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Staff Favorites - Keith Mabry
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Reviews
2024 Alpha Estate "Ecosystem - Aghia Kiriaki" Assyrtiko Florina Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
Another great example of mainland Assyrtiko comes from another great modern producer – Alpha Estate. Located in the highlands of Amyndeon, they are most famous for their Xinomavro and Malagouzia wines. But they are making great Assyrtiko as well. Here you have the grape planted in high altitude soils but over sandy-clay and limestone. There is a more unctuous character here that recalls the wines of Santorini with its body but the fruit profile leans more into the tropical. Pineapple, lemon curd and note of passion fruit and a lovely wet stone quality that makes this a comfortable pairing with cheeses, poultry and grilled pork.
2025 Skouras "Wild Ferment" Assyrtiko Péloponnèse Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
Skouras, one of the great producers in the Peloponnese, began experimenting with the grape nearly two decades ago. Planting it in the region of Nemea, known for its high altitude vineyards and iron-rich red clay soils, their version has really taken off.
The new 2025 Skouras Assyrtiko begins with that crunchy mineral character not dissimilar to the ones you find on Santorini, but there is a lifted brighter quality here. Where the ones from Santorini are more glycerol, this has a vibrancy that makes me lean into green apples, fresh squeezed lemons and light nectarine notes. The sensation of minerality finishes though and a plate of oysters is one of the first things that springs to mind. There is much to love with this aperitif style, great as a starter of course or with any grilled fish or shellfish plucked from the nearby Mediterranean.
2023 Oenos Mittas Xinomavro Naoussa Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
I've visited Oenos Mittas a couple of times over the years. Naoussa is famous above all for its limestone soils, but this particular parcel is actually planted on schist — a distinction that sets it apart from much of its neighboring vineyard land, and one that shows in the wine's precision and lift. It's also hard not to love the origin story here: Yianni (Johnny) Mittas converted his family's old bicycle shop into a makeshift winery to get this project off the ground, a scrappy, hands-on beginning for what's become one of the region's most exciting young labels.
The wine itself shows the grape in a youthful, vibrant state — bright red fruit, dried oregano, and that telltale savory, almost balsamic edge that makes Xinomavro so distinctive. The tannins are firm but not aggressive, and there's real energy running through the wine from start to finish, likely no small thanks to that schist soil underneath. A great entry point if you're new to Naoussa Xinomavro, and an excellent pairing for grilled sausages, moussaka, or anything with a good char on it.
Price:
$29.99
2021 Alpha Estate "Ecosystem - Barba Yannis" Xinomavro Reserve Amyndeon Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
If Hedgehog Vineyard is Alpha Estate's most approachable expression of Xinomavro, "Barba Yannis" is the other end of the spectrum — the estate's most serious, structured, and age-worthy bottling of the grape. The difference starts in the vineyard: these vines were planted in 1919, making them over a century old, and that age shows in every aspect of the wine. Old vines like these naturally yield less fruit, but what they do produce carries a depth and concentration that younger plantings simply can't replicate.
Where Hedgehog shows Xinomavro's lifted, Valtellina-like grace, Barba Yannis leans into something denser and more brooding — dried cherry and dried rose give way to tobacco leaf, dried fig, and a savory, almost meaty undertone. The tannins here are firmer and more assertive than in Hedgehog, built for extended aging rather than immediate pleasure, though they never feel harsh or unresolved. There's a real sense of gravity to this wine that speaks to both the vine age and the reserve-level attention it receives in the cellar.
This is a wine to set aside for a few years, or to open now alongside something equally substantial — braised short rib, aged sheep's milk cheese, or a rich lamb stew. If Hedgehog is where I'd send someone new to Xinomavro, Barba Yannis is where I'd send them once they're ready to see how far the grape can go.
Price:
$36.99
2021 Domaine Tatsis "Xiropotamos" Xinomavro Blanc de Noir Macedonia Greece (Natural Wine)
Review Date: 07-16-2026
This one is a bit of an oddity, and that's exactly why it's worth including. Tatsis, one of Macedonia's most respected natural winemakers, takes Xinomavro — the great red grape of the north — and vinifies it as a white, pressing the grapes off their skins immediately to avoid any color extraction.
The result is a fascinating, slightly savory white with red berry undertones, wild herbs, and a chalky, textured finish that hints at its red-grape origins without ever tasting like a red. Made with native yeasts and minimal sulfur, it's a wine for the curious drinker — try it with charcuterie, mushroom dishes, or anything with a bit of umami depth.
Price:
$19.99
2024 Moinoterra Moscato Spinas Archanes Crete Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
I visited Moinoterra and met Nikos Stathoglou, whose story is one of the more remarkable ones I've come across in Greek wine. Nikos founded the winery in 2022 at the age of 52, with no meaningful background in the industry — a second career built entirely from passion and conviction. It's the kind of leap that makes you root for a producer before you've even tasted the wine.
Fortunately, the wine backs it up. Moscato Spinas is a genuine rarity — this indigenous Cretan variant of Muscat is planted almost nowhere else. Don't mistake this for the sweet Moscatos you may be picturing: it's bone dry, aromatic, and intensely floral, with notes of orange blossom, ripe apricot, and a touch of candied ginger, finishing crisp and long. A fantastic conversation-starter bottle, and a beautiful match for spiced dishes or anything with a bit of citrus zest.
Price:
$22.99
2024 Domaine Zafeirakis "Microcosmos" Malagousia Tirnavos Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
Zafeirakis is doing some of the most exciting work in Tirnavos, an appellation better known for its reds — and for good reason, given Christos Zafeirakis's reputation as the man who single-handedly brought the red grape Limniona back from near extinction. But "Microcosmos" is proof that the estate's whites deserve just as much attention.
This bottling shows a steelier, more mineral-driven side of Malagousia than you often find — tighter and more linear, with white peach and jasmine giving way to a firm, saline backbone that carries through the finish. A great everyday white for lighter fare: grilled shrimp, a simple herb salad, or fresh goat cheese.
Price:
Hidden
2024 Douloufakis "Aspros Lagos" Vidiano Crete Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
Douloufakis is one of the standard-bearers for quality winemaking on Crete, and Vidiano is a grape I think more people should know. I visited the estate years ago and had the chance to do a vertical tasting of his regular Vidiano bottling — half a dozen vintages side by side — and the evolution of the grape in bottle was astounding. It's another one of my top picks for varieties to watch.
