The harvest was very early in France this year, adding to the usual challenges of planning harvest dates, getting pickers organized, and dealing with the late-season curveballs that nature tends to throw. Winemaking is both art and science, and in all such occupations, dealing with uncertainty is part of the job. But our French friends confront more uncertainty than ever this year, as the US government has upended the commercial world order. In the last six months they have seen actual or threatened US tariff rates of 200%, 35%, 10%, 50% and 15%. And as our Supreme Court takes up the question of whether these tariffs are legal at all, the vignerons face yet another extended time of uncertainty. We see them worry for their art and their livelihood, and we forgive them if they feel a bit put upon. In fact it is heartening to see how hard they still work to coax the best from their terroir and to make the myriad decisions of the harvest and vinification with energy and skill. In turn, we will continue to sample their wines, pick the most successful and bring them to your cellars and tables. As always we are excited about the wines we have to offer. There are red and white Burgundies from the Côte d’Or, whose wines have been celebrated for a thousand years. We head south into the Maconnais, less known but home to some of the best winemaking in France these days. From there we descend the Rhône, pausing first in the north for all-Syrah reds from Côte Rôtie, and then in the south for Mistral-kissed Grenache. There are two stops along the Loire, in Chinon for Chenin Blanc, and in Gorges for Cru Muscadet. And we bracket the trip with Left Bank Bordeaux and with Champagne. As always, our goal is to propose wines for every taste and budget, and we hope you’ll find something of interest. If you do, please be sure to submit your orders, in case or half-case lots, by the Order Deadline of Sunday, September 28, 2025. We will place orders for the wine immediately thereafter. JUMP TO SECTION
Boursot
Ravaut
Guillemot-Michel
Bonnefond
Joncuas
Paget
Martin-Luneau
Fleuron de Liot
Bardoux