Terroir Sampler

by Clark Z. Terry

An in-depth discussion of terroir is complex, balancing the elements of geology, climate, vintage, and local and familial tradition that all impact a the character of a wine in bottle. With this Sampler, we’ll look at just one of those elements—geology. Certainly the composition of a vineyard’s soil is not the sexiest of all topics. Maybe you’d rather hear about the stunning meal Kermit enjoyed at Domaine Abbatucci or how at Château d’Epiré they still open bottles from the 1940s. However, because of how profound an influence certain soils have on wine, the first words out of a vigneron’s mouth when tasting are often, “Do you taste the limestone? Do you remember those big, flat rocks in the vineyard? That’s what you are tasting.”

Those experiences leave an impression, and after culling our inventory I settled on six wines that truly typify that concept. The obvious selections are the Chablis (limestone), Côte de Brouilly (granite), and Savennières (schist). The other wines aren’t as well known for their soil types, but the vignerons speak about the influence of the soil just as passionately.

With this Sampler, I invite you to “taste the rocks,” or at least tune your palate toward minerality, as a way to further discover and enjoy wine.

Normally $171.95

Special Sampler Price $129

(a 25% discount)