"Aspros Lagos" — White Hare — is the bigger, barrel-aged expression, and it shows. Sourced from vineyards in the Dafnes region at elevation, where cooler nights help preserve the grape's natural acidity, this version is succulent and full, with real weight and a lovely waxy texture that never loses its freshness — apricot, honeysuckle, and a faint nuttiness that gives it real complexity for the price. A wine built for the table: think roast pork, creamy risottos, or aged Cretan cheeses.
2024 Sclavos "Vino di Sasso" Robola of Cephalonia Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
I visited Sclavos this past year and it was one of the highlights of my trip to Greece. The island of Cephalonia is a monstrous limestone monolith emerging from the Ionian sea. The fractured limestone that makes up the slopes of the vineyards is dramatic, and you always wonder why anyone would go to the trouble to try to grow anything on these treacherous hills. Thankfully they do, and it is this limestone soil that informs all of the wines of the region — but particularly the Vino di Sasso, which translates to "wine from stone."
Made from Robola, it is a vibrant, mineral-driven white. Succulent, racy and dry, this is definitely one of the grapes that will challenge Assyrtiko for top dog once more wine drinkers become aware of it. Sclavos is one of the best producers on the island, so it's nice to drink something so special for such a reasonable price.
Price:
$25.99
2024 Iliana Malihin "Young Vines" Vidiano Rethymno Crete Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
Iliana Malihin is a name worth remembering — a young, meticulous producer working in Rethymno who's quickly building a reputation for precision and restraint.
Though these are young vines, there is nothing that is not great about this version of Vidiano. Succulent mineral notes with an oily but lifted texture. Vidiano is highest on my list of grapes to watch.
Sourced from parcels on Crete's rocky, mineral-rich soils, this bottling shows exactly why the grape is drawing so much attention right now — a wine that walks the line between richness and freshness with real precision. Pour it with grilled octopus, a simple plate of fried cheese, or anything off the grill with a squeeze of lemon.
Price:
$34.99
2024 Skouras "Salto" Moscofilero Péloponnèse Greece
Review Date: 07-16-2026
I have long been a fan of the wines of Skouras. One of my most iconic wine pairings was a bottle of Skouras Moscofilero and grilled fish plucked fresh from the Mediterranean. Of course it was on a sandy beach in Greece, with a warm breeze coming in off the harbor and gentle waves splashing at the sand. That was almost a decade ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday.
Since then, Skouras has pushed the Salto forward — also Moscofilero, but fermented entirely with native yeasts and sourced from a darker, more powerful clone called Mavrofilero. The beauty is definitely present, with notes of jasmine, makrut lime leaf, Meyer lemon and peach blossoms. The Salto is aromatically bold but also racy and dry on the palate. You may not need a beach setting to enjoy what this wine has to offer, but some grilled fish with a hearty squeeze of lemon and a glug of olive oil will at least split the difference. This is still one of my most transportive wines.
2025 Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko Santorini Greece
Review Date: 07-15-2026
Like Helen of Troy, Sigalas is the wine that launched a thousand ships — mostly ships headed to Santorini. Sigalas remains one of the benchmark producers on the island, and the quality has always been superb. The 2025 vintage saw devastatingly low yields, but we were fortunate to secure a healthy allocation thanks to our long-standing relationship with the importer.
I recently featured Sigalas at a staff training, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. It's always been a favorite, but the 2025 showed impressively well. One note a colleague shared really resonated with me — the wine's texture was unlike anything he'd tasted before, with nothing quite to reference it against. I kept going back to it myself, and it caught my eye — or should I say palate — too. It has a glycerol texture that's somehow sharp and round all at once. Hard to put into words, but the sensation was incredible - like a distillation of the terroir.
This is a young Sigalas that will only benefit from time in bottle, but right now that gorgeous density is accompanied by flavors of roasted peach, watermelon rind, wet rock, watercress, apple jelly. So much happening already, and so much more still to come from this classic.
Price:
$74.99
2024 Akra Chryssos Santorini Greece
Review Date: 07-15-2026
I had the great fortune to visit Santorini last year, and one of my favorite stops was with Spyros Chryssos. Spyros comes from one of the island's great grower families, supplying fruit for years to top producers including Hatzidakis. Only in the last few years has he begun vinifying his own grapes, and it's a revelation. I tasted a lineup that included one of his first vintages, 2018, and was blown away by how much the wine had gained in bottle — but all of his new releases showed real proof of concept. Spyros is someone to watch, and this is a producer worth seeking out.
His regular Santorini bottling comes only from his privately owned vineyards — many producers on the island rely on long-term contracts with other growers — and everything is farmed organically, with no chemical inputs. Handled entirely in stainless steel and aged on fine lees, this is a wine of real tension and nuance: citrus rind, roasted apple, crushed rock. It's everything I want from a Santorini white. Given its ageability, this is a keeper — stunning now, and it should be a true showstopper in just a few more years.
Price:
$85.00
2023 Akra Chryssos "Nykteri" Assyrtiko Santorini Greece
Review Date: 07-15-2026
Santorini produces a style of white called Nykteri, and its rules are looser than people assume — a minimum alcohol level and a later harvest, which nearly all Santorini wines meet anyway. The one rule with real teeth is a minimum three months in barrel. Traditionally that's led producers to over-age their Nykteris into nutty, oxidative territory.
Akra Chryssos goes the other way. This is as vibrant and lush as the category gets — sourced entirely from 100+ year old vines on one of the island's top sites, it delivers a real symphony: passion fruit, pineapple, dried pear, crème brûlée, lime leaf. Santorini's signature minerality carries the finish and melts seamlessly into toasty oak.
It may not show the typicity people expect from Assyrtiko, but this is next-level work — and worth holding a few more years before drinking with real pleasure.
Price:
$89.99
2023 Antech "Emotion" Extra Brut Rosé Crémant de Limoux
Review Date: 07-15-2026
Antech makes several exceptional cuvées, and while Eugénie remains one of our top sellers, Emotion is personally the one closest to my heart.
The Antech family has always been welcoming. We were working with them even before I took over buying their category, and they were one of the first producers to host me at their winery in Limoux. The region has actually been producing sparkling wine longer than Champagne—though Limoux didn't adopt secondary fermentation until much later. Before that, winemakers there used the Méthode Ancestrale, where fermentation finishes in the bottle, and the region became known for sweeter, brighter styles.
By the time we started working with Antech over twenty years ago, they had honed in on their bubbles and were huge champions of this rosé. For me, it went with everything—food-friendly, great on its own, and always appreciated at every party or event I brought it to for its expressive, classy profile.
