Columns — Fine Wine

What does smart wine, personal taste, and the true value of a wine mean to you? These are the questions that, in my view, every genuinely advanced wine drinker should be asking. The way you answer them depends entirely on what is already in your head. The answers come only with years of building your own experience, hundreds of bottles opened, and an endless amount of information studied and absorbed.

Indulge in perfection at classic French restaurants: impeccable service, cuisine, and elite wines like Puligny-Montrachet ‘Les Enseigneres’ 2020 Coche-Dury (silky terroir delight), Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru ‘Les Cras’ 2012 Roumier (expressive balance), and Rayas 2012 Reynaud (Burgundian Grenache mastery). Top spots profit on wine via Chef, Sommelier, Maître d'hôtel. For Burgundy aficionados!

Château Rayas by the Reynaud family — one of the world’s most distinctive and polarizing wines. Why does aged Rayas surpass any Burgundy, while even a 20-year-old vintage delivers extraordinary depth? Reflections on true terroir, vineyard and cellar microbiology, Emmanuel Reynaud’s undeniable talent, and why Rayas deserves its own appellation. Tasting notes on the incomparable 1988 and magnificent young vintages — an unforgettable fine wine experience.

A modern sommelier's take on the shifting hierarchy of the fine wine world. Discover why Napa Valley's Cabernet Sauvignon, exemplified by producers like Realm Cellars, has arguably surpassed its traditional Bordeaux benchmark, combining French expertise with American perfectionism.