December 2025 | Terroir Wine Club

Outward Shell Creek Chenin 2024

Outward is a project between Ryan and Natalie based in San Luis Obispo. Their ethos is a familiar one to the wines and producers we feature at the shop: minimal intervention in the cellar, viticulture and farming that aims to be as hands-off and regenerative as possible, and a focus on small-lot expression. The 2024 Shell Creek Chenin comes from an organically farmed single parcel planted in 1972 and is laden with marine fossils (ergo, the name).

Right off the bat, the wine offers bright lime oils, Buddha's hand, lime custard, and bright salty ginger. After thirty minutes or so, the salinity moves more forward in the profile, making the citrus notes feel more like preserved lemons and less like lifted citrus oils. On day two, the wine is a bit softer and brings in notes like lily and fresh honey. The acidity is relatively high for a domestic Chenin, but it is in no way abrasive; rather, it provides a tense lift to the finish. For food pairings, I would consider hard cheeses, fresh bread and butter with sea salt, or braised halibut or swordfish. Drink now - 2040 and serve in all-purpose stemware just above refrigeration temperature.

Remy Massin Blanc de Noirs NV Brut Nature Champagne

Remy Massin is part of the Special Club in Champagne, a select group of vignerons whose work consistently produces some of the best wines in Champagne while advocating for and pushing progressive farming and winemaking. This non-vintage (NV) Champagne is from the Côte des Bar, a winegrowing region in the southeast of Champagne, technically closer to Chablis than to Reims. The soil types here start to change from the typical limestone-dominant terroir seen in the Marne and the Côte de Blancs, and we see more clay in the soils, indicative of the capacity to create a bolder fruit profile. This Blanc de Noirs (100% Pinot Noir, pressed as a white wine) is made in a Brut Nature style (0g/L of residual sugar added at dosage) and exemplifies all of the aforementioned characteristics.

When we drink Champagne, it’s tempting to grab a Champagne flute, but I encourage you to reach for your all-purpose stemware; Champagne is a wine like any other, and its qualities can be diminished in a flute. Immediately upon opening, the wine is bright lemon meringue, incredibly mineral driven, has a Pez-candy-like brightness, and soft baby powder notes. After thirty minutes, the nose is more bright-fruit driven with green notes of Granny Smith apples and lime oil, alongside dragonfruit and starfruit. On day two, the wine feels remarkably vinous, is slightly less bracing, and maintains a strong mineral presence. Champagne may be the Queen of food-pairing wines due to its strong acidity and forward profile; serve alongside oysters (a classic pairing), homemade fries or potato chips (with crème fraîche and caviar—also a classic pairing if you can afford it), or white sauce and truffle pizza. Serve now - 2032/2035 and serve in all-purpose stemware at refrigeration temperature.

Santa Cruz Mountains 2018 Lucchessi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

My colleagues and I often talk about the legacy of Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyards. Without Jeff Emery and the legacy of Ken Burnap, we would not have Madson, Ascona Vineyard, Sam Smith, and so many of the producers and projects that we all love so much. Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyards and their team opened their arms, cellars, and bottles for me when I first moved to Santa Cruz, and I felt this holiday season would be an excellent time to highlight the quality and depth of one of our local legends.

Luchessi Vineyard was planted in 1981 with wild, head-trained vines on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains near Montebello Ridge. Being on the Saratoga side of the appellation means wines of robust structure and character can be made. This library release comes from the epic 2018 vintage in California and is an exuberant wine. Upon opening, the wine is dense blackberry oils, black and green olives, black pepper, dried violets, and an acidity that only the mountains can bring. After thirty minutes, the wine sinks deeper into the black and brown tones of suede, leather, and graham crackers, further developing the tasting experience. After an hour, notes of eucalyptus, sweet pipe tobacco, and cedar box come through, adding typicity to the varietal. Overall, the wine is a testament to the region and the legacy. For food pairings, you can go as bold as you want here; this is your steak, BBQ, or burgers. Drink now - 2028 (it’s gorgeous right now!) and serve in all-purpose stemware at cellar temperature.