This character-driven rosé still transcends its price point, delivering some of the best quality-to-price ratio of any sparkling wine—across all categories, not just rosé. White cherry, Red Delicious apple, and a touch of raspberry unfold on a slightly fuller-bodied frame, carrying through with delicious brioche notes and surprising length and presence on the palate. Since the winery lowered their dosage over the last couple of years, shifting toward Extra Brut styles, the wines have developed better tension while expressing more of the autolytic qualities I love in a great sparkling wine.
Simply put: there is no other non-Champagne rosé that offers this level of character at this price point.
2025 Château Les Valentines "Le Caprice de Clementine" Côtes de Provence Rosé
Review Date: 07-13-2026
I've been fortunate to know Gilles and Pascale Pons, the proprietors of Château les Valentines, for well over a decade. From the very beginning, I was drawn to the purity and restraint of their wines. Their estate lies in La Londe-les-Maures, on the Mediterranean side of the Côtes de Provence, where schist soils produce rosés with remarkable tension and minerality. Just a few miles from the sea, the vineyards benefit from cooling maritime breezes that impart a subtle saline edge, while the family's commitment to certified organic farming allows this exceptional terroir to speak with even greater clarity.
The first wine they ever poured for me was Caprice des Clémentines. Named after their then-young daughter—now in her mid-twenties—it was conceived as an introduction to the estate's style, blending fruit from their own vineyards with carefully selected partner growers' parcels. It was an instant favorite with both our staff and customers. Over the past few vintages, however, the wine has become entirely estate grown, and the added precision and character are unmistakable.
When Gilles and Pascale parted ways with their national importer, I asked if they would consider joining our Direct Import program. Fortunately, they said yes, and for the past several years Château les Valentines has become a new cornerstone of our Provence portfolio. They embody exactly what we look for: a family-owned estate farming responsibly, producing wines that clearly express their place, and delivering exceptional value vintage after vintage.
The new Caprice is an even blend of Grenache and Cinsault, bursting with notes of wild strawberry, papaya, nectarine, and wet stone. The balance is what keeps me coming back. Bright acidity, a gentle mineral streak, and an effortless freshness make it a wine that shines at the table. During my recent visit to the estate, I enjoyed it with several meals, but my favorite moment came before dinner at Gilles and Pascale's home. A simple platter of crudités, a few friends gathered on the patio, and a chilled bottle of Caprice were all it took to remind me why this wine has remained one of my perennial Provence favorites.
Price:
$18.99
2025 Domaine la Chapelle Saint Victor Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé
Review Date: 07-13-2026
Colombe and La Chapelle Saint Victor often arrive in tandem and Chapelle has always been the more terroir-driven sibling. Where La Colombe emphasizes fruit, Chapelle leans into precision and minerality. Crisp Red Delicious apple, citrus zest, and subtle wild herbs are framed by a streak of limestone-driven freshness that carries through the finish. There's an understated complexity here that makes it equally enjoyable on its own or alongside food. Pair it with grilled seafood, Niçoise salad, or simply a warm evening outdoors, and it's easy to understand why this has become one of the defining wines of our Provence program.
Price:
$14.99
2025 Domaine la Colombe Coteaux Varois en Provence Rosé
Review Date: 07-13-2026
Rosé season never quite feels official until La Colombe hits our shelves. Bright, expressive, and endlessly drinkable, the 2025 delivers everything we've come to expect from one of our most popular Direct Imports. Juicy white peach, ripe strawberry, and fresh watermelon lead the way, while a burst of citrus keeps everything lively and refreshing. There's a beautiful balance between generous fruit and crisp acidity that makes often makes this the first bottle to disappear from the table a little too quickly. Whether you're headed to the beach, firing up the grill, or simply looking for the perfect porch wine, La Colombe continues to set the standard for everyday Provence rosé.
Price:
$13.99
2023 Domaine Fournier Pére et Fils "Les Belles Vignes" Sancerre
Review Date: 07-13-2026
Domaine Fournier has built its reputation on producing some of Sancerre's finest site-specific, soil-driven wines, with Les Belles Vignes serving as the flagship expression of the appellation. Like all white Sancerre, it is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, but what makes this bottling so compelling is that it blends fruit from Sancerre's three great soil types: Terres Blanches (Kimmeridgian marl), Caillottes (Oxfordian limestone), and Silex (flint). The domaine has earned consistent critical acclaim over the years, and the 2023 vintage was recognized as one of the top Sauvignon Blancs at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
The 2023 is a beautiful introduction to Fournier's style, capturing the character of each terroir in a seamless whole. The Terres Blanches contributes richness, texture, and structure, with flavors of ruby red grapefruit and kumquat. The Caillottes lifts the wine with freshness and vibrant acidity, adding hints of passion fruit and a subtle tropical edge. Finally, the Silex delivers the signature flinty minerality and a delicate smoky note reminiscent of struck flint. Individually, each soil brings something distinctive, but together they create a Sancerre that is wonderfully balanced, layered, and complete.
As the importer prepares to transition to the new vintage, they offered us an exceptional opportunity on the remaining 2023 vintage. Normally retailing around $40, we're able to offer this outstanding Sancerre at a throwback price of just $29.99. Finding this level of quality at under $30 has become increasingly rare, especially in today's Sancerre market. Whether you're already a fan of the appellation or simply looking for one of the best Sauvignon Blanc values of the summer, this is a bottle worth stocking up on before it disappears.
2025 Domaine Fournier Pére et Fils "Les Belles Vignes" Sancerre
Review Date: 07-08-2026
Domaine Fournier, known for its signature site-specific and soil-driven Sancerres, has afforded us the opportunity to feature its flagship cuvée, Les Belles Vignes, in this month's club. Like all white Sancerre, it is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, but what makes this wine special is that it represents an alliance of the appellation's three great soil types: Terres Blanches (Kimmeridgian marl), Caillottes (Oxfordian limestone), and Silex (flint).
Each terroir contributes something unique. Terres Blanches provides weight and structure, Caillottes brings freshness and vibrant fruit, while Silex adds minerality and a subtle savory character. When these three elements come together, the result is often greater than the sum of its parts—a wine that captures the complete expression of Sancerre rather than the personality of a single site.
The result is a wonderfully balanced Sauvignon Blanc with bright aromas of grapefruit, lemon zest, white peach, and fresh herbs layered over a chalky, flinty backbone that keeps the wine focused and energetic. There is both precision and depth here, with each soil lending its own distinctive voice to the final blend.
This is the style that has made Sancerre one of the world's great white wines. Whether paired with freshly shucked oysters, grilled sea bass, roast chicken, or a classic Loire goat cheese, this wine will shine at the table.
