Tastemakers

Our offers are full of the greatest wines in the world. Not only do we get to promote them, but we also have the good fortune of consuming them. When we taste new wines, we immediately go to that rolodex of tasting notes in our mind, and we begin to compare and contrast, using our wealth of lifetime drinking experiences to determine why you should buy a wine we recommend. We are always on the lookout for the next up-and-comer, and what growers and regions our clients should have on their radar for both drinking and collecting. Today’s offer is a breakdown of producers that we adore, and why.

Morgen Long/X Novo

While Craig Williams and Seth Long may have started more than a generation apart in their careers, they joined forces during an important time for Oregon. Craig flourished during a long career at Joseph Phelps prior to starting his most important venture- X Novo and the farming of the X Omni Vineyard. Thanks to selling his grapes to clients like Seth (as well as Walter Scott), Craig entrusted others to help bring recognition to his outstanding plot of land. Now he’s joining in the fun, making gorgeous, Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that are holding their own with the very best of Oregon. Seth’s admiration of Roulot’s finest bottlings continues to spark inspiration, and 2022 was yet another glorious vintage. Few are at the level of this magical duo.

Cascina Penna Currado

Italian lovers will instantly know the Currado name, as Luca Currado spent decades building up the Vietti brand. The family made the bold decision to sell the Vietti brand and to continue their legacy under their eponymous label. The 2022 represents the inaugural vintage, and the early success is tremendous. These are high character wines are paving the way for a future of top vintages, and are smashing values that should be a part of your regular home rotation.

Poderi Colla

Staying in Piedmont, the legendary Colla family was the first to bottle single-vineyard Barolo. When they owned Prunotto (and later sold to the Antinori family), they were the first to bottle site specific wines, paving the way for so many to follow.  Colla’s 2020s are a revelation for the vintage and are excellent values for their quality. The ethereal old school Barolo and Barbaresco are unbeatable.

Dominio del Challao

I can say with a lot of honesty that I very rarely get excited about new producers from Spain. I love the tried and true producers like Lopez de Heredia, Muga and La Rioja Alta, but I finally found one Rioja that thrilled me for the first time in about 20 years! Dominio del Challao is an exciting new project from Alavesa that uses old vines (going back 1945!) and exceptional terroir. Challao’s success should come as no surprise, as winemaker Manu Michelini has made stops at many famous places, like Bize, Clape, Ramonet, and Roulot to learn the skills necessary to make such a compelling bottle of Rioja!

Jean-Marc Seleque

Of course, I would have to make sure that a Champagne would be included here. Jean Marc Seleque has skated a perfect line between tradition and  creativity. Farming some 9 hectares divided into 45 plots, with vines that are 40+ years old, all of which are biodynamically farmed, Seleque starts with amazing “clay” with which to form his masterpieces. These wines have incredible texture, complexity and focus, coupled with unique flavor profiles that are unmatched!