Friday, April 12th
5-8pm
$30 for the flight of 6 wines ($20 club)
It's hard to make a name for yourself as a rising star in arguably the world's most established wine regions - but that's exactly what Raphaëlle Guyot has done.
Born in Yonne, Raphaëlle had no designs on making wine, despite being raised in the heart of the Chablis AOC. But as is so often the case, a special bottle captivated her and sparked a new passion. She turned her attention from her business degree in Paris to working in some of the most celebrated cellars in Burgundy (Clos du Rouge Gorge, Thibault Liger-Belair). Eventually, it was time to set down roots (both figuratively and literally), and she established her tiny domaine in Puisaye-Forterre. The landscape in this remote northern corner of Burgundy is strikingly rugged, a series of rolling hills with steep slopes, most of it overgrown with grass and vegetation, with few vineyards left behind after being devastated by phylloxera. For Raphaëlle, it represented opportunity - a closer look revealed that the soil had the exact same kind of broken limestone that you'll find on the slopes of Chablis. Those stunning soils produce wines brimming with life and energy, open and inviting even in their youth - textured pinots underpinned by firm minerality and lush florals, Aligoté at its most savory and compelling, and Sauvignon Blanc bursting with oyster shells and wildflowers (after all, in this slice of Burgundy, you're closer to Sancerre than the Cote d'Or).
On Friday, we'll have Eric Quilty from Merchants of Thirst on-hand to pour through Raphaëlle's new releases. These are some of the most dizzying, mend-meltingly delicious wines we've tasted in a while - from Burgundy and beyond - and as with most good things, they're incredibly limited. Come get a taste while they're still around!
*No reservations necessary