Price:
$34.99
2025 Château Les Valentines "Le Grande Huit" Côtes de Provence la Londe Rosé
Review Date: 07-08-2026
Le Grand Huit is a blend of Cinsault and Mourvèdre sourced from some of the estate's oldest vineyards, with vines averaging around 60 years of age. Cinsault contributes freshness, lift, and bright red fruit, while Mourvèdre adds structure and depth. It's no coincidence that Mourvèdre is the backbone of the great rosés of Bandol—it's a variety that gives rosé the ability to gain complexity with a little bottle age.
The wine opens with notes of white peach, dried strawberry, and pamplemousse, followed by a gentle kiss of sea salt and a hint of bay leaf. It has the concentration to enjoy on its own, but it really comes alive at the table. A spread of Mediterranean mezze would be hard to beat, though grilled seafood or herb-roasted chicken would be equally at home alongside this beautifully balanced rosé.
Price:
$34.99
2024 Julien Pilon "Le Bruit des Vagues" Collines Rhodannienes Blanc
Review Date: 07-08-2026
Julien Pilon began his wine career working alongside some of the Northern Rhône's greats, including Yves Cuilleron and Pierre-Jean Villa, where he learned the nuances of each of the region's celebrated crus. When he launched his own domaine, he started modestly—purchasing fruit from trusted growers and making wine in his parents' garage. More than fifteen years later, he now farms many of his own vineyards, continues to work with longtime grower partners, and has built an impressive winery just outside the village of Condrieu.
Each of Julien's cuvées carries a personal story, drawing inspiration from meaningful moments and the people who have shaped his life. One of my favorites, Mon Grand-Père était Limonadier, pays tribute to his grandfather, who sold soft drinks. Le Bruit des Vagues—"The Sound of the Waves"—looks back on Julien's years living in the seaside village of Collioure. The name perfectly captures the quiet, coastal inspiration behind the wine.
A blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne, Le Bruit des Vagues showcases just how well these two varieties complement one another. Layers of ripe peach and nectarine are framed by a subtle touch of marzipan from aging in large oak barrels, while a wet stone minerality keeps the wine focused and fresh. It has the richness to stand up to comforting dishes like blanquette de veau, but I might be even more tempted to pour it alongside crispy fried chicken and a bright, vinegary slaw. Sometimes the simplest pairings are the most satisfying.
Price:
$24.99
2024 Domaine Fournier Pére et Fils "Côtes de Morogues" Menetou-Salon
Review Date: 07-08-2026
For those who read my regular articles, you probably know I'm a fan of Sancerre's satellite appellations. What exactly are the satellites? These neighboring regions share many of the same geological foundations as Sancerre and are planted predominantly to the same noble grape—Sauvignon Blanc. The most famous is Pouilly-Fumé, directly across the Loire River, but appellations like Quincy, Reuilly, Coteaux du Giennois, and today's featured region, Menetou-Salon, have become some of the Loire's best sources for exceptional value. In fact, Menetou-Salon is the only satellite appellation that directly borders Sancerre—you could almost imagine the appellation continuing seamlessly across the boundary.
Much of Menetou-Salon is planted on Terres Blanches, the same calcareous marl rich in fossilized oyster shells that forms one of Sancerre's three great soil types, alongside Caillottes (limestone) and Silex (flint). While Terres Blanches accounts for only about a third of Sancerre's vineyards, it consistently produces some of the region's most structured and age-worthy wines. It's no surprise that the same soils give Menetou-Salon wines their signature depth and texture.
Domaine Fournier is best known for its outstanding collection of single-terroir Sancerres, but the family also farms one of Menetou-Salon's finest vineyards, the Côte des Morogues, where Terres Blanches and clay dominate the landscape. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc with impressive concentration and weight, offering layers of ripe grapefruit, passion fruit, and wild thyme, all wrapped around a beautifully mineral core. Clean, precise, and remarkably expressive, it's another reminder that some of the Loire's best values are often found just beyond Sancerre's borders.
2025 Terra Santa Île de Beauté Rosé Corsica
Review Date: 07-08-2026
Corsica still feels like one of France's last undiscovered destinations. While many travelers flock to Provence or the Riviera, the island remains refreshingly untouched by mass tourism. Towering mountains plunge into the Mediterranean, creating some of the most spectacular scenery in France—and an equally compelling place to enjoy the local wines and cuisine.
Corsica's two signature red grapes are Sciaccarellu and Niellucciu, descendants of the Italian varieties Mammolo and Sangiovese, respectively. While both are capable of producing complex, age-worthy reds, they also make wonderfully distinctive rosés with a character that's unmistakably Corsican.
Terra Santa has been one of our favorite value rosés since we first introduced it several years ago. A blend of 50% Sciaccarellu, 25% Niellucciu, and 25% Grenache, it is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel to preserve its freshness and purity. Bright aromas of wild strawberry mingle with hints of Mediterranean herbs and a gentle touch of sea spray. It's the kind of rosé that disappears effortlessly on a sunny afternoon, but it has more than enough character to accompany a steaming pot of fresh mussels and a side of crispy fries.
Price:
$11.99
2024 Rendez-Vous Sauvignon Blanc Touraine by K&L Wine Merchants
Review Date: 07-08-2026
Welcome to the newest addition to our Rendez-Vous collection: Touraine Sauvignon Blanc.
Why did we choose Touraine? Simply put, it offers one of the greatest values for Sauvignon Blanc anywhere in the world. The region's clay-limestone and calcareous soils share many similarities with those of its far more famous neighbor a couple of hours to the east—Sancerre. As prices in Sancerre have continued to climb, many of its top producers have turned to Touraine to craft their value-focused wines. We realized we could do the same.
So we reached out to one of our longtime partners with a simple proposition: let's take one of our favorite everyday Touraine bottlings and create the next Rendez-Vous. If you've been a fan of Roches Touraine over the years, here's a little secret—you've found it. This wine is the foundation for the project.
I've been buying and tasting these wines for well over a decade, and they've never disappointed. The 2024 is everything I look for in Touraine: sleek, vibrant, and mineral-driven, with notes of lemon oil, fresh verbena, and a lightly chalky finish. There's also a subtle tropical lift that I always love in Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. It gives the wine an open, inviting personality that's equally at home on a Tuesday night or at a weekend gathering.
That's exactly what Rendez-Vous is meant to be: exceptional quality at an everyday price. One of our goals with this label is to redefine what a daily-drinking wine can be by leveraging the long-standing relationships we've built with outstanding growers to deliver remarkable value without compromise.
