approvedbyed

The wine list

706 bottles in. This is what I’d pour you.

Thirty regions I keep going back to, and what I would open from each.

What 706 bottles say about me

  1. Foreign Cinema has poured me 16 bottles. 26 restaurants poured me wine I liked. That one keeps doing it.
  2. Burgundy is my rising star. 37 bottles since 2024, more than the 10 years before combined — 19 growers new to me.
  3. What I buy again is the real recommendation. 14 bottles of Château Musar, across 11 different vintages. I buy the estate, not the year.

If you buy one bottle

5+ bottles from each

The regions I drink most, and the bottles I like most.

PortugalSpainFranceItalyAustriaDouro, Portugal — 68 bottlesBrunello di Montalcino, Italy — 28 bottlesBarolo, Italy — 24 bottlesBarbaresco, Italy — 20 bottlesGevrey-Chambertin, France — 19 bottlesRibera del Duero, Spain — 17 bottlesToscana, Italy — 16 bottlesBairrada, Portugal — 16 bottlesSaint-Émilion Grand Cru, France — 15 bottlesDão, Portugal — 15 bottlesPauillac, France — 14 bottlesPorto, Portugal — 11 bottlesPessac-Léognan, France — 9 bottlesRioja, Spain — 9 bottlesMargaux, France — 8 bottlesPomerol, France — 7 bottlesSaint-Julien, France — 7 bottlesHautes-Côtes de Beaune, France — 6 bottlesSüdtirol - Alto Adige, Italy — 6 bottlesWeinland, Austria — 6 bottlesLazio, Italy — 5 bottlesLanghe, Italy — 5 bottlesMontagne-Saint-Émilion, France — 5 bottlesPiemonte, Italy — 5 bottlesBeiras, Portugal — 5 bottlesDouroBrunelloBaroloBarbarescoGevrey-ChambertinRibera del DueroToscanaBairradaDãoPortoRiojaHautes-Côtes de BeauneAlto AdigeWeinlandLazioBeirasPauillacSaint-JulienMargauxPomerolMontagne-Saint-ÉmilionSaint-Émilion Grand CruPessac-LéognanPiemonteLangheUnited StatesWillamette Valley, United States — 17 bottlesSta. Rita Hills, United States — 10 bottlesNapa Valley, United States — 8 bottlesWillametteSta. Rita HillsNapaLebanonBekaa Valley, Lebanon — 14 bottlesBekaa Valley
Bigger dot, more bottles.
01Chryseia Douro by Prats & Symington (P+S)

Douro, Portugal

68 bottles

  1. Chryseia DouroPrats & Symington (P+S)
  2. Vinhas Velhas TintoFerradosa
  3. Alves de Sousa

I always come back to Quinta do Crasto ×5 · Prats & Symington (P+S) ×4 · Quinta do Vesuvio ×4

02Brunello di Montalcino by Casanuova delle Cerbaie

Brunello di Montalcino, Italy

28 bottles

  1. Brunello di MontalcinoCasanuova delle Cerbaie
  2. Figuranti Brunello di MontalcinoCasanova di Neri
  3. Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di MontalcinoGaja

I always come back to Casanuova delle Cerbaie ×21 · Gaja ×2

03Barolo Conca by Renato Ratti

Barolo, Italy

24 bottles

  1. Barolo ConcaRenato Ratti
  2. Prapo BaroloLuigi Vico
  3. Brovia

I always come back to Vietti ×3 · Damilano ×3 · Giacomo Fenocchio ×2

04Gaja

Barbaresco, Italy

20 bottles

  1. Gaja
  2. Barbaresco MartinengaMarchesi di Gresy
  3. Barbaresco Vigneto BrichAlbino Rocca

I always come back to Marchesi di Gresy ×9 · Albino Rocca ×2 · Castello di Verduno ×2

05Gevrey-Chambertin by Domaine Perrot-Minot

Gevrey-Chambertin, France

19 bottles

  1. Gevrey-ChambertinDomaine Perrot-Minot
  2. Gevrey-Chambertin 'Clos Village'Philippe Livera (Domaine des Tilleuls)
  3. Vieilles Vignes Gevrey-Domaine Fourrier

