Hey guys!
This week we’re breaking down Rory McIlroy’s prestigious Masters Champions Dinner, some decanters we’re loving right now, and a Chenin we just had that really impressed us. Enjoy!
Inside the Masters Champions Dinner 🏌
Rory McIlroy's Wine List is Worth the Green Jacket Alone
Pictured: Masters Logo. Image by CBS
For golf fans, there is no better time of year. The Masters at Augusta National has returned for its annual Spring showdown, arguably the most storied and coveted tournament in the sport.
Pictured: 2025 Masters Champion, Rory McIlroy
But one of the most talked about moments of Masters week has nothing to do with golf. It's the Champions Dinner, an invite only feast hosted by the defending champion, open exclusively to every former Masters winner and the Augusta National chairman. The defending champion, this year Rory McIlroy, curates the entire menu, picks every bottle of wine, and even picks up the tab. As private dinner events go, it doesn't get more exclusive than this.
Pictured: Masters Menu. Image by Masters
The food this year looked spectacular, but it's the wine list that really grabbed everyone's attention. Rory, a self-described wine obsessive who began collecting over a decade ago, put together four exceptional bottles for the evening:
2015 Salon "S", Brut, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne
Salon is one of the most singular Champagne houses in existence, producing wine only in the finest vintages from a single grand cru village, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. In some decades, they release no wine at all, making each vintage a rare and highly coveted bottle. Quite the choice for a welcome Champagne.
Pictured: Salon Champagne. Image by Lieblings Weine
2022 Domaine Leflaive, Bâtard-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy
Domaine Leflaive is widely regarded as one of the greatest white wine producers in all of Burgundy, and Bâtard-Montrachet is among its most prestigious Grand Cru vineyards. Truly some of the world’s top wines. And to top it all off, the 2022 vintage was an exceptional year in Burgundy.
Pictured: Domaine Laflaive. Image by Leon & Son
1990 Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux
Château Lafite Rothschild is one of Bordeaux's five First Growth estates, a classification that has stood since 1855 and represents the pinnacle of the region. The 1990 vintage is considered one of the greatest Bordeaux vintages of the 20th century, celebrated for its depth, structure, and extraordinary aging potential. This is also the same bottle that he opened when he won the Masters last year.
Pictured: Château Lafite Rothschild. Image by Maison Wineted
1989 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux
Château d'Yquem is some of the most sought after sweet wine in the world. Hailing from Bordeaux, the estate specializes in the region’s sweet wine, Sauternes, and the 1989 vintage is considered one of the greatest d'Yquem ever produced, and also happens to be his birth year. The perfect end for dessert.
Pictured: Château d'Yquem. Image by Maison Wineted
Truly a special lineup. Rory definitely gave the Masters Champions a night to remember.
A Few Decanters We’re Loving Lately🍷
Some of Our Favorites Wine Vessels on the Market
The decanter is one of wine's most polarizing pieces of equipment. Some people swear by them, others will never touch one. Some spend thousands, others repurpose an old flower vase, and honestly, all are valid. At its core, a decanter is simply a way to introduce oxygen to your wine, which can open up certain bottles beautifully and do very little for others.
Pictured: Wine Decanters. Image by Wine Folly
Wherever you land on the debate, there's no denying that decanters come in some extraordinary shapes and sizes. Here are a few we've been loving lately:
The Decanter by Glasvin
Glasvin makes some of our favorite everyday glassware on the market, and their decanter is no exception. Simple, elegant, and perfect for a Saturday dinner party table as much as for a Tuesday night with a good bottle. You can find it here
Pictured: Glasvin Decanter. Image by Glasvin
Pyrex 1L Narrow Mouth Erlenmeyer Flask
The ultimate daily driver. This is a throwback to high school chemistry class, and it turns out the lab had great taste in vessel design all along. You can pick one up new online for next to nothing, and yes, we mean new; please do not repurpose secondhand lab equipment. Dishwasher safe and surprisingly decorative too. You can find it here
Pictured: Pyrex Erlenmeyer Flask. Image by Corning
Tropical Fish Decanter by Massimo Lunardon
A dinner at Smithereens in the East Village started this obsession. When I dined there last, they brought out a fish bowl decanter for a bottle we opened (I believe the fish’s name is Gerald, or possibly Harold, I can’t remember) and it’s lived in my head ever since.
Pitcured: Smithereens Fish Decanter
Massimo Lunardon makes a great version that scratches that exact itch, and I’m slowly, (and responsibly) saving up for one. You can find it here
Pictured: Fish Decanter. Image by Massimo Lunardon
At the end of the day, anything glass that holds 750ml will do the job. If there’s a cool decanter we should try out, let us know!
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!
François and Manuela Chidaine 🍷
Location: Loire, France📍
Pictured: Loire Valley. Image by Wine Tourism
François Chidaine is one of the Loire Valley's great success stories. After finishing viticultural school in the mid 1980s, he returned home to work alongside his father Yves, who farmed just four rented hectares in the Touraine region of the Loire. When Yves retired in 1989, François took the reins and wasted no time building something much larger. Through countless agreements with vineyard owners, he steadily expanded his holdings. His wife Manuela joined him in 1999 to open their tasting room, and together they transformed a modest family operation into one of the most respected domaines in the Loire.
Pictured: François and Manuela Chidaine. Image by Polaner Selections
Today, Chidaine farms more than 30 hectares across Montlouis, Vouvray, and the broader Touraine region, with vines ranging from 40 to 80 years old. His farming philosophy has evolved beyond certified organic and biodynamic practice into regenerative agriculture, a no-till approach that preserves underground fungal networks while permanent cover crops build soil health and absorb carbon. He keeps his yields tight by harvesting every cluster by hand.
Pictured: Chidaine Lineup. Image by La Cave de Passy
François is equally as methodical in the cellar. Grapes are gently pressed and fermented on wild yeasts in barrel, with alcoholic fermentations that stretch across the entire winter, allowing complexity to accumulate gradually in cold limestone cellars.
Pictured: Domaine Chidaine Vines. Image by Polaner Selections
Fun fact: the CO2 produced during slow fermentation acts as a natural antioxidant, reducing the need for sulfur use. The result, across his full range, is a collection of wines of incredible precision.
I’ve interacted with these wines twice so far. The first was this past December, where Aldo Sohm and I paired a Chidaine alongside Thai food, a combination that felt like a match made in heaven. (Timestamp 1:10 if you’re wondering)
Pictured: Chidaine Bottle
My second experience with these wines was just this week, where I picked up a bottle from Astor Wines in Nolita and I was pretty blown away this time around. It was the exact aroma and taste when you think of for Chenin Blanc; honeycomb, fresh greens, lemon acidity. And for only $40, I would buy this bottle several times over
Wine Club Updates 🍷 📦
April wines are locked in, and we couldn't be more excited about this month's selections. Shipments go out the end of next week! As always, we'd love to hear what you think, and if you have any questions in the meantime, reach out to [email protected].
Not a member yet? You can sign up here:
That's a wrap for this week. Hope you can open up something fun this weekend, whether it ends up in a decanter or straight from the bottle.
Thank so much for reading, and as always, drink responsibly! 🥂