Natural wine is made with minimal intervention in the vineyard and cellar, bottled poetry in its rawest, naked form. This autumn, we're working with Meri Lugo on a list devoted to natural wines from one of its undisputed focal points: the Loire Valley. Meri is a local wine industry icon, co-owner of Domestique Wine, one of the country's premier destinations for natural wine. Join us all season long to discover the Garden of France, playground of renaissance era royalty and modern birthplace of a back to the future wine revival.
We also offer fabulous cocktails, suds, ciders, and soft drinks! Follow this link for a look at the full bottle list. We allow corkage for a $50 fee with a strictly enforced limit of one bottle per table.
If you’re looking to stock your home cellar, there’s an even broader selection available through our Wine Store. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or special requests.
FALL WITH MERI:
NATURAL WINE FROM THE GARDEN OF FRANCE
fizz
Chenin Blanc Pétillant Naturel, “La Bulle du Facteur,” Le Facteur, Touraine, France, 2022 -20/80-
French country chic for a wine-loving, easily distractable mailman
Gamay Blend Pétillant Naturel Rosé, “Rosa Rose Rosam,” La Grange Tiphaine, Touraine, France, 2022 -19/76-
The quintessential pink pét nat from the First Couple of Montlouis
white
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, “La Pepie,” Domaine de Pepiere, Pays Nantais, France, 2023 -16/64-
Have you ever smelled the sea in your wine glass?
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, “Vieilles Vignes,” Luneau Papin, Pays Nantais, France, 2022 -18/72-
Fresh, orchard fruit forward white every bit as pure as its namesake goddess Dawn Light
Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine du Moulin, Touraine, France, 2023 -21/84-
Because sometimes a cliché is worth indulging, give the people what they want
Saumur Blanc Saint Cyr en Bourg, Arnaud Lambert, Saumur, France, 2021 -15/60-
Chenin Blanc standard bearer: All racy acid and fleshy orchard fruit
orange
Chenin Blanc Blend, Les Tètes, Touraine, France, 2023 -19/76-
Approachable, layered, citrus fruit forward “wine you drink with friends”
pink
Rosé de Loire, Thibaud Boudignon, Anjou, France, 2023 -18/72-
Herbal vin gris that's every bit as rare as it is beguiling
red
Pineau d’Aunis Blend, “Glasting,” Valérie Forgues, Loire, France, 2023 - chilled -19/76-
Drink like a Plantagenet king with this bright, bracing, lightly peppery banger
Grolleau Noir, “Sous le Tilleul,” Domaine du Pas St. Martin, Saumur, France, 2023 -15/60-
An exuberant tart red berry bomb: Why eat crow when you can drink it?!
Pineau d’Aunis, Les Athlètes du Vin, Touraine, France, 2023 -16/64-
Bright, radiant cherry bomb drinks like baby Amarone
Gamay, “Volcanique,” Verdier-Logel, Pays Centre, France, 2023 -17/68-
Very cool kid stuff: Bold cherries, dark minerals, and great acidity
Chinon, “Les Granges,” Baudry, Touraine, France, 2023 -20/80-
Cab Franc at its most delicate and beguiling: All pencil shavings and fresh herbs
Bourgueil, “Authentique,” Domaine Guion, Touraine, France, 2019 -21/84-
Cab Franc at its most brooding: All dense dark fruit, hard herbs, and earthy tannins
BILL GOES ROGUE
fizz
Lambrusco Emilia, Folicello, Emilia Romagna, Italy, 2023 -17/68-
The beer of wines, fresh, crunchy, and herbal
white
Vidal Blend, “You Can Have It All,” Spinning Wheel, Loudoun, Virginia, 2024 -18/72-
Traditional Central European white field blend reimagined with truly local source material
Vermentino di Gallura Superiore, "Coro," Càlibri, Sardinia, Italy, 2021 -19/76-
Oily, unctuous Sardinian speciality with a savory, almond-like finish
Chardonnay, Private Property, Santa Lucia Highlands, California, 2022 -21/84-
Come meet Cali Chard again for the first time: Thoroughly tropical but wildly elegant
