MORE ON THE SELECTIONDomaine Takahiko
Yoichi Nobori 'N" Nana-Tsu-Mori 2023(95% Pinot Noir/5% Zweigelt, Hokkaido Japan)-
Our Exclusive Import from the Land of the Rising Sun! Founded in 2010, Domaine Takahiko is a speck of 4.6 hectares of Pinot Noir located in Yoichi Nobori, Hokkaido. Brainchild of Takahiko Soga, owner and winemaker, the winery has become undisputed master of Japanese Pinot Noir in just over a decade. Cherished by wine lovers for its unique take on Pinot Noir, the winery is something of a phantom, flying under the radar of mainstream media.
In a year of extreme pressure from Mother Nature, where birds devastated the vineyards of Hokkaido, in 2023, Domaine Takahiko was one of the few that managed to bring some fruit into the cellar. Thanks to the impact of millerandage on the vines, the grapes from Nana-Tsu-Mori vineyard had beautiful acidity and aromatics. In the cellar, the traditional winemaking recipe was applied, but due to the character of the vintage, a dash of Zweigelt (2%) and little SO2 were added to better balance the resulting wine. While 98% of the blend comes from Nana-Tsu-Mori vineyard, the 2023 is labelled Yoichi-Nobori-N Passetoutgrain, where the last ‘N’ stands for the Nana-Tsu-Mori vineyard where the Pinot Noir was harvested.
Yann Durieux
La Gouzotte 2020
(100% Pinot Noir, Burgundy)
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A true maverick of natural winemaking, Yann Durieux crafts hauntingly pure Burgundies under his Recrue des Sens label in Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. Since reclaiming family vineyards in 2010, he farms magically overlooked terroirs using radical organic methods. Named after the vigneron's knife ("serpette"), La Gouzotte (100% Pinot Noir) is as precise as its namesake - all crunchy red berries and stony minerality. From a steep parcel near Vosne-Romanée. Wild raspberry, blood orange zest, and crushed anthracite. A killer pairing for charcuterie.
Fanny Sabre
Beaune Clos des Renardes 2023
(100% Pinot Noir, Burgundy)
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Unquestionably Fanny's darling, this enchanting wine comes from a secluded walled vineyard shaded by forest in the heart of Beaune. "There's something magical here," Fanny remarked when describing this special plot, and one taste reveals why. The old Pinot Noir vines, rooted in a fascinating mix of clay and limestone soils at 300 meters elevation, produce wild strawberries and crushed rose petals wrapped in the most seamless texture you'll find in village-level Burgundy. This isn't just a wine that tastes good - it's a wine that makes you feel good.
Réno Pacalet
Santenay Blanc 2023
(100% Chardonnay. Burgundy)
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Born into a pioneering Burgundy family yet determined to forge his own path, Reno Pacalet represents the next wave of natural winemaking talent. With grapes sourced from intriguing terroirs across Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise, Reno crafts wines that honour his family's low-intervention ethos while showcasing his own vision: wild fermentations, minimal sulfur, and an almost reverential focus on purity. Perched at 350m elevation just above Grand Clos Rousseau Premier Cru, Reno Pacalet's debut Santenay is a revelation. Only 800 bottles made. From 40-year-old vines on pure limestone, this shows laser-like focus with a whisper of generosity - think white peach, crushed oyster shell, and a lick of honeycomb.
Si Tu Sais
Pernard Vergelesses 'Les Belles Filles' 2023(100% Chardonnay, Burgundy)-
This is Pernand at its finest – all that classic white Burgundy poise, but with a sly, smoky edge. Half aged in new demi-muids from a cult Chassagne cooper, it walks the tightrope between toasty richness and laser-cut acidity. Think golden apple skins, a flicker of struck match, and this lingering saline thing that makes you go back for sip after sip. Patrick & Sara (those Brits who ditched it all for Burgundy) nailed the élévage here – just enough oxygen to coax out complexity without losing that nervy Pernand energy. Four and a half barrels. That’s it.
Champagne Pouillon
Grande Vallée 2021/2022 Base(65% Pinot Noir/20% Pinot Meunier/15% Chardonnay, Champagne)
In the heart of Champagne’s grand cru village of Aÿ, Fabrice Pouillon crafts wines of rare depth, finesse, and terroir-driven intensity. The Grande Vallée, Fabrice's calling card is a kaleidoscope of Vallee de la Marne terroirs in one bottle. Anne Krebiehl MW nailed it: "earthy, expansive... with an oxidative edge from wood ageing" yet somehow still featherlight. That 2g/l dosage is just a whisper - enough to frame the ripe plum and red bell pepper notes without sweetening the deal. A very smart bottling punching way above its weight - classy artisanal bubbles for your Summer.
