black raspberries, graphite, rich dried earth, mushrooms, roasted peppers, rose petals, tobacco, and cedar. On the palate it is dry, with silky smooth medium-plus tannins and acidity to make your mouth water and elongate the earthy and ripe dark fruit finish.

2021 Lou Dumont, Bourgogne, Burgundy, France
(100% Pinot Noir) We recommend decanting this wine 1 hour before dinner.

Japanese sommelier Koji Nakada’s love of Burgundy led him from Tokyo to Beaune, where he met Jae Hwa Park, a fellow expat and future partner in both life and wine. Together, they founded Maison Lou Dumont in 2000 with a mission to create pure, honest Burgundy that captures the soul of the region. This 2021 Bourgogne Rouge exemplifies their approach to respectful, minimal-intervention winemaking. Grapes were carefully selected from a minimum of 30-year-old (a strict rule of theirs) organically farmed vines, including some from a biodynamic vineyard in the Côte Chalonnaise; this wine is bursting with character. It has a medium concentration of ruby and is beautifully aromatic with notes of ripe and crunchy red cherries, pomegranate, raspberries, currants, violets, and rose petals, earth, with subtle backing spices. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, has medium tannin levels with a fine-grained texture, and medium+ acidity. The finish is fresh earth and mushrooms with tarragon, red crunchy fruits, and a floral lift. A beautiful, expressive Pinot Noir that’s polish is sure to delight and elevate your Thanksgiving table!