A Decade of a New York Wine Institution, a Beaujolais History Lesson, and Our Return to Old School California

Hey guys!

Hope everyone is having a great week 🌟 

Thanks again to everyone who made it to our Discovery Wine tasting last Friday—it was a ton of fun! In case you missed the reveal, the blind wine was Colvert VDF Blanc R/C 2023, a Vermentino from Provence 🇫🇷

This week, we’re celebrating Noreetuh’s 10th birthday, diving into a subscriber-suggested topic on Beaujolais, and reflecting on a wine from a legacy California producer. Enjoy! 🍇 

Bonus: There’s a Burgundy Wine Fair happening this Thursday in New York City. More details at the end! 🍷

A Decade of Noreetuh 🍾 

Celebrating the 10th Birthday of an East Village Institution

Tucked away on 1st Ave between 7th and St. Marks, Noreetuh has quietly become one of New York’s most beloved dining spots in the wine community. Known for its inventive Hawaiian cuisine and German wine list so comprehensive and well-priced it feels like there’s a misprint on the menu, it perfectly balances innovation and approachability.

My first visit was in December 2023. I came in expecting a solid meal but walked out with one of my favorite dining experiences to date. The food is bold yet comforting, the wine list is packed with gems at absurdly good prices, and the Polaroids of guests lining the walls make you feel like you’re in a friend’s dining room. I had a Riesling from Moritz Kissinger and was blown away by both the wine itself and how well it paired with the food.

Beyond the food and wine, Noreetuh has cultivated a true community, particularly within the New York wine scene. One of the best examples of this is their $10 corkage Sundays, which transform the restaurant into an informal salon for wine lovers and industry professionals. Regulars and newcomers alike bring their best bottles to pair with standout dishes like Kimchi Fried Rice, Spam Musubi, and Mochiko Fried Chicken, creating an atmosphere that’s as much about sharing and discovery as it is about dining.

But what truly sets Noreetuh apart is its hospitality. Under the leadership of owner Jin Ahn, and his dedicated team, the restaurant feels like a place built on passion, one that exists not just to serve great food and wine, but to bring people together. It’s a rare balance of precision and warmth and it’s the kind of experience that stays with you long after you leave.

This Sunday, Noreetuh celebrates its 10th anniversary, a rare milestone in a city where restaurants come and go. Its success is a testament to its authenticity, consistency, and the love it inspires. While we haven’t been around for all 10 years, we’re excited to continue supporting them for many more. Congratulations, Noreetuh! 🥳 

Beaujolais Crus & The Natural Wine Movement 🍷 

Thank you so much to Harsh for the subscriber topic suggestion!

Beaujolais holds a special place in our hearts; the Lapierre Morgon was one of the first natural wines we ever tried, which led us to learn about the region early in our wine journey. The region is home to ten Crus, each producing serious, age-worthy Gamay with its own distinct character. Here’s a quick breakdown of what makes each one unique:

Morgon – The heavyweight. Known for its depth, structure, and ability to age like high-level Burgundy, Morgon is a powerful cru with dark fruit flavors and earthy complexity.

Fleurie – The pretty one. Elegant and floral, Fleurie wines are light, silky, and known for their perfumed and violet aromas, making them easy to drink and super approachable.

Moulin-à-Vent – The tank. Dark fruit, spice, and firm tannins, Moulin-à-Vent is definitely one of the most structured and age-worthy of the pack.

Juliénas – The Dark Horse. Bold and spicy, Juliénas offers flavors of deep red cherries and a peppery finish, creating a robust, full-bodied wine.

Chiroubles – The high-altitude champ. Bright, fresh, and vibrant, Chiroubles has high acidity and offers a lively, energetic profile, thanks to its elevation. Super complex wines even at a young age.

Chénas – The rare one. Smooth and structured with floral notes, Chénas is one of the more uncommon crus, offering elegant wines that balance fruit and tannin.

Brouilly – The crowd-pleaser. Juicy, fruit-forward, and easy-drinking, Brouilly is known for its fresh berry flavors and approachable style. Usually drank earlier.

Côte de Brouilly – The overachiever. More structured and complex than Brouilly, with mineral-driven qualities from its volcanic soils, making it a standout in the region. This Cru sits higher on the hill than Brouilly so the grapes tend to ripen better.

Régnié – The young gun, Beaujolais’ youngest cru. Known for its fresh fruit, spice, and soft tannins, Régnié produces well-balanced wines that are approachable and versatile. The region is also known for its pink granite soils.

Saint-Amour – The romantic. Styles range from light and floral to deep and complex, depending on the producer. It’s a cru that offers both charm and depth. Intensely red-fruited.

Now, what really makes Beaujolais special is its connection to natural wine. Back in the 1980s, a group of winemakers known as the “Gang of Four” (Marcel Lapierre, Jean Foillard, Guy Breton, and Jean-Paul Thévenet) turned against conventional winemaking. Inspired by the pioneering natural wine scientist, Jules Chauvet, they fully embraced sustainable farming, native yeast fermentation, and little to no sulfur. Their wines were pure, alive, and bursting with energy, everything mass-produced Beaujolais Nouveau wasn’t.

Fast forward to today, and Beaujolais remains at the heart of the natural wine movement. Whether you’re enjoying a classic Morgon from a legacy producer or a declassified bottling from a first-generation winemaker, Beaujolais continues to prove why Gamay is one of the most exciting grapes out there. (Plus, it’s almost always one of the best value French wines in any bottle shop.)

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!

Bonus: If you’re in New York, there’s a really cool Burgundy Wine Fair happening on Thursday, March 6th, from 6–8 PM, hosted by La Paulée. It’s called the "Off Grid" tasting, and it aims to make Burgundy a little more accessible. The fair is featuring 75+ wines from across the region and it’s a great opportunity to discover hidden gems, rising winemakers, and standout vintages. Link to tickets with a little discount are here:

That’s a wrap for this week! Thanks so much for reading and, as always, drink responsibly 🥂