I always come back to Domaine Perrot-Minot ×6 · Domaine Drouhin-Laroze ×3 · Philippe Livera (Domaine des Tilleuls) ×2

06Avni Pinot Noir by Lingua Franca

Willamette Valley, United States

17 bottles

  1. Avni Pinot NoirLingua Franca
  2. Estate Pinot NoirWillamette Valley Vineyards
  3. Laurelwood District PinotPonzi

I always come back to Evesham Wood ×3

RegionBest bottleBottles
07Ribera del Duero, SpainGarmónBodegas Mauro17
08Toscana, ItalyLe Pergole TorteMontevertine16
09Bairrada, PortugalBairrada ReservaColinas16
10Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, FranceSaint-Émilion Grand CruChâteau Belregard-Figeac15
11Dão, PortugalCarrocelQuinta da Pellada15
12Bekaa Valley, LebanonRouge (Gaston Hochar)Château Musar14
13Pauillac, FrancePauillac (Grand Cru Classé)Château Lynch-Bages14
14Porto, PortugalVintage Port 1985Niepoort11
15Sta. Rita Hills, United StatesPinot NoirRacines10
16Pessac-Léognan, FranceLa Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-LéognanChâteau La Mission Haut-Brion9
17Rioja, SpainRioja Gran Reserva 904La Rioja Alta9
18Vin de France, FranceGamay Dire GamayL'Insolent Negoce9
19Margaux, FranceMargaux (Grand Cru Classé)Château d'Issan8
20Napa Valley, United StatesGrace Family Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonCaymus Vineyards8
21Pomerol, FranceChâteau Le Gay7
22Saint-Julien, FranceSaint-Julien (Grand Cru Classé)Château Léoville Barton7
23Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, FranceBourgogne Hautes-Côtes de BeauneCamille Giroud6
24Südtirol - Alto Adige, ItalyGlen Pinot Nero RiservaCantina Kurtatsch6
25Weinland, AustriaJoschuari RotGut Oggau6
26Lazio, ItalyRossoLe Coste5
27Langhe, ItalyLanghe Pinot NeroGian Luca Colombo5
28Montagne-Saint-Émilion, FranceVieux Château Saint André Montagne-Saint-ÉmilionFamille Berrouet5
29Piemonte, ItalyCul OtteFabio Gea5
30Beiras, PortugalClassico BagaOutrora5

What I buy again

One mark per bottle

One great bottle can impress me. What I buy again tells you what I actually love.

I liked it the rest

Casanuova delle Cerbaie

21 bottles

Italy · 11 vintages, 2006–2020

6 of 21 opened at a restaurant

Château Musar

14 bottles

Lebanon · 11 vintages, 1997–2016

1 of 14 opened at a restaurant

Château Lynch-Bages

11 bottles

France · 9 vintages, 2005–2020

1 of 11 opened at a restaurant

Niepoort

10 bottles

Portugal · 7 vintages, 1985–2019

4 of 10 opened at a restaurant

Racines

10 bottles

United States · 6 vintages, 2013–2023

4 of 10 opened at a restaurant

Marchesi di Gresy

9 bottles

Italy · 4 vintages, 2010–2015

Château Belregard-Figeac

8 bottles

France · 8 vintages, 2006–2015

1 of 8 opened at a restaurant

Gut Oggau

7 bottles

Austria · 5 vintages, 2013–2020

2 of 7 opened at a restaurant

Fabio Gea

7 bottles

Italy · 2 vintages, 2000–2020

2 of 7 opened at a restaurant

Camille Giroud

6 bottles

France

4 of 6 opened at a restaurant

Château d'Issan

6 bottles

France · 4 vintages, 2000–2015

1 of 6 opened at a restaurant

Domaine Perrot-Minot

6 bottles

France · 5 vintages, 2016–2023

2 of 6 opened at a restaurant

Gaja

5 bottles

Italy · 3 vintages, 2011–2015

Quinta do Crasto

5 bottles

Portugal · 4 vintages, 2017–2021

1 of 5 opened at a restaurant

The rising stars

First met in the last two years

Every name here is new to me since 2024, and I already love them.

