Ladies Choice Wine Club

Ladies Choice Wine Club

This wine club is dedicated to all the ladies out there who like their red wines, light, low alcohol and delicious. A red-only wine club, think Mencía, Gamay, Pinot Noir, easy, enjoyable, and a bit weird: Grolleau, Ruche, Schioppettino, Poulsard etc..

This wine club and the name were inspired by Alejandro’s wife Melissa Keller, thank her or blame her.

Ladies Choice Vol. 14

I’m truly in love with everything Michael is doing at Monte Bernardi and thus in this volume you get two of his delicious Sangiovese wines.

Monte Bernardi is helmed by Michael Schmelzer, Michigan-born winemaker who took over the historic estate in 2003. Located in the high-altitude hills of Panzano in Chianti, Michael became a passionate champion of organic and biodynamic farming long before it was trendy in the region. Monte Bernardi has the highest percentage of old vines of any commercial estate in Chianti Classico. This includes six hectares of vines that are over 55 years old, and one prized single hectare that was planted all the way back in 1933 (the inspiration for the MB1933 cuvée). Old vines naturally grow deeper roots into the rocky Galestro shale and Alberese limestone, giving the fruit a consistent, soil-driven character even in drought years

His cellar philosophy is strictly low-intervention. He famously avoids small, new French oak barrels, opting instead for large, traditional neutral oak casks (botti). Michael's goal is to make Chianti that tastes entirely of the landscape, steering clear of the heavy, over-extracted, and overly oaky styles that dominated the region for decades. The "1933" in this specific cuvée’s name is a nod to the historic year the Chianti Classico region's boundaries were officially recognized, signaling a proud return to traditional, old-school roots.

2022 “MB1933” Chianti Classico $ 45

Sourced from high-altitude vineyards in the heart of Panzano, this Chianti Classico pays homage to traditional Tuscan winemaking. The fruit grows on classic Galestro shale and Alberese limestone soils, which give the wine its signature lift and mineral backbone. Aged in large, neutral oak casks, the 2022 vintage beautifully balances the warmth of the growing season with crisp mountain freshness. It is a wonderfully pure expression of the region that avoids the over-extracted, heavy style of many modern Chiantis.

It pours a bright ruby red color and opens with inviting aromas of sour red cherries, wild strawberries, and dried oregano. On the palate, the medium body is shaped by dusty, fine-grained tannins and a vibrant acidity. Flavors of tart red fruit mingle with savory notes of leather, damp earth, and a touch of orange zest. The finish is clean, dry, and refreshing, leaving a lingering, mouthwatering impression.

A deep translucent ruby in the glass, the nose is intensely aromatic with thyme, oregano and wild herbs along with a subtle lift of mint. Cherry and red plum fruit mingle with an earthy vegetal sweetness reminiscent of ripe tomato plants after a summer rain. More tart cherry and fresh tomato on the palate are followed by some peppery spice and lingering acidity. The tannins are rustic and firm but not out of place, softening a bit after a few hours open. This certainly has the structure to age several years or longer but it's so good now that it might be hard to wait.

“Retromarcia” 2024 Chianti Classico $ 30

Retromarcia, meaning reverse gear in Italian, is Michael Schmelcer’s calling card and homage to how Chianti traditionally used to taste. Biodynamic farming in Panzano, Michael focuses solely on Sangiovese to give his Classico a lean frame with clean cherry fruit, little smoke, earth, and freshness. Fresh, fun, juicy, light, candied cherry, tarragon, smooth, easy finish. Very drinkable and versatile. A benchmark everyday Chianti Classico.

Michael’s cellar philosophy: a deliberate step away from the heavily extracted, heavily oak-influenced, techno-driven styles that dominated Tuscany in the 1990s and 2000s. Michael uses no modern additives, enzymes, or technological manipulations. The wines are fermented spontaneously with native yeasts and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Michael picks based on flavor and acid balance rather than sugar density. As a result, his wines are athletic, savory, they trade brute power for longevity and transparency.