Wine Notes
Wine Club Selections
Craven “Cinsaut”
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA | 2023
Mick and Jeanine Craven are part of the new wave that has helped redefine Stellenbosch beyond its traditional image of polished Cabernet and Bordeaux-style blends.
Bastien Jolivet "Cuvée de Louis"
VIN DE FRANCE, FRANCE | 2022
Bastien Jolivet farms in the northern reaches of the Rhône, around Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, where steep hillsides, granitic soils, and cooler exposures give his wines a distinctly lifted, mountain-grown character.
Valentin Zusslyn “Ophrys”
ALSACE, FRANCE | 2023
Domaine Valentin Zusslin is based in Orschwihr, in southern Alsace just south of Colmar, where the family’s winemaking history dates back to 1691.
A Tribute to Grace
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA | 2025
Named for both her grandmother and the quality she most admires, the project is devoted to graceful, site-expressive Grenache sourced from vineyards spanning Santa Barbara to the Sierra Foothills.
Serradinha “Castelão & Friends” Tinto
LISBOA, PORTUGAL | 2023
At Le Midi, you may have noticed a certain "ladybug wine." An unmistakable label centered around the image of the often adored insect, which even includes a "souvenir" wooden ladybug on the cork that you have to remove before opening the bottle.
Vuurberg “White”
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA | 2020
You can usually find a few wines made by Donovan Rall on our shelves, and his winemaking projects are always a favorite to highlight.
Clos Venturi “Brama” Syrah
CORSICA, FRANCE | 2021
Clos Venturi is one of the rising stars on the island of Corsica. Founded in the late 1990s by Jean-Marc Venturi and now led by his son Manu,
By Farr “Irrewara”
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA | 2021
Geelong lies southwest of Melbourne and is shaped by a cool maritime climate influenced by Bass Strait. Steady winds and moderate temperatures extend the growing season, allowing Pinot Noir to ripen slowly while retaining freshness.
Selvagrossa “Muschén”
MARCHE, ITALY | 2024
The 2024 “Muschèn” is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. No oak is used; it is fermented and aged only in stainless steel.
Vendrell Rived “Serè”
MONTSANT, SPAIN | 2023
A blend of 80 percent Garnatxa and 20 percent Carinyena, sourced from vineyards between 20 and 40 years old, the wine is fermented with native yeasts in tank and aged for several months in used French oak barrels.
Domaine Glinavos “Zitsa Brut”
EPIRUS, GREECE | 2018
The Zitsa Brut is a Champagne method sparkling made entirely of the Debina varietal, which is often noted for its naturally high acidity and mineral impression from the limestone-influenced soils.
Domaine Les Carmels "Les Caprices"
CADILLAC CÔTES DE BORDEAUX, FRANCE | 2022
“Les Caprices” is based on Merlot vines planted in the early 1980s and the early 2000s. Viticulture at the domaine is certified organic (since 2010) and biodynamic methods are used.
Bianka und Daniel Schmitt "Freiheit" Rot
RHEINHESSEN, GERMANY | 2023
While the Schmitts are often associated with the natural wine movement, what stands out in their work isn’t trendiness—it’s sincerity.
Vendrell Rived "L'Alleu"
MONTSANT, SPAIN | 2023
Josep M. Vendrell Rived is one of my favorite producers in the region—an under-the-radar grower whose wines consistently overdeliver.
Nicolau de Almeida "Ronfe"
VINHO VERDE, PORTUGAL | 2023
“Ronfe” is produced entirely from Trajadura (the Portuguese name for Treixadura), a grape found in Galicia—most notably in the region of Ribeiro.
Celler Pardas "Negre Franc”
PENEDÈS, SPAIN | 2019
"Negre Franc" is the flagship red wine of Pardas. It is a blend of 80% Cabernet Franc, along with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lapierre "Raisins Gaulois"
VIN DE FRANCE - BEAUJOLAIS | 2024
This wine from legendary producer, Lapierre, run by brother and sister, Mathieu and Camille Lapierre is the perfect example of that latter “crushable type.”