A busy April with much to celebrate.
I have a love/hate relationship with April. It’s always extraordinarily bustling and overwhelming – between half my friends’ and family’s birthdays (including my husband’s), work projects kicking off everywhere you look, and my own wedding anniversary, things are hectic – in the best way. It’s one of those months that always forces me to slow down and soak things up between very busy weekday mornings and jam-packed weekends. Cue the wine! This month’s celebrations kicked off my highest cumulative ratings to date – and with good reason. There were some absolute stunners in April. Here’s what I drank and what I thought of it.
WINE #1: Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Edouard Delaunay, 2018 (15.5/20, WineBid)
Where I had it: At home with my husband on a Saturday night. We started a new tradition this year and this was one of the wines we started the tradition with. On New Year’s Eve 2024, we each set five goals for ourselves to accomplish throughout the year. They ranged from big things to little things and all kinds of other things in between. This bottle represented my second goal, which was to post consistently to the @frenchwinetutor Instagram page for one month. I did that (by some rare stroke of fate!) in the month of March, so this was our reward bottle.
How much a bottle cost me: $0. This was a sample that I got a couple years ago, stashing away for the right moment.
How much a bottle would cost you: Right now the starting bid on WineBid is $265. Honestly, for a grand cru from Clos de Vougeot, that’s not a bad price, particularly for one this beautiful.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 15.5/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – This was a lovely, classic Burgundy grand cru with a bit of age on it. Very taut, closed-off, and tannic upon first opening, but a very nice bouquet after spending half an hour in the decanter. It was textbook. Fresh raspberry with layers of baking spices underneath. A wine that’s been well-crafted and cared for. It probably could have aged another five years at the very least! Certainly a grand cru and producer combination to look out for in the future.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – We initially thought we’d made a mistake in opening this wine after dinner (it was a long day and we literally forgot! Oy.), but we ended up pairing it with some after-dinner snacks, like popcorn and pretzels. Certainly not the elegant pairing that this wine deserves, but it certainly did the trick. This wine absolutely would blossom with a true meal, and I don’t think it necessarily needs red meat to come alive in the glass, either. I could see it doing very well with a mushroom risotto or anything remotely gamey.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – It seems crazy to give a $265 bottle of wine such a high score, but keeping in mind the way pricing in general in Burgundy is going, I don’t hate this.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 3.5/5 – I’ve reviewed a couple of wines from Delaunay before, and I like what the family in general is doing in Burgundy. The story of their rebirth is quite something (you can read more about it here). There are some truly great wines from within the portfolio – and this grand cru is no exception. Its CEO, Laurent Delaunay, is the president of the BIVB and is certainly well-respected in the region of his relationships with growers and other négociants as well. I’ll definitely be watching this ambitious group.
WINE #2: Marcillac, “Lo Sang del Païs”, Domaine du Cros, 2023 (17/20, Astor Wines)
Where I had it: At home at the end of the week with homemade pizza (my husband’s been experimenting with new recipes and I am more than a willing participant).
How much a bottle cost me (and would cost you): $20
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 17/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – If this wine was a person, it would be a 50-something rough-and-tumble guy from the Pyrénées, dirt under his fingernails and face sun-soaked from years of hiking the mountains on the weekends. He’s got one fruit-bearing black cherry tree in his jardin and every summer he uses its fruit to make a pie (him – not his wife! – he’s not beyond a good bake!). It’s his grandmother’s recipe so he’s more precise in execution than you might think, but at the end of the meal, the pie is rustic and filling and you can’t wait for next year’s edition. I might be letting my imagination run wild here, but every wine tells a story – and this one draws you in. With a name that translates to “blood of the country” (from Occitan, not traditional French), it conjures up all sorts of images. What a bottle. Made from Fer Servadou, a grape variety native to the Sud Ouest, it has an inky dark color profile and a unique herbaceous garrigue aroma to accompany the black cherry.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – This is an iconic pizza wine. There is just something about reds from the Sud Ouest and Languedoc that work with the combination of fresh dough, slow-simmered tomato sauce, cheese, and fresh herbs. The rusticity I mention in the drinkability section just makes this pairing work. I’d venture to say it’s that same vibe a Chianti has that also makes it excellent with pizza, too, but there’s an edge to this Marcillac that makes you just want to keep eating pizza every time you take a sip! Dangerous… but delicious.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – Are you kidding me with this – $20?! I’m going to miss these prices when the tariffs come through. If we’d ordered pizza, the pizza would have cost more than the wine!
