What winery is your “pet favorite,” so to speak? Let’s keep the big names out of this, and let’s try not to argue about what constitues a “big name” or whether a winery is “famous.”
Mine would be:
France: Mas de Boislauzon USA: Tablas Creek or Arcadian … they’re so different, but both so good, I just can’t choose one Germany: August Kesseler Spain: don’t drink enough small names … hopefully I’ll get some ideas here New Zealand: don’t drink enough small names … hopefully I’ll get some ideas here Australia: don’t drink enough small names … hopefully I’ll get some ideas here Portugal: don’t drink enough small names … hopefully I’ll get some ideas here all other countries: don’t drink enough names … hopefully I’ll get some ideas here
France: Was Domaine la Garrigue until all of the hype about their 07 CdR came out. A close second is Domaine la Bastide St Dominique. Excellent CdR and some decent CdP as well. And from Bordeaux Chateau Cantelys from Pessac-Leognan USA: Arcadian, yes, but are they really considered “non-famous”? Certainly well known in the wine community in the US. Mine is actually McHenry…some of the best pinot this side of Burgundy, but I guess the same might be said about them as Arcadian. Italy: Azienda Curto…Specifically they are Sicilian, but a really lovely family and they make excellent Nero d’Avola New Zealand: Murdoch James…K&L carried one of their entry level pinots from the 04 and 05 vintages and they were superb and under $20US. Haven’t seen them in about a year though. Australia: Driftwood…Western Australia, specifically Margaret River. One of the best Sauv Blanc/Semillon blends outside of Bordeaux (although much more grassy and new world in style, without going over the top), and a really fantastic Tawny port.
USA:
Stefania. Great people making really good wines, having fun, making friends and following a dream.
School House and Lewelling. If you’ve visited either of them you’ll know why.
ROTW:
Chateau Musar - Okay fairly famous, but … world class wines from Lebanon? That’s got to be worth something.
Disznókő and Tokaj in general. A highly under-rated region. Sauternes, Eisweins, TBA and SGN seem to get all the press, while the Hungarians just keep on doing their thing.
Graves/Pessac-Léognan - Domaine de Chevalier (Rouge)
Pomerol - Petit Village, Taillefer
St-Emilion - Corbin
Margaux - Siran (disclosure: the owners are friends, but, objectively, this producer delivers above its rank/price - check out their '89 and '00 for example; for “off-years” the '98 is already drinking very well)
Fronsac - Dalem
Côte de Nuits - Daniel Rion, Heresztyn, Taupenot-Merme
Chablis - Laurent Tribut
Sancerre - Joseph Mellot (not Alphonse Mellot who is a bigger/more famous producer)
Pouilly-Fumé - Raimbault-Pineau
I find the one Barolo from Aldo and Riccardo Seghesio, which is from the La Villa vineyard, to be very reliable. And it is often found for under or near $40 for vintages in the last 15 years. (Which is very cheap for single vineyard Barolo.) You can even find their gorgeous 1989 and 1990 for under $150. They seem to drink well at almost any age and seem to hit a nice middle ground between modern and traditional approaches.
