Bon Coeur Cellars is a small, family owned establishment focusing on very small lots of handcrafted Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. David Mark Freeman, a children’s heart doctor who took to heart the old adage that there are more old wine drinkers than old doctors, established Bon Coeur in 2006 with his wife Marilyn Cairney Freeman, a cardiac nurse. Of course it goes without saying that advice and help from assistant vintners Nicole, 10, and Nathan, 7, was indispensable.

After several years’ experience crafting wine at home, and with the same passion for detail that they bring to examining the hearts of their little patients with stethoscopes, electrocardiograms, and ultrasound, they took the leap from hobbyist to pro in 2006 when an allotment of super premium Cabernet grapes became available from a great vineyard in Napa Valley. Shortly thereafter veteran winemaker Kian Tavakoli (formerly of Opus One and former director of the red wine program at Clos du Val) agreed to come aboard as consultant for our expanding Cabernet production.

Bon Coeur, literally “good heart” in French, is a tiny but big hearted producer of memorable wines, wines with heart. Flashy – no, but solid, focused wines with structure and integrity - yes, meant to be enjoyed with family and good friends.

When should you drink it, you may ask? We can hardly improve upon the advice given over 300 years ago by Henry Aldrich, who said there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend; one's present or future thirst; the excellence of the wine; or any other reason.