Review: Maison Wessman Hot Blood Wines, 2026 Releases
We recently reviewed the red and white Raven wines from Maison Wessman, which were made in collaboration with musician JJ Julius Son, the frontman for the band Kaleo. Now we swing back to try the other two wines that Wessman and JJ Julius Son produced together, the Hot Blood red and white. An interesting aspect of the two pairs of wines is that they showcase very similar grapes but from different appellations in France and in the case of the red wine, slightly different percentages of grapes. I’ll include details of each in their respective descriptions. Let’s give them a try.
2022 Hot Blood Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon – 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec. In contrast to the Raven red, this wine is Merlot heavy and includes some Malbec, with the grapes grown in Bergerac, France. On both the nose and palate, this intriguing Bordeaux blend showcases deep, fruity notes of Bing cherry, plum, blackberry, and raspberry along with herbal notes of black pepper, sage, and thyme, including a bit of menthol. It is fairly complex with the individual notes standing out, though they also play together nicely. There’s good structure here with high acidity and gentle tannins that provide a nice drying finish as the menthol note slowly fades away. The herbal note might be the key to this wine, and those who appreciate it will really enjoy it. I think it would pair brilliantly with lamb with mint sauce or mint jelly. A- / $17
2023 Hot Blood Chardonnay – Like White Raven, Hot Blood is 100% Chardonnay, but drawn from the Pays d’Oc region of Languedoc. This wine also differs from the former in that it was not aged in oak but in stainless steel, where it rested on the lees for an undisclosed amount of time. On the nose, it offers juicy aromas of lemon tart, granny smith apple, and peach. On the palate, it is fruity with lime pith, lemon, peach, and a touch of pineapple. The wine shows high acidity and a touch of minerality, but the finish is a bit short. The acidity is high enough that I recommend enjoying it with food, and in the summer months, I would love to serve it alongside a Caprese salad. B+ / $17
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