Organized by the good folks at @galienawines. With Hart, James and Zi.

There are very VERY few wine tasting dinners that would’ve made me THIS excited.

Chiara is the grand-daughter of the man himself, and current winemaker in charge of the estate.

I’m not gonna pretend I was cool or composed at the event. No, I was giddy talking to her about her decision to vinify their first plot-specific bottlings. I showed her my stupid shrine dedicated to my old Pepe bottles. I told her the story of Brandon’s legendary wine selection at Blue Hill that introduced me to their magical wine (it was the 2006 vintage) those years ago. I also shamelessly asked her to write Hart and I a little note on the menu. I wish I had just asked to take a photo with her.

I loved that the team selected 6 wines that were so distinct, and recognizable. And I loved that I discovered the delicious 2013, and came to realize (to my surprise) that my initial preference for the Casa Pepe ended up flipping, and I eventually ended up enjoying the Branella bottling over the Casa Pepe with enough time and air in the glass.

What a great time with great food and company. Couldn’t have been happier.