Recherché Reserve Selections

In the world of wine, the term ‘reserve’ often lacks a definitive meaning. We sought a designation that truly conveyed the complex nature of our most exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. We found it in the French word Recherché (pronounced ruh-shair-SHAY) – an adjective that perfectly encapsulates something rare, exquisite, and profoundly refined, cherished by those with discerning tastes.

Our Recherché Reserve wines are born from a confluence of rare perfection. Great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the kind that truly stops you in your tracks, originates from very specific, hallowed sites. These are places where the grapes achieve not just a certain sugar level, but a complete, physiological maturity – a full spectrum of flavors, a perfect balance of sugar and acidity, and beautifully developed tannins in their skins and seeds. This level of ripeness is incredibly rare, demanding cool yet consistently sunny locations.

Indeed, only a handful of vineyards in California – perhaps a few dozen – can consistently yield grapes of this unparalleled quality. We are immensely blessed to cultivate long-standing relationships, often spanning years or even decades, with the stewards of these remarkable places. It is only when we have worked intimately with a vineyard, when we have truly captured its essence and the spirit of the people behind it, that a wine earns the coveted Recherché Reserve designation.