Nice: December 2025
At roca
Reserva Classic Penedès 2022
Macabeu, Xarel·lo
Penedes, Spain
The majority of Cava production is dominated by two major producers, so finding quality minded producers of the Spanish bubbles can be a bit more difficult than one would assume. Thankfully most cava is at least palatable but we look for the stuff that blows us away. Enter Agustí Torello Roca, or AT Roca for short. A producer we have found recently that exceeded expectations.
If you haven’t noticed a major motif in our wine selection method, we’ll give you a little hint. Terroir driven wines. Actually a big hint. AT Roca is such a producer with the focus of revealing a sense of place in his wines. While not champagne, all of Cava is made in the Champagne Method. This wine is rested on its lees, or dead yeast cells, for 20 months before they disgorge and remove it off the lees. This gives it the bread-like and toasty quality that is present in Champagne while remaining uniquely Cava.
After the removal of the lees, Agustí decides to not any any extra sugar to the wine making it a brut nature. There is still enough body and texture that we couldn’t tell it was made with no sugar. Excitement lies in the future of the Cava region and it makes us want to drink more. A lovely way to start 2026. Cheers!
Pairing: Pickle Brined Fried Chicken Sandwich
Fun fact: AT Roca ages the wine on the lees under cork and ferments in used barrels rather than stainless steel. Both of which are not typical to traditional cava production.
Domaine La Florane
A Fleur Rouge 2023
Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan
Côtes du Rhône, France
The range of styles that can be made from the Southern Rhone valley is vast. From 100% Grenache wines that can almost look like roses, to blends that can be nearly black in color with strong tannins and savory flavors. Any style can be exciting as long as, at the end of the day, it just tastes good. We think we’ve found that in this wine.
A classic blend represented in a fresh and juicy style with depth. Described as “a subtle blend of colours and flavours, to simply please the senses” on their website puts it eloquently. A wine that is happy to be either the star of the show or a companion throughout the night willing to sit there and just be infinitely good. “A seductive cuvée at any hour” once again in Domaine la Florane’s words.
Domaine la Florane is a blending of two families that ultimately decided to become the same label in 2019. The family of Marie-Pierre Fabre from Visan and Domaine de l’Échevin of Saint-Maurice started using the same cellar and vat room in 2001, which developed into the domaine we have for you today. Three generations of winemakers, two families, one spirit. A wine paired with the time of year.
Pairing: Cassoulet
Fun fact: One of the families are descendants from Guillaume de Rouville who was mayor of Lyon in the 16th century.
Cameron Winery
Chardonnay 2024
Dundee Hills, Oregon
If you’ve been to our restaurant, you might have deduced that new world Chardonnay isn’t usually something that we have. Very seldom do we feature wines like this. The only one so far has been Sandhi Chardonnay from Central Coast California. Today we bring you a Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills of Oregon.
Wines like this one tend to ground our thinking because, at heart, we are francophiles, and it’s all too easy to dismiss American Chardonnay. We like high acid Chardonnays with crunchy textures, chalky minerality, or a round body with lovely lemon flavors. Cameron Winery’s 2024 Chardonnay is the bridge for us. True to a new world form with a plush mouthfeel and not afraid to hide behind fruit. Thankfully the fruit is delicious and balanced with slight undertones of minerality that are reminiscent of white Burgundy.
Cameron Winery is a producer we’ve actually featured in our natty club before with their skin contact Pinot Grigio. This wine is almost the antithesis in style. Clean with no funny business. Just a respect for traditional flavors and modern day winemaking. A winery that we are excited about and we are hoping will continue to be a pioneer in Oregon.
Pairing: Green Bean Casserole
Fun fact: Cameron Winery is fully dry farmed meaning only rain waters the vineyards throughout the year.