We hope this new Rendez-Vous earns a permanent place at your table. Santé—we have a feeling we'll be seeing you again soon.
Price:
$12.99
2025 Alpha Estate "Turtles Vineyard" Malagouzia Florina Greece
Review Date: 06-30-2026
For many people discovering the wines of Greece, Assyrtiko has been the gateway grape. But beyond its crisp, mineral-driven style lies a wealth of fascinating indigenous varieties waiting to be explored. One of my personal favorites has always been Malagouzia.
A little softer and more floral than Assyrtiko, Malagouzia is wonderfully inviting and generous without sacrificing freshness. Alpha Estate's latest bottling captures everything I love about the variety: fresh pear and lemon verbena layered with delicate notes of lily blossom and a hint of jasmine tea on the finish. It is expressive without being overtly aromatic, balancing richness with remarkable lift.
This is one of Greece's most versatile white wines at the table. It's a natural alongside a spread of mezze, but I also love it with grilled shrimp skewers or a bubbling plate of saganaki. If you're ready to venture beyond Assyrtiko, this is one of the most rewarding places to start.
2023 Alpha Estate "Hedgehog Vineyard" Xinomavro Amyndeon Greece
Review Date: 06-30-2026
I've been fortunate enough to visit Alpha Estate twice over the years, and it's one of those wineries that leaves a lasting impression. The estate sits high on the Amyndeon plateau, surrounded by mountain ranges that create dramatic day-to-night temperature swings. Those cool evenings slow ripening and preserve freshness, while the chalky clay soils lend remarkable precision and energy to the wines.
The region produces some of Greece's most compelling wines. The whites combine generous fruit with incredible tension and minerality, while the reds—especially Xinomavro—show a level of finesse and elegance that is distinctive from the more powerful wines of Naoussa. During both of my visits, I made a point of asking to see the Hedgehog Vineyard, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of its namesake residents. Unfortunately, the hedgehogs remained elusive, though I was assured they do make the occasional appearance.
Having purchased Greek wines for K&L for more than 15 years, Alpha Estate has always been a cornerstone of my selections. I've long admired how consistently the wines balance authenticity with approachability, making them some of the easiest recommendations for customers looking to explore Greece beyond the more familiar. Their Xinomavro has been a perennial favorite on our shelves, and I believe the 2023 release may be the finest version I've tasted.
Xinomavro is often called the "Nebbiolo of Greece" because of its naturally high acidity and firm tannic structure. Yet the wines of Amyndeon remind me less of Barolo's muscular intensity and more of the graceful, lifted character of Valtellina. The 2023 captures that balance beautifully, offering savory spice, hints of sanguine meatiness, vibrant cherry and blackcurrant fruit, a touch of black olive and an underlying mineral freshness that keeps everything focused.
What elevates this vintage is the texture. The tannins are certainly present, but they're polished and beautifully integrated, gently wrapping around the fruit rather than dominating it. They have an almost caressing quality that makes the wine remarkably inviting even in its youth.
For me, this sets a new benchmark for Alpha Estate's Hedgehog Vineyard Xinomavro and is destined to become another customer favorite. If you've never experienced Xinomavro before, this is exactly where I'd begin. It captures everything that makes the variety so compelling while remaining irresistibly drinkable from the very first glass.
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne (375ml)
Review Date: 06-30-2026
A perennial favorite, the rosé does not disappoint on this go-round. Pretty raspberry and black cherry notes highlight the freshness and richness of the wine. Unbelievable quality at the price.
Price:
$24.99
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne
Review Date: 06-30-2026
A perennial favorite, the rose does not disappoint on this go-round. Pretty raspberry and black cherry notes highlight the freshness and richness of the wine. Unbelievable quality at the price.
Price:
$42.99
Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne
Review Date: 06-30-2026
It may seem like a geeks-only Champagne and it definitely fits that requirement with its blend of Arbanne, Meslier and Pinot Blanc but this is not made strictly for the sake of geeky. Full bodied with more stone fruit flavors, creamy notes. Long on finish, this a true Tête de Cuvée!
Price:
$119.99
2024 J. de Villebois Sauvignon Blanc Touraine
Review Date: 06-29-2026
Touraine has long been one of the Loire Valley's best sources of value for Sauvignon Blanc. Located about two hours west of Sancerre, the region shares many of the same clay and limestone soils that give its more famous neighbor such a distinctive mineral character. The difference is that land prices and production costs are significantly lower, allowing producers to deliver exceptional quality at far more approachable prices.
The region is also one of the Loire Valley's most picturesque destinations, famous for the magnificent châteaux that line the Loire River and its tributaries. In recent years, several communes within Touraine have earned recognition for producing particularly distinctive expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, further elevating the appellation's reputation.
In the glass, Touraine Sauvignon Blanc tends to be generous and immediately appealing. The Villebois is an excellent example, offering vibrant flavors of pineapple, kiwi, and lemon curd. It recalls the exuberant fruit profile of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but without many of the sharper grassy or herbal notes. Instead, those bright tropical flavors are framed by a subtle chalky minerality that gives the wine balance and a distinctly Loire identity.
Touraine has long been one of the Loire Valley's greatest sources of value, and the Villebois is an outstanding introduction to everything the appellation has to offer.
2025 Domaine Petroni Corse Rosé
Review Date: 06-25-2026
For over a decade now, I have received more emails about the Petroni rosé than any other wine in the category. "When does the new vintage arrive?" Well, it's finally here, and once again, it does not disappoint.
The 2025 release is generous and expressive, showcasing notes of nectarine, passion fruit, and wild strawberry. A kiss of salinity and vibrant acidity provide balance and freshness. While unmistakably character-driven, it remains effortlessly approachable, always inviting another return to the glass.
The only time I've visited Corsica, a stop at Petroni's vineyards was high on my list. Perched above the nearby lagoon, the vineyards overlooked the water on a damp, cool day just after harvest. Everything was still green and lush, and the beauty of the site left a lasting impression.
That trip remains one of my favorite sourcing experiences, and Petroni continues to stand among my most rewarding discoveries. Year after year, this rosé reminds me exactly why.
Price:
$14.99
2025 Cherrier Frères Sancerre
Review Date: 06-22-2026
We've worked with brothers Jean-Marie and François Cherrier for more than 20 years, and their wines remain one of the benchmarks for value in Sancerre. For us, they've long served as a lodestar for what classic Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc should be.
It was great to reconnect with the family at Wine Paris earlier this year and taste through the new releases. As the next generation becomes increasingly involved in the domaine, the Cherriers are finding exciting new ways to build upon a tradition that has made them one of our most trusted partners.
