Sunday School

WINE

Loire White Blend “Les Vins Oubliés Blanc,” Famille Héraud, ’22

Loire Valley, France

The name says it all. “Les Vins Oubliés,” or “the forgotten wines,” is Famille Héraud’s tribute to grapes that time and most of the wine world left behind. This 2022 white blend revives Seyval and Rayon d’Or, two nearly extinct varieties that once stepped in after phylloxera rocked the Loire Valley in the late 1800s. Now they’re back, and frankly, tasting better than ever. These grapes were originally praised for their resilience in the vineyard, but what they deliver in the glass is just as compelling. Fermented in stainless steel to let the aromatics shine, this wine is crisp, expressive, and refreshingly off the beaten path. On the nose, it bursts with juicy pear, citrus zest, and a touch of something herbal and wild. The palate follows through with bright orchard fruit, mouthwatering acidity, and a clean, mineral-driven finish that is unmistakably Loire. It is a wine with history, attitude, and the kind of easy charm that does not need to shout to stand out. Pair it with goat cheese or your next adventurous mood. Forgotten grapes, unforgettable wine.

$12 glass   •   $7 glass

CHEESE

Selles-sur-cher

Loire Valley, France · Goat-P

Meet Selles-sur-cher, a classic goat’s milk cheese from France’s pristine Loire Valley. The temperate climate of the Loire, often called “the garden of France,” provides excellent conditions for cheesemaking. Specifically, lush vegetation in the area brings herbal, grassy flavors to goat’s milk cheeses like this one. Its ashy surface stippled with “bloom” suggests fresh earth coming to life, and its soft white paste tastes fresh and bright. These particular wheels are aged in the caves at Murray’s Cheese in New York until the rinds develop and a cream line forms just under the ash. For those who have never experienced a soft-ripened French goat cheese, Selles is a revelation – beautifully balanced without any “goaty tang.” Just as great young goat cheese should be. A can’t-miss perfect pairing moment with today’s Loire Valley wine offering!

$9  •   $6