RegionBottleMy verdict
01Carrocel by Quinta da PelladaDãoCarrocelQuinta da Pelladaexceptional
02Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Les Suchots' by Domaine Confuron-CotetidotVosne-RomanéeVosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Les Suchots'Domaine Confuron-Cotetidotexceptional
03Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru by Harmand-GeoffroGevrey-ChambertinMazis-Chambertin Grand CruHarmand-Geoffroyexceptional
04Les Longènes Monthelie by Domaine Dubuet-MonthelieMonthélieLes Longènes MonthelieDomaine Dubuet-Monthelieloved it
05Vosne-Romanée by Méo-CamuzetVosne-RomanéeVosne-RomanéeMéo-Camuzetloved it

Who poured me what I liked

The ones I liked

These restaurants keep pouring me wine I love.

Foreign Cinema

United States

16 wines I liked here

Gevrey-ChambertinDomaine Perrot-Minot
Brunello di MontalcinoCasanuova delle Cerbaie
Brovia
Viña Tondonia ReservaR. López de Heredia
Rot (Family Reunion)Gut Oggau
Josephine RotGut Oggau
and 10 moreShow fewer
Q-RouleJean François Ganevat
Château le Puy
De Forville
Antídoto
Fabio Gea OndeFabio Gea
Saint-Émilion Grand CruChâteau Belregard-Figeac
Matthiasson Vineyard Cabernet FrancMatthiasson
Sainte Rosé Pinot NoirRacines
Vespidae Pinot NoirJ.K. Carriere
Barolo BussiaGiacomo Fenocchio

Nopa

United States

6 wines I liked here

Rouge (Gaston Hochar)Château Musar
Barbaresco Vigneto BrichAlbino Rocca
Rosso di MontalcinoSesti
Haut-MedocClos du Jaugueyron
Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de BeauneCamille Giroud
Louis Auguste Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de NuitsDavid Duband

Ernest

United States

5 wines I liked here

Fabio Gea OndeFabio Gea
Nuits-Saint-GeorgesDomaine Henri Gouges
Cabernet SauvignonMatthiasson
Chambolle-MusignyDujac Fils et Père
Gevrey-ChambertinDomaine Perrot-Minot

Reitoria

Portugal

5 wines I liked here

Chryseia DouroPrats & Symington (P+S)
Vinhas Velhas TintoFerradosa
Grande ReservaPai Horácio
Terrus
Pombal do VesuvioQuinta do Vesuvio

O Gaveto

Portugal

4 wines I liked here

Classico BagaOutrora
Vintage Port 2019Niepoort
Baga Friends
Pai Abel TintoQuinta das Bágeiras

ODE Wine House

Portugal

4 wines I liked here

CarrocelQuinta da Pellada
Reserva Vinhas VelhasQuinta do Crasto
Avô Fausto BrancoQuinta das Bágeiras
Dao Colheita Seleccionada Vinho TintoQuinta de Tralcume

Binu Bonu

United States

3 wines I liked here

MIMUET Pinot NoirAlois Lageder
Glen Pinot Nero RiservaCantina Kurtatsch
Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de BeauneCamille Giroud

Mito Restaurante

Portugal

3 wines I liked here

Alves de Sousa
Élio Lara
Conceito

Oesters e Coisa

Portugal

3 wines I liked here

Douro Charme TintoNiepoort
Loureiro BrancoRoyal Palmeira
Grande Reserva TintoAvô Escrivão

The Morris

United States

3 wines I liked here

Gevrey-Chambertin 'Clos Village'Philippe Livera (Domaine des Tilleuls)
Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de BeauneCamille Giroud
Aka RougeSimon Bize & Fils

Zuni Café

United States

3 wines I liked here

Brunello di MontalcinoCasanuova delle Cerbaie
Pinot NoirRacines
Fixin Les ClosDomaine Berthaut-Gerbet

Barro

Portugal

2 wines I liked here

Mil e Uma NoitesPinalta
Bien de Altura

How long I wait

Median age when opened

I drink almost everything young. Lebanon is the one thing worth the wait.

Lebanon14 yr14
Italy6 yr100
Portugal6 yr81
France5 yr154
Spain5 yr27
Austria4 yr13
United States4 yr22

I never meant to change my mind

Then → now · share of what I opened

Bordeaux was the whole point. Now I hardly touch it.

16%→8%

Then Burgundy turned up and quietly took over.

4%→18%

Portugal arrived with the house and never left.

2%→34%