The 2025 vintage was a challenging one, with reduced yields across much of the region. Fortunately, our long-standing relationship has helped preserve the majority of our allocation, even if quantities are a bit tighter than usual.
The new Sancerre captures everything we love about the estate's style. Aromas of Meyer lemon and ruby red grapefruit lead the way, followed by hints of nectarine, wild thyme, and white flowers. The palate shows impressive ripeness and polish, delivering generous texture and concentration without sacrificing freshness or balance.
Year after year, this remains one of the most re-ordered wines in the category. If you've yet to discover what makes Cherrier such a perennial favorite, the outstanding 2025 vintage is the perfect place to start.
Price:
$24.99
2022 Clotilde Legrand "L'Ecart" Saumur Blanc
Review Date: 06-19-2026
Some of the finest dry Chenins in France are coming out of Saumur. The region's limestone-rich soils produce wines with remarkable tension, minerality, and structure—wines that, when handled well, can develop and evolve in a fashion reminiscent of great white Burgundy.
Legrand's L'Écart is a perfect example. A lightly reductive style lends subtle nutty and smoky nuances that frame generous flavors of apple, quince, and citrus. Beneath the fruit lies a firm mineral backbone that keeps the wine focused and energetic from start to finish.
Saumur remains one of my favorite sources for Burgundy-adjacent flavors and complexity, delivering a similar sense of place and age-worthy character at a fraction of the price.
2017 Clotilde Legrand "Les Chaintrée" Saumur-Champigny
Review Date: 06-19-2026
We're definitely crossing a new threshold here with this magnificent Saumur. Layers of black cherry, currant jam, tapenade, and dried rose petals create an inviting and wonderfully complex aromatic profile.
The additional bottle age has worked its magic, transforming what was once a powerful, structured wine into something far more harmonious. Time has allowed the tannins to melt into the background, while the fruit, savory notes, and floral nuances have seamlessly integrated. The result is a wine of impressive depth and concentration that remains remarkably elegant and approachable today.
This is the kind of wine that calls for a grilled picanha steak and a generous side of chimichurri. The wine's savory complexity and polished structure are a perfect match for the richness of the beef and the bright herbal character of the sauce. This is my new weekend favorite.
2023 Clotilde Legrand "Les Lizieres" Saumur-Champigny
Review Date: 06-19-2026
This is an accessible and delightful young-drinking Cabernet Franc. It's everything I want in a youthful Saumur-Champigny. Generous red cherry fruit is complemented by notes of crushed rosemary and thyme. Aging entirely in stainless steel preserves the wine's freshness and juicy character.
It's perfect with one of my favorite pairings: a market rotisserie chicken. Add some herb-roasted potatoes and a glass of this Cabernet Franc, and your weeknight dinner just leveled up!
2023 Domaine Mardon "Cuvée Très Vieilles Vignes" Quincy Blanc
Review Date: 06-18-2026
I often find myself championing the satellite appellations of Sancerre. While they may lack the name recognition of their famous neighbor, they offer incredible expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, each shaped by distinct terroirs and often at far more approachable prices.
Just across the Loire River sits Pouilly-Fumé, home to the prized silex soils that lend the wines their signature smoky minerality. Nearby, Coteaux du Giennois is emerging as one of the Loire's great value regions, with its own abundance of flint-rich soils producing vibrant, mineral-driven wines. To the west lies Menetou-Salon, practically a suburb of Sancerre, where the famed terres blanches soils create Sauvignon Blancs with added depth, texture, and richness.
Further afield are Reuilly and Quincy, neighboring appellations situated along the Cher River, a tributary of the Loire. Here the soils shift toward sand and gravel, producing distinctly different expressions of Sauvignon Blanc. Reuilly often leans into tropical fruit notes, while Quincy tends toward a more restrained profile, emphasizing green apple, white flowers, and subtle citrus. The wines are elegant, refined, and endlessly inviting.
Domaine Mardon is one of Quincy's benchmark producers and a perfect example of why these lesser-known appellations deserve more attention. The wine bursts with juicy green apple, white flowers, and succulent lime notes, carried by bright acidity and a graceful texture. Fresh and invigorating, it drinks like a cool breeze on a summer afternoon while delivering the kind of character and value that have become increasingly difficult to find in Sancerre itself.
Price:
$23.99
2023 Domaine Cailbourdin "Les Cris" Pouilly-Fumé
Review Date: 06-18-2026
Though just across the river from its more famous neighbor Sancerre,
Pouilly-Fumé has never enjoyed quite the same market prestige. Yet the two appellations share remarkably similar foundations: calcareous limestone, clay, and the prized silex (flint) soils that give Pouilly-Fumé its smoky, “fume” character. Because Sancerre remains the more recognizable name, prices in Pouilly-Fumé have often stayed comparatively sharp, making it one of the Loire's best value propositions for Sauvignon Blanc.
Domaine Alain Cailbourdin was a recent discovery for me that stands comfortably alongside some of the finest Sancerre producers. This bottling comes primarily from limestone soils and delivers racy acidity layered with grapefruit, green apple, white flowers, and a subtle note of wet hay. What lingered most was the striking chalky finish, a vivid expression of the vineyard's limestone terroir. For fans of Sancerre and its Loire Valley neighbors, it is a compelling new option that overdelivers for the price.
2025 Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé
Review Date: 06-04-2026
Bandol Rosé is surely one of the elite expressions of pink wine. These are rosés with depth, intensity, and substance—wines that can age well beyond the lifespan of most easy-drinking Provençal bottlings. While Tempier remains the benchmark for many, Pradeaux has always belonged in the same conversation, often at nearly half the price.
The 2025 vintage is a bit more powerful than your average summer rosé. The deeper color hints at what's to come, but don't mistake that for heaviness. Bright and inviting from the start, it bursts with notes of white peach, passion fruit, and red currant. The palate carries Pradeaux's signature silky texture, followed by a long, satisfying finish that immediately encourages another sip.
It's already drinking beautifully, but Pradeaux's rosés continue to evolve with time. That's why it's always worth buying multiple bottles—or even a case or two—to follow its progression over the next year and beyond. Equally at home on the dinner table or enjoyed on its own, this is the kind of wine that always brings people back for more.
2021 Domaine Jaume "Altitude 420" Vinsobres
Review Date: 06-02-2026
One of the more recent Cru appellations in the Southern Rhone is Vinsobres. What distinguishes this region is its location further deep into the hills of the region. There is more altitude and a cooler influence here where grapes like Syrah show more of they Syrah-ness. But Grenache is still the main grape and it delivers a more elegant profile that matches well from Syrah grown here.
