In recent years, Provence may have earned a reputation as the cradle of rosé, but if you look in the right places, you will find some of France’s most glorious reds here, too. Tempier is at the top of this list, having helped build Bandol over many decades into a revered source of rouges that, at their best, show both country soul and refinement. In addition to the domaine’s classic and expressive blend of its various terroirs, below you’ll find two single-vineyard bottlings that show utterly different sides of Provence’s greatest appellation. All three reds represent the pinnacle of what I think of as noble rusticity. Mourvèdre stars in each, meaning there’s inevitably some wildness and power in your glass, but these qualities are so expertly composed—especially in 2021—that you can approach them today or in twenty years.

It has been many years since we have introduced you to a new selection of ours from the Champagne region—not for lack of trying! Earlier this year we finally found what we have been looking for in the small Champagne village of Écueil, on the Montagne de Reims, in the cellars of Nicolas Maillart. Nicolas owns and farms vineyards in Écueil, Villers-Allerand, and Bouzy, all just south of Reims. These are among the world’s greatest terroirs for growing Champagne grapes, and they have been brilliantly matched chez Maillart to Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Petit Meslier in order to extract the best qualities of each grape for both his blended multi-vintage Champagnes and his single-vineyard-vintage bottlings. All of his Champagnes are fermented and aged in wood, minimally sulfured, and bottled unfiltered with very little dosage.
     Nicolas has made wine at his family estate since 2003 and has had two decades to hone and perfect his house style. He controls, farms, and manages all of his vineyards himself, working all of his soils. His Champagnes are pure, elegant, terroir-transparent, stylish, and delicious! Tasting through his lineup of vins clairs is like tasting through a cellar of young wines in Burgundy, and he has figured out how to transform the magic he has in barrel into his resulting Champagnes that emerge years later. Nicolas Maillart is sure to be a household name in Champagne in the near future, and I know you will enjoy getting to know these as much as I have.

The task of finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in. As is tradition here at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, we’ve made it easy to celebrate. We’ve put together a selection of groceries, books, other gifty items, and (of course) wine—samplers, magnums, and more—that is sure to delight the wine lovers in your life and kick-start your holiday festivities. Start with Your Six-Bottle Holiday Survival Guide below, explore our annual Dessert Wine Sale, or visit our Holiday Gift Shop. Order early to arrive by Christmas!