December 2025 Bottle Club Selections
Forgotten Classic Wines
This month, we’re celebrating Forgotten Classics. Wines that don’t shout, but quietly deliver everything we love about great regions, great families, and great craftsmanship. These bottles often fly under the radar: a Premier Cru Auxey-Duresses that lives in the shadow of Meursault, a beautifully aged Saint-Émilion, old vine Soave with centuries of history, or a Vouvray shaped by flint and family tradition. They’re timeless wines made by people who have been perfecting their craft for generations. Wines worth rediscovering and appreciating all over again.
Domaine De Oliveira Lecestre Petit Chablis 2024
Chablis, France
A crisp, refreshing Petit Chablis from a small family domaine founded in 1955. The vineyards grow on Portlandian limestone, which gives the wine its bright citrus profile and clean, mineral finish. Petit Chablis is often overlooked for the more famous Chablis and Premier Crus of the region, yet this bottling proves how delicious and pure the style can be.
Pair with: oysters, sushi, chèvre, or roast chicken with lemon.
Fun fact: The domaine is now run by Fernand De Oliveira’s daughter, Nicole, who continues to make classic, unoaked Chablis.
Domaine FL ‘Frémine’ 2020
Savennières, Loire Valley, France
Chenin Blanc at its most intense and structured, yet Savennières remains one of the Loire’s most underrated appellations. Frémine comes from schist rich soils that give the wine its serious texture and slate like finish.
Pair with: roast pork, scallops, creamy chicken dishes, or mushroom pastas.
Fun fact: Domaine FL was created from the historic Fournier and Chamboureau estates. Today they farm organically and focus on precise, terroir driven Chenin.
D’Orfeuilles Vouvray ‘Silex’ 2022
Loire Valley, France
Vouvray is a classic, but “Silex”, meaning flint, brings a special tension and brightness often overlooked in the region’s dry styles. The wine is crisp, gently honeyed, and mineral driven.
Pair with: Thai takeout, turkey, Comté, or creamy pasta.
Fun fact: The estate has been family owned since 1947, with cellars carved directly into the tuffeau stone hillsides.
Domaine Françoise & Denis Clair Santenay Blanc 2023
Bourgogne, France
Santenay Blanc is one of Bourgogne’s forgotten treasures, just south of Chassagne and Puligny, yet so often overlooked. This Chardonnay is lively and floral with subtle oak and generous fruit.
Pair with: roast chicken, halibut, risotto, or soft cheeses.
Fun fact: The domaine, founded in 1986, is now run by the founders’ son, Jean-Baptiste, who brings fresh energy and meticulous farming to each cuvée.
Gini Soave Classico ‘Contrada Salvarenza’ Vecchie Vigne 2020
Veneto, Italy
Old vine Garganega from volcanic soils. A beautifully textured, quietly complex Soave. This wine consistently ranks among Italy’s great whites, yet Soave still sits in the shadows of more famous regions. The 2020 vintage is layered, almond tinged, mineral, and quietly elegant.
Pair with: pasta with clams, grilled white fish, herb risotto, or aged Asiago.
Fun fact: The Gini family has documented grape history in Soave dating back to the 1600s.
Domaine Parent Bourgogne Chardonnay 2019
Bourgogne, France
A humble label from a historic estate. A beautifully simple Bourgogne that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Domaine Parent dates back to 1803 and is now run by sisters Anne and Catherine, pioneers of organic and biodynamic farming in Pommard. Their Bourgogne Chardonnay is precise, lightly creamy, and beautifully balanced.
Pair with: roasted salmon, simple salads, chicken, or soft cheeses.
Fun fact: The domaine has been passed down for 12 generations.
Jean-Michel Dupré Morgon ‘Chai d’Oeuvre’ 2023
Beaujolais, France
Morgon is one of the greatest terroirs in Beaujolais, yet still underrated compared to Bourgogne. This cuvée from old vines shows deep fruit, structure, and the classic Morgon power with purity.
Pair with: roast chicken, burgers, charcuterie, or lentil stew.
Fun fact: Jean-Michel Dupré began as a cattle farmer before inheriting his mother’s Gamay vines. His winery is an old barn turned cellar.
Château Cap de Mourlin Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2012
Bordeaux, France
An elegant, fully softened Right Bank blend from one of Saint-Émilion’s oldest wine families (dating back to 1607). While newer Bordeaux estates steal the headlines, Cap de Mourlin continues to make quiet, classic wines meant to age gracefully.
Pair with: steak, lamb chops, mushroom dishes, or aged Gouda.
Fun fact: The Capdemourlin family owns three Saint-Émilion estates, with Cap de Mourlin as their original flagship.
Domaine Lafouge Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru ‘Climat du Val’ 2022
Bourgogne, France
Auxey-Duresses is one of Bourgogne’s most overlooked villages, especially for red wine. This Premier Cru Pinot Noir offers red cherry, spice, light earth, and fine tannins; classic, elegant, and quietly complex.
Pair with: roast chicken, duck, pork tenderloin, mushroom dishes, or soft ripened cheeses.
Fun fact: The Lafouge family has farmed in Auxey-Duresses for over 200 years, passing down parcels from generation to generation.
Diego Conterno Barolo 2017
Piedmont, Italy
Traditional Barolo from vineyards around Monforte d’Alba. While the spotlight often goes to famous “cru” bottlings, Diego Conterno’s classic Barolo shows everything that makes Nebbiolo timeless: roses, cherries, spice, structure, and lift.
Pair with: truffle pasta, braised beef, polenta, or aged Parmigiano.
Fun fact: Diego worked at the Conterno-Fantino family estate before founding his own winery in 2000 to focus on classic Barolo.
Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino 2019
Tuscany, Italy
Brunello sits among the greats, but Mastrojanni remains a quiet classic; an estate that has steadily produced soulful, age worthy wines since the 1970s. The 2019 vintage is pure, polished Sangiovese with cherry, herbs, and refined tannins.
Pair with: steak, roasted pork, tomato based pasta, or aged Pecorino.
Fun fact: Their vineyards sit near the meeting of the Orcia and Ombrone rivers, giving the soils a mix of clay and gravel that shapes the wine’s depth.
Smith Woodhouse Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015
Douro Valley, Portugal
Late Bottled Vintage Port is a forgotten classic in its own right; deep, expressive, and ready to drink without waiting decades. This 2015 shows blackberry, chocolate, and warm spice.
Pair with: blue cheese, dark chocolate, walnuts, or as a cozy after dinner sip.
Fun fact: Smith Woodhouse, founded in 1784, is one of the Symington family’s traditional Port houses, known for small batch bottlings from high altitude vineyards.
All featured wines are a part of our wine club where our members receive new and exclusive bottles each month as well as a in-store discounts at higher levels.