UNFILTERED Archives: France

Domaine de la Petite Gallee: Lyon’s Gamay King

Domaine de la Petite Gallee: Lyon’s Gamay King
Domaine de la Petite Gallee is an original. Just south of Lyon, France’s culinary capital, lies the tiny hamlet of Millery. Found in the heart of the oldest section of the Coteaux du Lyonnais, this idyllic little town and its...

Jacky Blot: The Maestro of Montlouis

Jacky Blot: The Maestro of Montlouis
“Jacky Blot’ has been instrumental in taking Montlouis out of Vouvray’s shadow and establishing for it a reputation of its own. Much of what he has done appears old hat today, but it was revolutionary at the time: organic viticulture,...

The Legacy of Graillot: Maxime Graillot & Domaine Equis

The Legacy of Graillot: Maxime Graillot & Domaine Equis
Featured Image: Maxime & Alain Graillot Photo: Gunnar Lier There is perhaps no industry where the weight of past generations is felt more acutely than in the world of wine. For elite domaines, each generational change invites the risk of falling...

Benchmark Biodynamic Burgundy: Domaine de l’Arlot

Benchmark Biodynamic Burgundy: Domaine de l’Arlot
To fall in love with Burgundy is to resign oneself to a life of equal parts euphoria and edification. It is both an academic and hedonistic endeavor that may last a lifetime. Finding a domaine that produces wines capable of...

On Top of the World – Château de Pibarnon in Bandol

On Top of the World – Château de Pibarnon in Bandol
 “Château de Pibarnon is one of Bandol’s best estates.” -The Wine Spectator When thinking of the ideal for a domaine, the image conjured is one of a solitary estate, perched atop a hill, overlooking pastoral vineyards, humbly making world class...

Moussé Fils: Meunier through Tragedy and Triumph

Moussé Fils: Meunier through Tragedy and Triumph
  An hour east of Paris in Champagne’s Vallee de la Marne, lies the pastoral village of Cuisles. The vineyards here are exceptionally steep and surrounded by the most beautiful landscape in Champagne. This village is home to Cédric Moussé,...

The Inspiring Bubbles of JL Vergnon

The Inspiring Bubbles of JL Vergnon
“Christophe Constant has put a highly personal stamp on this domaine, creating wines of intense expression and vivid personality. His champagnes are always racy and tense, characterized by their prominent malic acidities, yet they’re rarely aggressive, achieving a carefully judged...

Domaine Pinson: Kimmeridgian Nobility

Domaine Pinson: Kimmeridgian Nobility
 There are only so many certainties in life; the Earth is round, water is 2 parts hydrogen to 1 part oxygen, Joanie loves Chachi, John Lennon was a musical genius, and no Chardonnay in the world tastes like Chablis. This...