Pacific Hair Cellar Wine Club · First shipment · A classic lineup: one bubbly, one Chablis, one Pinot. One splurge, two everyday steals.
A Note from Jamie
Welcome, founding members!
I've wanted to start a wine club for a long time, but between the salon and everything else, I never had the capacity to make it happen. Then my sister-in-law, Chenise, stepped in and made it real. I'm so grateful to her, and to all of you. So many of our founding members are friends and longtime clients, and your support means the world.
Why a wine club? For me, it's the fun of the hunt: finding the best wine for the best price. The club pushes me to buy more intentionally, choosing bottles I'm excited to share with you rather than just what I want to drink.
The goal with The Opener is simple. When you're spending close to $100, you should feel like it was worth it. I know $100 is $100, and things can be tight for anybody. Finding three wines I'm genuinely proud of at that price is a real challenge, and I feel great about every bottle in this first box.
What's ahead: A new shipment every other month. Going into next year, I'll build each shipment around a theme, with a reason behind every pick. Expect a few surprises, too. The next box may have something a little unusual in it. We all know and love Paso wines, and I'll keep supporting our local makers, but I'm excited to bring you imports and less common bottles you won't find everywhere.
I can't wait to hear what you think.
Cheers,
Jamie
NV issimo Pinot Rosé Sparkling Brut
The vibe: Snowy mountains, a cozy cabin, and a bottle you're not afraid to open.
On the nose: Fresh and bright, with a hint of crisp apple. Not the toasty, almondy style some Champagnes have; this one leans fresh.
On the palate: Surprisingly dry, with lively acidity that keeps it clean and doesn't linger too long. One early taster called it "soft on the tongue," with a fun, different mouthfeel.
The Goldilocks bubbly: Not too sweet, not too dry. Just right.
Where to drink it: Picture a sip after a day in fresh mountain snow, then curling up by the fire in a cabin with a movie. Pajamas encouraged. The bubbles rise like a little hot spring: cold outside, warm inside.
Where not to drink it: By the pool. We tried to picture it. It's a fireside wine.
Pro tip: Pour it into a tall, narrow flute rather than a wide coupe. We tested side by side: the flute keeps the bubbles crisp much longer.
Why it's in the box: It's a crowd-pleaser and the perfect bottle to take to a holiday party, a concert, or a friend's house. It's not a "save it for a special occasion" wine, so drink it now. (Jamie is grabbing two or three extra to keep on hand.)
2023 Christophe et Fils Chablis
The vibe: The Chardonnay for people who swear they don't like Chardonnay.
On the nose: Straight from the fridge it's tight, with a flinty, mineral edge. Give it 10–15 minutes in the glass and it really opens up into nutty notes and ripe apple.
On the palate: Mineral, crisp, and refreshing. It's lighter in the mouth than you'd expect, with a lovely roundness that never gets creamy. No butter, no caramel, no oak bomb.
The finish: Clean and polished. A really nice wine.
Pro tip: Don't serve it ice cold. This one is happiest around 55–60°F, so pull it from the fridge a little before you pour and watch it change in the glass.
Why it's in the box: This is the splurge of the shipment, and it earns it. Pour it for the friend who says "I don't really like Chardonnay" and wait for "...oh. I like this."
2024 EX Pinot Noir by Wrath
The vibe: Your Tuesday-night, long-day, "I just want a glass of wine" wine.
Where it's from: Wrath, in Soledad in the Monterey highlands.
On the nose: Very Pinot-y, in the best way. It has earthy, valley-floor character and a whisper of rustic farmyard, which is a classic sign of a Pinot with a sense of place.
On the palate: Balanced right between fruit and earth. It has enough weight to stand up to food but is easy enough to sip on its own. It's a bit fuller than a delicate Pinot, which makes it perfect as the weather cools.
Pair it with: A cheese board with dried cranberries. Thanksgiving. Any gathering where the whole family piles in.
Why it's in the box: It's an excellent value and takes zero brain power to enjoy. It's not fussy or so complex you have to concentrate, just honestly delicious and priced like a weeknight wine. If you love it, ask about Wrath's single-vineyard San Saba Pinot in the members-only bottles.
Cheers to our founding members!