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 3/5 – This is a family-owned domaine that, according to a few Francophone bloggers, is in its fourth generation and practices lutte raisonnée (so not officially organic but makes measured decisions about herbicides and pesticides based on the forthcoming weather and climate, trying to minimize pesticide use but using it where they need to). They get points for maintaining 4th generation family ownership, but I found very little from them directly about environmental or corporate social responsibility, so unfortunately this is the lowest score of the bunch. I’d be interested to see how they either 1) adapt environmental practices as they scale or 2) update or share information on their website about existing practices. With a wine this good, it’s only up from here.
WINE #3: Anjou Blanc, “Les Quarterons Blanc”, Domaine Amirault, 2022 (19/20, Perrine’s Wine)
Where I had it: At home with my husband on a Tuesday night. We paired this wine with Carrie Solomon’s Spring Provençal Risotto – an exceptional recipe from her new book, Bohème Cooking: French Vegetarian Recipes. If you’re currently not a meat-eater, are trying to eat less meat, or are fully committed to going pescatarian or vegetarian, you need this book. I’ve been cooking recipes from it like crazy and I love so many of them. It’s a breath of fresh air and brings modernity, lightness, and adaptability to French cuisine in a way I haven’t seen yet.
How much a bottle cost me: $0. I got this as a sample.
How much a bottle would cost you: $40. This Chenin can rival the best of them so the price is pretty spectacular.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 19/20. This is one of the highest scores I’ve ever given so far in my four months of wine reviewing and believe you me – the score is well-earned.
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – Where to even begin? Chenin Blanc is experiencing a popularity surge, but too often it’s reduced to “white flowers, apple”. Not here! This is a deliciously complex Chenin that gives and gives and gives, responding to the food you’re eating or the conversation you’re having. It does have that “perfect for spring” descriptor and indeed, those classic notes of pear, green apple, and soft florals make an appearance. But it’s a measured, taut interplay that cycles through river rocks, an herbaceous breeze, and soft sunlight, too. This is – bar none – the best Chenin I have had in years. Drink it outside on a warm, breezy evening and the feeling will set you free.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – I think this wine is a unicorn. Spring vegetable risotto might sound easy to pair, but one of the strengths it has as a dish is that it is excellently balanced between so many different factors – rich broth and the light crunch of asparagus, salt from a parmesan cheese topping and sweetness from the carrots – to name a few. Needless to say, there’s a lot of flavor and dimension in the dish, which makes wine pairing a bit of a challenge. Yet this one was so effortless, I almost didn’t believe it at first sip. This wine is just as complex as the risotto, yet soft and elegant to drink in tandem with the dish. The result was one of those moments that makes you remember that wine is food and it just gets better when you’re nibbling on something.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – There are more than a few Anjou Blanc on the market for half the $40 price of this bottle (again, pre-tariffs, so who knows what could happen) – but I doubt they’re half as outstanding. An absolute beauty made responsibly is always worth more in my book.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4/5 – Amirault has been organic since 2012 and biodynamic since 2013, and there is complete gender parity among its employees. A family-owned domaine, I loved reading about how they balance their expansion into a global brand with eco-responsibility. They’re doing it well, and I get the sense there’s even more ambition where that came from.
WINE #4: Montagne Saint-Emilion, Château Franc-Baudron, 2015 (14.5/20)
Where I had it: At home on one of April’s last chilly evenings. As with Wine #1, we’d assigned a little personal goal to this bottle – this time, one of my husband’s – so when he finally checked it off the list, we opened it right up.
How much a bottle cost me (and would cost you): $23. I bought this one during the pandemic a few years back and wanted to do a little aging experiment with lesser-known Bordeaux. 10 years since its vintage, the time has come.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 14/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 3/5 – If my husband were writing this review, he’d be giving this wine a 5/5. It was one of his favorites from April. But for me, this wine fell a little flat. I enjoyed it, but it had lost a lot of its freshness and hadn’t quite developed the level of tertiary flavors I might be looking for in a 10-year-old wine. There was a lot of cinnamon and burnt coffee grounds that showed up for me and I wasn’t a huge fan of the combination. That being said, if those darker notes on the palate tend to attract you, this could be a good one to try.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 3/5 – I wanted to experiment a little bit with this wine, so we tried pairing it with two different weeknight meals. The first, a spicy shakshuka, was a total and complete disaster. I should have known the tomato would not have matched with anything in an aged Bordeaux but like I said – I was hoping to experiment for a pleasant surprise. The next night, however, we tried it again with a roquefort pasta and the wine was the only thing that made the pasta palatable. (I think we got some bad quality roquefort for the base of the sauce and the result was almost inedible – were it not for the wine!) Note to self: try more red Bordeaux with more strong cheeses to judge the result.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – $23 for an organic wine that you can age – and age well?! It really doesn’t get better than that. Here’s the proof that French wine has some serious staying power and that the world’s most classic, yet overlooked Bordeaux have a lot more potential than we generally give them credit for. I couldn’t find this exact vintage available online anymore, but it looks like you can buy the 2021 vintage as part of Bordeaux futures from a few different shops, like this one.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4/5 – This domaine is organic and family-owned, which is always a winner in my book. One can always take it a step farther with elements of biodiversity and biodynamics, but generally I give these small producers credit for caring for their people and the environment in the best ways they know how.