orange
Rosa del Perú, “Amphora Orange,” Viña Cordelia, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, 2023 -21/84-
Savory unicorn from south of the border that honors Mexico’s long history with the vine
Trebbiano Spoletino, “Campo di Colonnello,” Raína, Umbria, Italy, 2022 -21/84-
The ubiquitous Italian white gets a sorely needed skin contact glow up
Kisi, G-Wine, Kakheti, Georgia, 2017 -22/88-
Persimmon and citrus infused ageworthy gem with supple tannins like a cat’s tongue
pink
Cannonau Rosato, “Brulleri,” Osvaldo Soddu, Sardinia, Italy, 2022 -18/72-
Herbal vin gris that's every bit as rare as it is beguiling
Cabernet Franc Rosé, Apollo’s Praise, Finger Lakes, New York, 2024 -18/72-
Herbaceous red adjacent rosé from our favorite FLX husband and wife winemaking team
red
Dolcetto d'Alba, Corrado Meinardi, Piedmont, Italy, 2022 -17/68-
Elegant, rhubarb inflected ideal of a Piemontese taverna wine
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, “NV18,” Cain, Napa Valley, California, 2018 -25/100-
A true Golden State unicorn, the last of its kind for a storied Bordeaux blend that punches well above its weight
Tinta de Toro, “Corral de Companas,” Quinta de la Quietud, Toro, Spain, 2023 -18/72-
Tengo un toro que me da . . . a decadent red from the dusty, arid heart of Spain
NERD ALERT (oxidized, resinated, & sous voile)
Palomino Fino En Rama, “Tosca,” Mario Rovira, Cádiz, Spain, 2023 -17/68-
Unfortified answer to classic fino, every bit as saline if a touch more delicate
Pansa Blanca Blend, “Super Marfil,” Celler Marfil, Catalunya, Spain, NV -18/72-
Nutty, oxidative union of young and old, drinks like oloroso sherry with an extra pep in its step
Assyrtiko, “Nimbus Ritinitis,” Kamara, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2024 -24/96-
Hipster somm mike drop that's every bit as refreshing as it is offbeat
TREAT YO’ SELF
fizz: Champagne Extra Brut, “Le Triau,” Drémont Marroy, Vallée de la Marne, France, NV -20/40/160- (half/full/bottle)
Bone dry grower bubbles offer a well-deserved star turn to Champagne's third wheel
white: Marsannay Blanc, “Les Étalles,” Patrick Maroiller & Fils, Burgundy, France, 2022 -22/44/276-
Luxurious archetype of French grandeur from the Golden Gate to the Côte d’Or
red: Barolo, Silvio Grasso, Piedmont, Italy, 2021 -16/32/128-
A delightfully approachable take on the King of Wines, the quintessential precocious, perfumed La Morra
red: Malbec, Finca Adalgisa, Mendoza, Argentina, 2018 -21/42/168-
THE ARGENTINE MALBEC BY WHICH TO JUDGE ALL OTHERS: as urbane as it is brawny
COCKTAIL HOUR
spritz -17-
Mountainside Spritz - Amaro Alpe, elderflower, grapefruit, Prosecco
Lambrusco Spritz - Brusco, Angostura Amaro, orange
The Champagne of Beers . . . Spiked - Miller High Life with Amaro Ciociaro
apéritif -17-
Negroni Sbagliata - Bruto Americano, Cina l’Aero d’Or, Prosecco
Julia Child’s Martini - white & dry vermouth, gin, lemon
Jacques Pépin’s Manhattan - Byrrh, New Riff Rye, Dolin Dry, lime
proper cocktails
Queen of the Dead - mezcal, Cointreau, Cocchi Americano, lemon -19-
Afterthought - cachaça, passionfruit liqueur, Centerbe Faccia Brutto, lime -18-
Solera Sour - rye, fig leaf, sherry, Eden Orleans Bitter, lemon -19-
Espresso Martini à la Americano - vodka, cold brew, PX Sherry, salted Demerara syrup -17-
Rhiannon - Hamilton Breezeway White Rum, Cap Corse Blanc, maraschino, orange bitters -22-
Charlotte’s Old Fashioned - Johnny Drum Bourbon, hickory, autumnal spices -17-
sans spirits -13-
Ramble On - apple cider, elderflower, vanilla, ginger
Salted Yuzu Lemonade à la Xiao Ye - yuzu, lemon, basil, salt
Secret Snack - lemon, olive brine, celery soda
Endless Summer - verjus, strawberry syrup, ginger beer, club soda
Wait for Me - Lucano Zero Amaro, maple, lime
