Firstleaf is a monthly wine subscription founded by Philip James, with the goal of creating the most customer-centric wine club.
Firstleaf leaf partners directly with wineries and winemakers to bring the wine straight to members and boast that it’s the only wine club that tailors its wine choice to an individual member’s preferences.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Firstleaf
The Subscription Box: Firstleaf
The Cost: $79.98 per box + $9.95 shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Intro offer $39.95 + free shipping no code needed. No coupon needed - just use this link.
The Products: 6 bottles of wine personalized to your individual tastes.
Ships to: the U.S. where it is legal to receive wine by mail.
Good To Know: You can adjust your shipment frequency and preferences in your account settings. An adult 21+ must be present at the time of delivery to sign for the shipment.
Firstleaf Wine Subscription January 2019 Review
Firstleaf offers an impressive level of customization. You can choose whether to receive all white, all reds, or a mix of both. You can also choose whether to receive US wines, imported wines, or a mix of both. You can also choose how frequently you’d like to receive boxes and indicate if you’re interested in Rose or Sparkling varieties.
The first insert this month is a referral coupon.
A few months ago, Firstleaf began sending newsletters in addition to the standard information cards. This is a great addition to the box used to send, and I was excited to get extra reading material.
2017 La Arauca Sauvignon Blanc (Chile) – Listed Value $25.00 (Member Price $20.00)
Tasting Notes: Mineral, Grass, Lemon
Awards:
- Silver Medal, Critics Challenge International Wine Competition (2018)
Sauvignon Blanc got its name from the French word “Sauvage,” which means wild. It grew wild everywhere in the country from Bordeaux to the Loire Valley and was a hit in Parisian bistros. Slowly the grape has made its way all over the world. Known for being “grassy” and having a high, zesty acidity the wine is perfectly refreshing. The La Arauca is a fantastic modern take on this old world grape. It doesn't hide behind the oak and is a crisp counterpoint to other buttery white wines. It has some beautiful mineral notes and a brightness that can't be hidden. Our experts are loving it with fresh foods, and have been pairing it with all types of fresh fish dishes. Judges are loving it too! It was sent home from the 2018 Critics Challenge with a Silver Medal!
This was my favorite wine this month. I thought that the lemony crispness was refreshing and it was a beautifully balanced wine to enjoy.
2016 Harmonic Bridge Chardonnay (California) – Listed Value $22.00 (Member Price $17.60)
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Oak, Peach
Awards:
- Gold Medal, Harvest Challenge (2018)
- 91 Points, International Women's Wine Competition (2018)
- 90 Points, Winemaker Challenge (2018)
- 90 Points, Monterey International Wine Competition (2018)
- Gold Medal, International Women's Wine Competition (2018)
- Gold Medal, Monterey International Wine Competition (2018)
- Gold Medal, Winemaker Challenge (2018)
- Gold Medal, Harvest Challenge (2017)
- Silver Medal, San Diego International Wine And Spirits Challenge (2018)
Drinking wine is an experience that enthralls all of the senses. You can see the color, from rich garnet to pale white as it’s poured out of the bottle. You can touch the glass, and move it to your nose to smell the aromas. You can taste the subtle notes as the wine moves across your palate. But what about sound? This is the reason that we toast glasses, we want to draw every sense into play when enjoying a fine wine. This wine has beautiful aromas, a bright gold color, and ripe fruit flavors. Grab a glass and make a toast, because the Harmonic Bridge Chardonnay is worthy of all of your senses. Judges love it too! It took home a Gold medal at the 2018 Harvest Challenge.
I’m not a huge Chardonnay fan and I’ve always wondered why it’s the go-to white for white wine drinkers. In my opinion, it doesn’t hold a candle to a good Pinot Grigio – that said, I’m going to intentionally rate this wine low (I don’t hate it, it’s just not my favorite, and it’s a pretty standard chardonnay) and I’m going to see if the First Leaf algorithm picks up on that and sends me less Chardonnay. Stay posted for future reviews!
2017 Literaria '42 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile) – Listed Value $19.00 (Member Price $17.10)
Tasting Notes: Mineral, Tropical Fruit, Lemon
Awards:
- Silver Medal, Critics Challenge International Wine Competition (2018)
- Silver Medal, Denver International Wine Competition (2018)
- Silver Medal, International Women's Wine Competition (2018)
- Bronze Medal, Global Wine Awards (2018)
One idea central to Chilean artistic identity is originality. Starting in 1842 a group of artists banded together to bolster a growing cultural movement that heralded a new era of uniquely Chilean art. They rejected foreign models and drew on their own rich history to produce works of lasting importance with extraordinary reach. In the Literaria ‘42 Sauvignon Blanc winemaking joins in with the other mediums integral to the movement. The wine is crisp and acidic. It ’s incredibly refreshing and vibrant. It is uniquely Chilean and full of South American fruit perfect for pairing with fresh vegetables and food that has just come off the grill. Judges enjoyed it too! It took home a Silver Medal at this year's Critics Challenge.