WINE #5: Royale Réserve Brut, Champagne Philipponnat NV (18/20, Wine.com)
Where I had it: As a pre-dinner drink with my husband on the eve of our first wedding anniversary. We had a few bottles leftover from our reception and have stashed them away with the intent of opening one every year until the stash runs out (at which point, we’ll definitely need a new tradition but we’ve got a few years before that happens)!
How much a bottle cost me (and would cost you): $60. I bought a couple of cases for my wedding so I think I had a bit of a discount, but if you’re buying it one-off it’s about $60 these days.
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 18/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – This champagne will always be a 5/5 for me. There is something special about a carefully selected and meticulously crafted wedding champagne that just makes you a fan for life. With each sip, a wave of fresh nostalgia hits – the day we tasted this champagne and decided it would be the wedding sparkler; the day the cases arrived at our door to be stored in our basement; and of course the evening of our wedding where toasts and bubbles flowed until well past 2 a.m. I love this champagne and I always will.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – I will never forget how phenomenally well this bottle paired with our classic vanilla croquembouche cream puffs or how it managed to pair with nearly everything on the menu. Our guests loved it enough to drink it throughout the evening – from apéro to after party. It’s really true what they say – a good champagne can pair with absolutely anything. This one is truly no exception.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – $60 isn’t bad for such a high quality champagne, especially in 2025. I selfishly wish I could find it a little closer to $50, but I get it. For a champagne that delivers every time, put out by one of the region’s oldest houses, I’ll take it – and happily.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4/5 – In addition to being practicing organic, HVE3 certified, and awarded Viticulture Durable en Champagne, Philipponnat is also currently investing in Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. They are certainly one of the leading larger houses in Champagne to have really committed to this, which is lovely to see. I’ll be watching as they continue to invest here!
WINE #6: Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Cécile Paquet 2022 (17/20, Viscount Wines & Liquor)
Where I had it: Paired at our first anniversary dinner at Nudibranch. This restaurant had been on my list for quite some time so we finally snagged a reservation for the occasion.
How much a glass cost me: $20. Overpriced for a glass, but Nudibranch is a great restaurant and great NYC restaurants in particular have got to make their money somewhere. Most make it up with great wine.
How much a bottle would cost: $32. Pretty fabulous for an organic and biodynamic red Burg!
OVERALL COMPOSITE SCORE: 17/20
- DRINKABILITY SCORE: 4/5 – Yum. Just yum. If the interior vibe of Nudibranch could be translated to a red wine, it would be this one. Moody and delicious and full of velvety plums and sumptuous red cherries. It is a whole moment into and of itself. A perfect sip that makes you want to go back for another one – but not immediately. That lasting finish lingers on the tongue and slithers its way into the conversation. Highly recommend.
- PAIRABILITY SCORE: 5/5 – There’s a reason this wine is on a restaurant menu – and a Korean-Spanish fusion one at that. It has the best of a serious Bourgogne Rouge, with that unmistakeable umami and forest floor, coupled alongside the freshness and lightness you need to pair with all kinds of dishes. It was perfect with the mushroom, the frogs legs, and even the cod. This is a versatile wine for a dinner party if ever there was one.
- WALLET-ABILITY SCORE: 3.5/5 – The bottle price is a great deal, but the by-the-glass way I enjoyed it was a little silly. I know, I know. It’s NYC, it’s 2025. But if we extrapolated that $20 price to add up to the full bottle, this wine would be over $100 and I just can’t see any value there. That being said, for a bottle price off-premise, $32 is almost unbelievable. Buy it and save it away for the early fall – I feel like that’s when it will really come alive at home.
- THE X FACTOR SCORE: 4.5/5 – Certified organic, practicing biodynamic, woman-owned and operated – these are values I absolutely love to see, particularly in a place like Burgundy which can feel very closed off. I’m adding Paquet to my visit list for the next time I’m in Bourgogne. I get the sense something very special is happening here.
Weeks later, I’m still dreaming about that Anjou Blanc and the Cécile Paquet Bourgogne Rouge. These two might be tricky to find, but if you can get your hands on them, I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. Enjoy, santé !
Looking for more wine reviews? Check out the March Edition or my methodology post on Unfined + Unfiltered. Enjoy, santé !
