MCF Rare Wine

One of California's Most Unique Terroirs
 
I had lunch with Raj Parr a few weeks ago, and the focus of said lunch were his latest releases from Phelan Farm, his winery in Cambria CA, in the cool climate of the San Luis Obispo (SLO) Coast AVA.  

I'd tasted (and been enamored with) these wines before, but, as it usually does, sitting with the winemaker, and hearing the story straight from them, tends to really drives home how truly special the wines are. 

Click the image above if you want to see the short video i just put out about these, or see below if you wanna read...

...either way, get on board with these wines because...

...trust me, you wanna be...

PHELAN FARM & BRIJ
Brij Chardonnay SLO Coast 2023 - this is, pound for pound, one of the most unique and delicious Chards coming out of Cali right now.  It's crisp, saline and mineral, but also fabulously textured and surprisingly developed around the edges.  There's a kiss of underlying, Jura-esque savoriness lurking throughout that goes so wonderfully with that coastal pedigree. 

Phelan Farm Chardonnay San Luis Obispo 2023 - made from the Phelan estate vineyards just a few miles from the sea, this is a stunningly beautiful Chard.  The fact that it's in a Jura-type bottle is, I think, rather appropriate, as the same Jura-esque nutty/savoriness present in the Brij is even more developed and refined here.  I can't remember the last Chard from any region that I was this excited about. 

Phelan Farm Mondeuse San Luis Obispo 2022 - perhaps the thing I like the most about what Raj is doing at Phelan, is his utilization of 'non-traditional' varietals for the region.  In this case, we have Mondeuse, the noble red grape of the Savoie in Eastern France.  I've always thought of Mondeuse as Pinot Noir's, darker, surlier cousin.  It's got that same lofty aromatics, transparency of earth and suppleness of fruit that you expect from PN, but it's decidedly darker and more savory, and with more sinister edge, as well.  Raj uses it brilliantly to highlight both its dark, stony varietal nature and the salty, aromatic character of the stunning SLO Coast terroir, .  I cannot wait to see this one with some age, which will allow all that subtly animale nuance to emerge alongside that pure, pretty dark fruit. 

You may also order by replying to this message or calling 212.255.8870.

Matt Franco
MCF Rare Wine, Ltd
249 West 13th Street NYC 10011
212.255.8870

Looking for a wine you loved from a past newsletter or a favorite you can't find anywhere?  Email Raphael at raphael@mcf-rarewine.com, and we'll do our best to find it for you!