I love that typically, I receive different wines made from the same grape in the same region in this subscription. It really gives me the ability to compare “grapes to grapes” to see which wine I prefer. This was another really good bottle, but I did prefer the La Arauca – as I loved the tartness and found this bottle slightly sweeter.
2017 Incarnadine Pinot Noir - Zinfandel (California) – Listed Value $22.00 (Member Price $17.60)
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Cherry, Pomegranate
Awards:
- Silver Medal, Sommelier Challenge (2018)
- Bronze Medal, Harvest Challenge (2018)
- Silver Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (2019)
Pinot Noir is grown all over the world, but there are only a few places on earth that the subtlety of the grape can really shine through. Thankfully for us, one of those places is California. This wine is a classic California Pinot with great fruit intensity. The light blend of Zinfandel brings some levity with its notes of raspberry and delicious mouthfeel. We get tastes of pomegranate and cherry that are balanced by the smooth vanilla and rich texture that developed when the wine was resting in oak. A wine like this is perfect for pairing with food, and we've enjoyed it with roasted duck, pizza, and appetizers! Judges love it too! It took home a Silver medal in the 2018 Sommelier Challenge.
I received this wine in October and gave it a good rating, so I was pleased to see it again. Plus, I love the little bear on a bike label! This red is medium bodied and is comprised of 86% Pinot Noir and 14% Zinfandel, a balance I found pleasing.
2013 Meiggs' Pardon Promissory Red (California) – Listed Value $25.00 (Member Price $20.00)
Tasting Notes: Earth, Blackberry, Plum
Awards:
- Gold Medal, Denver International Wine Competition (2018)
- Silver Medal, Global Wine Awards (2018)
- Bronze Medal, International Women's Wine Competition (2018)
Henry Meiggs was an early entrepreneur in California, helping to develop the lumber and railroad industries before he overextended his assets and skipped town. Eventually, he made good, but it was a long and twisting road to a pardon for his debts. Like Meiggs this Syrah is complex. Filled with robust notes of plum and blackberry that play off of ripe acidity and beautiful tertiary notes, this is a wine that’s hard to put down. The only thing that can make it better is to pair it with rich foods as they come off the grill. It recently took home a Bronze medal from the 2018 International Women's Wine Competition!
I did not like this wine. I am not sure it was supposed to taste the way that it did – but I found this wine bitter. Since the card lists it as mild acidity and medium sweetness it makes me question if the bottle was perhaps a bit skunked.
2016 Penrose Hill Red Blend (California) – Listed Value $26.00 (Member Price $20.80)
Tasting Notes: Oak, Black Cherry, Raspberry
Awards:
- 91 Points, Sommelier Challenge (2018)
- Gold Medal, Sommelier Challenge (2018)
- Silver Medal, Harvest Challenge (2018)
- Washington State Merlot Winery of the Year, New York International Wine Competition (2018)
- Double Gold Medal, New York International Wine Competition (2018)
- Gold Medal, Denver International Wine Competition (2018)
- Silver Medal, Critics Challenge International Wine Competition (2018)
- Silver Medal, Global Wine Awards (2018)
- Silver Medal, International Women's Wine Competition (2018)
The first Merlot that came to Firstleaf from Penrose Hill was an absolute stunner. It was awarded medals at five different competitions and was even given a Double Gold and the title of “Washington State Merlot Winery of the Year.” They are back with a beautifully sourced Red Blend from vineyards in California. This Red is complex and has a beautiful inky color. Our experts have even gone as far as to call this blend “opulent” saying that the red and dark fruits are firm, full-bodied, and will stand up to any rich or intense foods. The spicy characteristics in the wine will pair especially well with red meats. Judges love it too! It took home 91 points and a Gold medal at the 2018 Sommelier Challenge.
It's no wonder that this wine has so many awards under its belt. It was a really balanced, full-bodied red with heavy tannins. It was my husband’s favorite wine this month!
Verdict: This Firstleaf club membership breaks down to around $16.50 per bottle, including shipping, for 6 bottles. The bottles all retail for at least that amount, and $10 above that price! I think that this subscription remains a good value and enables me to always have wine on hand without wandering around the store reading labels.
The Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Because of the curation, it’s unlikely that you would get the same items that I’m showing here.
ACTIVE DEAL: Intro offer $39.95 + free shipping no code needed. No coupon needed - just use this link.
Check out all of our Firstleaf Reviews and find more wine of the month clubs in the Drinks Subscription Box List!
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