Domaine Jaume is one of the stars of the region. I first encountered them years ago on a trip through the region and visited them when I was scouting new producers. I can remember driving up the steep hill to the winery and worrying that my manual transmission driving skills might not be up to the task of getting me the rest of the way there.
I thought the wines were really well made, clean cooler climate Rhone wines that reminded me more of the classic perfumed and savory styles that were more prevalent in the 90s and 00s.
2023 Domaine du Pegau "Cuvée Réservée" Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Review Date: 05-28-2026
I’ve had a long love affair with the wines of Pegau. Dating back nearly 30 years to when I first started in the wine business, Pegau was one of the very first Châteauneufs I ever encountered. I was immediately struck by the wine’s sensuous fruit tones layered with all of those savory, sauvage characteristics that make the region so compelling. I still remember serving it alongside braised bresaola — one of the first truly memorable food-and-wine experiences I ever put together for myself and a couple of close friends.
A few decades later, the wines still speak volumes to me. The 2023 shows lovely nuance, highlighting the slightly fresher profile of the vintage compared to the more brooding intensity of the 2022s. Blackberry, potpourri, and smoked brisket are just a few of the aromas that leap from the glass. There’s real lift on the finish as the acidity keeps the wine focused and energetic.
Another beautiful example of classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape from one of the region’s truly iconic estates.
2023 Famille Isabel Ferrando "Colombis" Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Review Date: 05-28-2026
Made from 100% Grenache, this wine beautifully reflects the diversity of the soils from which it is sourced: the cooler-climate home vineyard of Colombis on the western side of the appellation, the cooling sandy soils of Rayas, and, of course, La Crau, whose deep limestone sub-soil and heat-reflective galets contribute richness and depth. All of the fruit is composed from the oldest vines in these parcels as well.
"Colombis" is one of the most compelling Grenache-based wines in the region, it puts the purity of the grape fully on display, balancing richness with a seamless structure and a lifted, floral finish. In many ways, it recalls a great Bonnes-Mares from Burgundy — though thankfully at a fraction of the price.
Exceptionally ageworthy, this should begin hitting its stride in the 2030s and continue to drink beautifully for another decade or more beyond that.
2022 Famille Isabel Ferrando Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Review Date: 05-28-2026
Isabel Ferrando is one of the true cult icons of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Long regarded as an outsider in the region—coming from a background far removed from the wine industry—she proved how transformative that perspective could be. After taking over the historic St-Préfert estate, situated on some of the sunniest and warmest soils of the appellation, she began crafting wines of remarkable finesse and lift, a striking contrast to the bold, powerful style traditionally associated with the region. Her boundary-pushing approach, including special cuvées like 100% Cinsault or 100% Clairette, challenged long-held norms and has since inspired many others to follow in her footsteps.
The new 2022 Ferrando is superb, brimming with blackberry fruit, herbs de Provence, and subtle peppery spice. Its seamless structure and silken texture are unmistakably Ferrando—elegant, composed, and deeply expressive. While it has the architecture to age beautifully in the cellar, it already offers impressive complexity and charm for those eager to enjoy it now.
2023 Domaine des Aubuisieres "Cuvee Gerald" Vouvray (Demi-Sec)
Review Date: 05-18-2026
We don’t see nearly enough demi-sec Chenin Blanc these days, which is part of what makes this new arrival from Domaine des Aubuisières such a pleasure. One of my favorite rising stars in Vouvray, the domaine has the ability to balance richness and freshness beautifully.
Here, a touch of sweetness adds weight and texture to Chenin Blanc’s naturally bright acidity, giving the wine a rounder, more supple feel on the palate. Notes of crisp apple, fresh honey, and jasmine tea unfold effortlessly, with enough lift and energy to keep everything vibrant and refreshing.
This little star shines brightly at the table and feels tailor-made for spicy, savory, and salty dishes. Sounds like I may be ordering Thai curry alongside this one.
2023 Domaine des Aubuisieres "Cuvee de Silex" Vouvray (Sec)
Review Date: 05-18-2026
Vouvray remains one of the great sources for value-driven Chenin Blanc, and Domaine des Aubuisières continues to be one of the appellation’s rising stars. The “Cuvée de Silex” comes from clay and flint-rich soils, giving the wine the tension and crackling acidity that I love in this style of Chenin.
Vibrant notes of lime zest, quince, and a touch of kiwi lend the wine a bright, energetic edge, while the palate stays dry—but not overly so—retaining just enough texture to make it incredibly food-friendly. This is the kind of white that feels equally at home on its own or at the dinner table.
2024 Domaine des Remizières "Origine" Crozes-Hermitage
Review Date: 05-18-2026
The soft-spoken yet deeply thoughtful vigneronne Emilie Desmeures crafts some of my favorite wines from Crozes-Hermitage. “Origine” is the new name for the estate’s traditional cuvée, and since we first began working with these wines nearly a decade ago, it has remained one of my go-to bottles for sheer value from the Northern Rhône.
There has always been a generosity to Emilie’s wines. She fully destems and isn’t afraid to let the fruit speak clearly and confidently. Sweet black cherry and raspberry notes lead the way, followed by classic Rhône accents of tobacco, olive, and bay leaf. Firmly Northern Rhône in character, it still carries the lushness and approachability that many New World Syrah drinkers will immediately connect with.
2024 Domaine Tabordet Pouilly-Fumé
Review Date: 05-18-2026
It’s a pleasure working with the wines of Tabordet. Since we began importing them nearly a decade ago, they’ve filled a great niche in our portfolio—top-tier vineyard holdings in Pouilly-Fumé producing wines that consistently overdeliver. Over the years, the estate has undergone both organic and biodynamic conversion, further elevating the quality and precision of the wines, while also earning increasing critical attention along the way.
This bottling remains the workhorse of the range, and thanks to our direct relationship with the domaine, we’re able to offer it at nearly 20% below the rest of the market. At a time when most bottlings from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé have climbed comfortably above the $30 mark—a reflection of both rising costs and worldwide demand—these direct partnerships allow us to keep prices sharp while continuing to offer benchmark producers from the regions you love.
The new 2024 release is a delight. A touch more elegant than the 2023, it shows a refined expression of Sauvignon Blanc and all the hallmark qualities of this great appellation. The profile is intensely mineral and citrus-driven, with that classic strike of flint on the finish. Compared to its predecessor, the finish feels smoother and slightly more rounded, giving the wine an added sense of polish without sacrificing tension or energy.
