Hey guys!
This week, we’re celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the newsletter, highlighting one of the best wine shops in New York, and taking a look at a Burgundian producer at the very top of the world. Enjoy 🍷
A Full Year of Low-Hanging Fruit 🍇
Celebrating a small milestone: 365ish days of our weekly newsletter
Just want to take a moment to thank all of you who’ve subscribed over the past year. When we started this newsletter, the goal was to create a space where we could connect a little more deeply and share stories we can’t always tell over Instagram or TikTok. The result has been not just that, but a way to give you guys travel tips, new producers that excite us, and a whole lot more.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who takes time out of their day to read along. Excited to keep this thing going and to introduce some new newsletter formats very soon!
If you ever want to look back at past guides or newsletters, you can find them all here!
A Wine Lover’s Stop in Clinton Hill 🛍
Why Leon & Sons is One of My Favorite Wine Shops in New York
Like I’m sure many of us, I’m always on the hunt for new and exciting bottles from around the world. Whether it’s an emerging producer in Piedmont, a legacy winemaker in the Willamette Valley, or an old reliable from the south of France, the search is half the fun.
Pictured: Leon & Son Exterior
I’ve spent a good part of this year tracking down bottles on my ever-growing bucket list, and more often than not it starts with a simple Google search. Almost every time I look up a bottle, Leon & Son in Clinton Hill seems to be the first link that pops up, and more often than not, they actually have it.
Pictured: Leon & Son Interior
Chris Leon opened the shop in 2015, and it’s become a real staple of the New York wine community. The thoughtfulness of the selection is apparent the moment you walk in. You’ll find everything from old school classics to younger producers pushing the edge of modern winemaking from all over the world. They also host monthly wine classes that dive into different regions, producers, and other fun topics.
I stopped by the shop this past weekend after a few months of ordering bottles online for pickup, so here are a few that came home with me.
Pictured: Leon & Son Haul
If you haven’t been, I highly recommend checking it out. And once you’re done shopping, you can pop over to Hartley’s right down the street for what might be the best Guinness pour in New York.
Pictured: Hartley’s Pour
Producer Highlight ⭐
One of our favorite parts of wine is the discovery: we’re constantly being put on to new regions, producers, and cuvées from our friends. We’ll never be able to try EVERY wine, but we want to take a moment to mention some producers that excite us!
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 🍷
Location: Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, France📍
Pictured: Burgundy Map. Image by Wine Folly
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, often referred to simply as “DRC”, is widely considered the most coveted wine producer in the world. The estate sits in the village of Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy and traces its history back to the 13th century, when monks from first cultivated the land. The famous Romanée vineyard later came into the hands of Louis-François de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, whose name became permanently attached to it. Over time the domaine passed through several owners before taking its modern form under the de Villaine and Leroy families, who continue to guide the estate today.
Pictured: DRC Bottles. Image by Decanter
DRC farms about 28 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards across Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits. The domaine’s holdings include several of Burgundy’s most celebrated Grand Cru sites. Romanée-Conti is the crown jewel, producing only a few hundred cases per year from its tiny monopole vineyard (a vineyard owned entirely by one estate). La Tâche, another monopole, is the largest holding and produces a powerful, structured Pinot Noir.
Pictured: DRC Monopole Site
The estate also farms parcels in Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Grands Échezeaux, and Échezeaux, each offering a different expression of Vosne-Romanée’s limestone slopes. Beyond Pinot Noir, DRC also produces extremely small amounts of Chardonnay from Montrachet, along with a tiny parcel of Bâtard-Montrachet that is rarely sold commercially.
Pictured: DRC Vines. Image by WineAnorak
In the cellar, fermentations use native yeasts, extraction is kept gentle, and the wines age in new French oak for about two years before release. The result is Pinot Noir known for its balance, complexity, and ability to age for decades.
Pictured: DRC Cellar. Image by StockFood
So what makes these wines so expensive? The answer comes down to a few simple factors: extremely small production, some of the greatest vineyard sites in Burgundy, and a long reputation for remarkable precision and longevity. Together, those elements have made DRC some of the most sought-after and collectible wines in the world.
Pictured: Wines at Emmett’s on Grove
I was extremely fortunate to try a bottle this past Thursday at Emmett’s on Grove in the West Village. Two friends I was with felt like it was the right moment to share, and we opened a DRC Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 2021. This Premier Cru bottling sits just below Grand Cru in Burgundy’s classification and is made from younger vines within the domaine’s holdings.
Pictured: DRC 1er Cru 2021
Quite honestly, it was an incredible bottle of wine, and I’m slightly upset by how much I enjoyed it. With wines this out-of-reach, you almost hope it’s mostly hype. This one wasn’t. The nose was incredibly fragrant, full of baking spice, violets, and bright cherries, easily one of the most aromatic Pinots I’ve ever smelled. On the palate it was fresh, silky, and seemed to linger for nearly a minute. Truly one of the best bottles of red wine I’ve ever had, and I feel incredibly lucky to have tried it.
I almost forgot about this photo; here’s me last year at the Romanée-Conti vineyard on my way to the Jura.
Thanks again to Sam, Jamie, and Stella for sharing such a special wine.
Wine Club Updates 🍷 📦
Happy March everyone! Hope those signed up for February have been enjoying the wines so far. This month is going to be another great drop so stay tuned. If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and they’ll get you sorted.
Not a member yet? You can sign up here:
That’s it for today! We’re always incredibly grateful for your support and let us know if you ever have any feedback.
Thank so much for reading, and as always, drink responsibly! 🥂