HAUTE MOVES

WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A WINE THAT EVERYONE COULD ENJOY. WE WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN DRINK AND HAVE A GREAT, RELAXED TIME WHILE THEY DO. YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW EVERY LITTLE THING ABOUT WINE TO LOVE IT!

There’s a lot of wine on the market. How is yours different?

We really wanted to make a wine that everyone could enjoy. I know especially for me, wine can be a bit intimidating and we wanted to make something that everyone can drink and have a great, relaxed time while they do. It doesn’t have to be scary, and you don’t have to know every little thing about wine to love it! I’m super happy with what we’ve created and we have lots of awesome stuff coming up as well.

Do you have any favorite wine memories from your travels? What is your favorite Maison No. 9 memory?

Definitely my last trip to the Vineyard back in August. We were there for a full week, and it was just so peaceful. We ate well, drank rosé, and enjoyed archery.

What’s your first memory of drinking wine? Why does it stand out?

I had tried a few wines here and there, but my first genuine experience and enjoyment of wine came from drinking reds with Mark Wahlberg at his birthday party. I got to sample a large amount of really epic wines and that’s when I got hooked.

How did you decide on the south of France to produce the wine?

The grapes there are not like those you find anywhere else. The climate in that region is built to facilitate great rosé production. And I just love it there. Having a vineyard to visit in the south of France is a dream.

What are your favorite meals to enjoy with Maison No. 9?

Raising Cane’s caniac combo, no slaw, extra toast!

What have you learned about the rosé industry since launching in 2020?

It has been a great undertaking to learn not only about the rosé industry, but also about what it takes to really build a consumer product from scratch. Maison No. 9 wasn’t in existence before we started this journey. We really created it from the ground up. And more specifically with rosé I’ve learned a lot about how it all comes together: How rosé is actually made, how distribution works, and all the specifics with new vintage productions each year.

How did you connect with your co-partner James Morrissey at Global Brand Equities? How did you know he was the right partner to create Maison No. 9?

We were introduced through a mutual friend in LA. He was telling us all about this vineyard he had just gotten back from, and it made me want to check it out. Once we got to discussing the logistics around the wine and company, it became clear that we were aligned on our goals and vision, and I felt really good about the partnership with James and his team at Global Brand Equities.

I’ve been told Maison No. 9 tastes great in cocktails. How do you like to enjoy Maison No. 9? In a cocktail or alone?

Honestly, we had this one watermelon rosé cocktail that was killer. It’s our signature drink called “The No. 9.” I tried it for the first time at a shoot last year, and it was absolutely delicious.

How hands-on are you in the day-to-day when it comes to Maison No. 9?

I am super particular about all things creative. From the smallest social asset to the branding, that’s been really important to me.

What unique traits do you bring to wine and to your music that correlate?

Well, I like to think my music has something for everyone. Or at least I aim for that. And with rosé it’s no different.

If Maison No. 9 were a song, what song would it be? Which of your songs do you identify with the brand?

“Saint-Tropez.” That music video was shot at our vineyard in France, so now there will always be that connection.

What are your personal and professional plans for 2022?

I just want to keep making music and good wine and try to uplift everyone’s spirits however I can. Spread love wherever and to whomever I can. It’s been a hard couple of years and the world sometimes needs something to take the edge off, and often wine and music does that for me.

Post Malone and his Maison No. 9 in all of its glory.

The Ultimate McLaren Supercar

McLaren’s 765 LT Spider

BY TIM LAPPEN

McLaren 765LT

+ HORSEPOWER 755 + TORQUE 590 lb./ft. + WEIGHT 2,952 pounds + 0-60MPH 2.8 seconds + TOP SPEED 205 mph + BASE PRICE $382,500

FAITHFUL READERS MAY RECALL THAT I AM A BIG FAN OF THE MCLAREN brand. I’ve driven most of their automotive offerings and they all gave me the feeling that they are way faster than the specs indicate.

McLaren categorizes their cars in one of three groups: “GT,” “Supercar,” or “Ultimate,” and the 765LT Spider is the top Supercar offered. Others in that category include the new Artura hybrid, the 720S Coupe and Spider and 765 Coupe. The Spider moniker identifies it as a drop-top version, as opposed to the hard-top coupe (convertibles used to have an umbrella-like top with eight stays, which some people thought looked like the insect).

As one might expect, the numbers 765 have a meaning behind them — the engine produces 765ps (about 755 hp) and 800Nm (590 lb.-ft.) of torque. McLaren also planned to create only 765 examples of this limited-production run. The LT stands for “long tail” because McLaren discovered that having a longer body, especially behind the rear wheels, adds to high-speed stability.

Firing up the 765LT is a great experience in and of itself. The sound is an instant awakening (of the motor and of the neighbors) but it’s a sound that’s on its way out (to the dismay — or joy — of some, depending upon their persuasions). I love the sound and it is not rivaled by the electric hum or audio system-enhanced growl that e-cars create. It’s destined to be a part of history, much like the whinny of a horse. But, at least for today, those of us needing that aural fix can get it, and then some, from the 765 cars. The sounds at startup and idle of the mid-engine twin-turbo V-8 are well surpassed by the roar emanating from the high-mounted exhaust pipes on full acceleration, but the car accelerates so quickly, I half expect the sound to reach observers long after the car has passed by: 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) takes just 2.8 seconds and, more incredibly, 0 – 200 km/h (124mph) flies by in only 7.2 seconds, not much longer than many muscle cars in the 1960s could rip off 0-60 mph.

When I get into a McLaren, I generally feel a range of emotions: excitement for what’s to come; pride for accomplishing the limbo-like movements that get me ensconced without head injury; and the realization that they tailor-made the suit a little too small for my girth (note to self: Am I the target demographic for this car?). Yet once in place, with seat belt fastened and mirrors adjusted, I feel like the 765LT is made for me.

McLaren has upgraded its center stack so a touch screen replaces the earlier manual controls. Even though the high-end Bowers & Wilkins sound system is transcendant, I prefer the melodies created by hydrocarbon explosions. McLaren also has added items that have been de rigueur on many street cars for years — parking sensors, 360-degree view cameras and even a nose-lift system (something about asphalt rhinoplasty on a $9,410 carbon fiber diffuser, even if it’s a slight scrape, is terribly grating). And especially on a drop-top, to have a glass roof panel on which the opacity can be adjusted by dialing the darkness was a real treat. The 765’s father may have been a full-on race car, but its mother gave it good breeding and taught it fine manners.

The price of the 765LT Spider starts at $382,500 but mine (for about 72 hours) was a beautiful dark purple Amethyst Black ($9,400 option), was very wellequipped at $507,420. This included an enthusiast’s wish list of such items as carbon fiber add-ons inside and out (totaling about $62,000); electrochromic roof ($9,090); track brake upgrade ($18,030); and many other upgrades that, in sum, made the car both an incredible performer and flat-out gorgeous.

Try as I might, I had to give the 765LT back sooner than I would have liked but I found that living with it, albeit for a short time, was very enjoyable. It was my daily driver and worked well for every run I made, whether to the market (though storage space is limited) or to the always-enjoyable canyons. The supercar moniker is well-deserved!