What's a family with 400 years of Alsatian winemaking tradition under its belt doing in California's Dry Creek Valley? Bringing up the neighborhood, if the quality of this "house red" (the translation for maison rouge) is any indication. Michel-Schlumberger is uncompromising in its quest to make distinctive terroir-driven wines from its benchland, upland and mountain vineyards.

A field blend that includes Syrah, Viognier, Petite sirah, Zinfandel, Malbec, pinot Noir and a few other grapes, Maison Rouge is its most easygoing wine but it still bears the marks of an estate that is serious about its craft. Suave layers of cherry and dark berry fruit are lifted by herb and smoke elements. We fell in love with this at first taste. It was the first wine chosen for this newsletter.
BLM Wine + Spirits Vineyard Picks