Category Archives: Wineries We Cherish

JD Pabiot: Perfection in Pouilly-Fumé 11-25-23

Special Feature
Wines of Jonathan-Didier Pabiot


Many appellations around the world are well known and beloved for their distinctive styles of Sauvignon Blanc: Sancerre, New Zealand, and the oft-ignored Saint Bris in Burgundy (why, yes, Burgundy has an appellation that includes Savvy-B!).
 
But there is only one region that is whispered of reverently and can only rarely be found on shelves: Pouilly-Fumé. Made cult by Didier Dagueneau’s benchmark Silex bottling, you can be forgiven for expecting most top-rates PFs to set you back somewhere in the three figures a bottle range.
 
Would you even believe me if I said you could find an illustrious producer, one who is of the only 1% of producers in the region to work organically and biodynamically (the first in the region for both), one who wows the reviewers, and, most importantly, one whose top two bottlings have yet to crack a $70 ceiling at our shop?… Read the rest

Decugnano dei Barbi: October 2023

Vinopolis Pick Estate:

Decugnano dei Barbi

Decugnano dei Barbi white wine bottlesThis historic Umbrian estate works with ancient marine soils dating back over three million years. As the first-in-the-US to carry a wide range of these sustainably produced wines in stock and by-the-bottle, we are offering five wines: two Super Tuscan-style blends and three mineral-driven whites.

Of course with a standalone email offer like this, you’d expect the wines to run in the triple digits (and given the quality in the glass, you’d certainly be justified!) Fortunately for you, these are far, far below that, with prices ranging in the teens and low twenties.

Were these Tuscan or even French, we’d expect them to go for double easily. Tasting them, you know that these might just be the best value in Italian wine you’ll find in our shop.
… Read the rest

Tan Fruit: Better than White Burgundy? August 2023



For the last 30+ years the world has been spellbound by the fact that Oregon can produce pinot noir on a par with some of the greatest reds coming out of Burgundy. A visit to the Willamette Valley has become akin to a religious pilgrimage for New World pinot. But what about chardonnay? We’ve read many articles over the years celebrating the growth and quality of this french white in the Willamette, and we’ve tasted a wide number of bottling across varied producers, but excellence has thus far been sparing and often limited to a single top cuvee.

Jim Maresh is turning all of this on its head.

We hope you’re well acquainted with the Maresh family for their stunning examples of old-vine Pinot Noir from exceptional single vineyards.

… Read the rest

Limited and Lovely: Pichler Family Wines: August 2023

Limited and Lovely: Pichler Family Wines
 

With now 7 generations of winemkaing experience under their belts, the Pichler family knows every detail of Gruner Veltliner, Riesling, and the Wachau Valley where they have grown fine wine since 1898. The story of this family is the story of successive uncompromising individuals whose focus has been to consistently increase the quality and reputation of Austria’s wines. Today we’re blessed with the ability to taste wines made by differnt family members, as the Pichler name currently represents two different labels: FX Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler.  

FX Pichler



Lucas Pichler took over the original family estate from his father Franz Xavier (FX)  back in 1999, and a decade later a new winery housed the production that critics like Robert Parker had already lauded.

… Read the rest

Special Feature: The Wines of Domaine Huet: August 2023

The BEST Prices on Domaine Huet
 

Burrowed in the deep chalky hillsides of the Loire rests a wine of impressive immortality and beguiling flavor. In caves hollowed out of the tuffeau rock for the development of the valley’s grandest Chateaux, chenin blanc slumbers, develops, and evolves into one of the most compelling and unique white wines in the world. We’re speaking of course about the wines of Vouvray, one of France’s very first designated appellations following the founding of the INAO in 1936, and a region whose wine history traces back to the middle ages. This region’s most iconic and classic producer is undoubtedly Domaine Huet.

I like to be careful when I throw around the word ‘classic’. I think such a term can often be overused or misunderstood in the intent of what it is meant to convey.

… Read the rest