I love this new release, and to me it’s pure proof of concept for what we aim to do—finding outstanding producers abroad and bringing them to you at prices that still make everyday enjoyment possible.
Price:
$23.99
2023 Domaine des Remizières "Cuvée Christophe" Crozes-Hermitage
Review Date: 05-15-2026
Our story with Domaine des Remizières begins nearly a decade ago. They had parted company with their national importer, and I was on the hunt for a serious but not overly serious producer from the Northern Rhône. When I first tasted the wines, I knew they fit a great niche in our Direct Import portfolio — showing the generosity and density you might expect from Hermitage, but in their regular Crozes-Hermitage bottlings.
I eventually met Émilie Desmeures, the winemaker who, along with her brother Christophe, was beginning to take over the day-to-day responsibilities from their father, Philippe — though he is still very actively involved today. Émilie really believes in the purity and vibrancy of the fruit, choosing to destem all of their Syrah before fermentation. There’s a range of barrel sizes and oak usage depending on the cuvée, but the winemaking always feels thoughtful and balanced rather than overly worked.
The Christophe bottling is 100% Syrah, mostly from the hillside slopes around Larnage, just north of the hill of Hermitage. Some of the vines are planted over kaolin, a powdery white clay, while the rest comes from parcels with more classic clay-limestone soils. Fermentation takes place in large oak vats, and the wine is aged in a mix of new and used barrels.
This has always been a showstopper of a red for us, going all the way back to the first vintage we brought in — the 2014. The wine consistently delivers deep blackberry fruit along with notes of cassis, fig jam, smoked meats, and spice. Rich on the palate, it drinks great now with a quick decant, but it will also evolve beautifully over the next five to ten years.
I love it with smoky barbecue or grilled sausages over creamy garlicky beans — the kind of hearty food that just makes Syrah from the Northern Rhône shine.
2023 Disznoko Dry Furmint Tokaji Hungary
Review Date: 05-15-2026
Tokaj is one of the oldest classified wine regions in the world. In another era, its legendary sweet wines — known as Tokaji Aszú — were the drink of aristocracy and royal courts across Europe. These were profoundly age-worthy wines, balancing intense sweetness with piercing acidity, and at their best they remain among the world’s great dessert wines.
Of course, the Communist era created disastrous incentives for a region built on craftsmanship and terroir. Many of the great vineyards were absorbed by the state, quality was sacrificed for production, and some vineyard land was even converted into vegetable farms — not exactly a dignified chapter for one of the world’s historic wine regions.
After the fall of Communism, however, a remarkable renaissance began. Producers reclaimed historic sites, quality rapidly improved, and collectors — along with plenty of wine nerds — started revisiting Tokaj with fresh curiosity. Interest in the classic sweet wines returned, but there was also a growing realization that the global market for dessert wine had limits.
That’s where the story becomes even more interesting. Many producers shifted their focus toward dry wines — and even sparkling wines — made from the region’s signature grape, Furmint. Furmint is a fascinating variety: steely and nervy with electric acidity, yet capable of real texture and glycerol weight. It’s also highly susceptible to botrytis, which made those historic sweet wines possible in the first place, and it blends beautifully with indigenous grapes like Hárslevelű and Orange Muscat.
Think about Grüner Veltliner 15 or 20 years ago. Almost no one could pronounce it, few consumers were familiar with it, and yet once people discovered its versatility and personality, it became a staple in serious wine shops around the world. Furmint feels poised for a similar evolution.
Disznókő was one of the producers quick out of the gate in the early 1990s to help reestablish Tokaj’s reputation. They made some extraordinary Aszú wines — many of which are drinking beautifully right now — but they’ve also become one of the benchmark producers of dry Furmint.
This bottling is a perfect introduction to the grape, or, if you’re already familiar, a strong reminder that something genuinely exciting is happening in Tokaj today. Look for notes of green apple, peach preserves, and lemon curd. The palate is racy and energetic, but there’s enough mid-palate weight to carry the acidity beautifully.
Chicken paprikash would be a classic pairing, but this is an incredibly versatile wine. It works wonderfully with richer fish dishes, braised pork shoulder, or even a simple summer salad with citrus and nectarine slices. Just make sure there’s some creamy goat cheese nearby to balance that vibrant acidity.
2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret
Review Date: 05-14-2026
I met Alex Suter of Domaine de l'Amandine, years ago at a wine expo in Paris. I had lost my luggage a few days earlier and was still waiting for it to turn up, yet somehow still had an entire trade fair to work through. I was feeling rumpled, tired, and more than a little out of sorts. Worse yet, I had tasted plenty of wines that day that were perfectly fine, but very few that felt memorable.
Then I stopped at Alex’s table. His warm demeanor and welcoming energy were an immediate antidote to my grumpy mood — and the wines were every bit as uplifting.
The estate’s vineyards straddle two of the most compelling villages in the Southern Rhône: Séguret and Vaison-la-Romaine. Séguret is famous for its hillside village, protected by ancient stone walls originally built to spot invaders from miles away. Vaison-la-Romaine, meanwhile, is best known for its Roman ruins and the picturesque village built along one of the Rhône’s tributaries. While history draws most visitors there, the area is also home to some wonderfully characterful wines — l’Amandine’s included.
Alex and I immediately hit it off, and later that year I visited the estate. I was greeted by his daughter, Mathilde and a rather sassy Jack Russell terrier mix who seemed deeply suspicious of me getting out of the car. At the time, Mathilde was home from school, where she was studying oenology. She walked me through the vineyards before taking me into the cellar, proudly showing off the large concrete tanks her grandfather, Jean-Pierre, had installed by hand.
I fell in love with the spirit of the place: three generations actively involved in the winery, crafting wines that are every bit as charming as the family behind them.
Fast forward to today, and I often run into Mathilde at wine fairs around the world. She now plays a major role in both the winemaking and day-to-day operation of the estate, supported by her father Alex and even her grandfather, who still spends plenty of time managing the vineyards.
Mathilde and I recently caught up at Wine Paris this past February, where I tasted the newest bottling of the 2023 Séguret. One of the things I always love about this cuvée is how prominently the Syrah shows itself. Made up of more than half Syrah, it brings savory spice and warm blackberry tones that beautifully complement Grenache’s lifted red fruit and subtle tobacco notes. The palate feels harmonious and complete, with ripe yet balanced fruit and supple tannins.
When we talk about terroir, the conversation usually centers around soils, drainage, or exposure. But one of the most important elements is the people themselves. This is one of those wines where you can genuinely taste the passion and care of the family behind it — and that spirit shines clearly through the glass. Santé!