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This column is written by the team at Arrowine & Cheese (4508 Cherry Hill Road). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Order from Arrowine’s expanding online store for curbside pickup or in-store shopping. Have a question? Email thenose@arrowine.com.

After a decade long absence from local wine shops, an exceptional Burgundian estate has made its way back to Arlington.

Domaine Denis Père et Fils, nestled in the picturesque village of Pernand-Vergelesses, has released their highly anticipated 2022 Bourgogne Pinot Noir — and wine enthusiasts are taking notice.

The estate’s story begins in 1940 with Raoul Denis, then winemaker for the prestigious Hospices de Beaune, who established the family domaine near the historic Corton Grand Cru vineyard. When his son Christophe took the helm in 1992, he elevated the estate’s reputation through an unwavering commitment to quality and traditional winemaking methods.

The 2022 vintage, drawn from vineyards surrounding Savigny-les-Beaune, Chorey-Les Beaune, and Aloxe Corton, showcases the exceptional growing conditions of that year.

The wine displays a bright ruby color and complex aromatic profile, with distinct notes of violets, raspberries, and cherries. On the palate, it offers the hallmark elegance of fine Burgundy: medium bodied with velvety tannins, balanced fruit expression, and subtle oak integration that provides structure without overwhelming the wine’s natural character.

“Through a series of professional tastings, I came across Christophe Denis and was ‘blown away,'” wrote the late wine authority Stephan Murray-Sykes, who first brought attention to this producer two decades ago. “These are some of the most gorgeous, pure, and crafted wines I have tasted in the Côte de Beaune.”

While many Burgundian wines have become increasingly difficult to source, Arrowine has secured an allocation of this remarkable 2022 vintage.

Wine enthusiasts can explore this and other selections at Arrowine’s shop, open Monday through Sunday, with both curbside pickup and in-store shopping options available.

This column is written by the team at Arrowine & Cheese (4508 Cherry Hill Road). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Order from Arrowine’s expanding online store for curbside pickup or in-store shopping. Have a question? Email thenose@arrowine.com.

While major champagne houses dominate retail shelves, a centuries-old family estate in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy offers a distinctive alternative for New Year’s celebrations.

Domaine Jean Vesselle, whose roots in the region stretch back nearly 300 years, crafts a unique style of blanc de noirs that’s garnering critical attention.

Their “Oeil de Perdrix” (Eye of the Partridge) Champagne takes its name from its pale salmon hue, achieved through gentle pressing of 100% Pinot Noir grapes. The color reflects an ancestral technique historically practiced around Bouzy, where Pinot Noir thrives in the chalky soils.

Currently helmed by Delphine Vesselle, who assumed winemaking duties at age 22 in 1993, the estate is transitioning to organic certification. Their 17-hectare property adheres to traditional methods, including hand harvesting and extended lees aging of 24-36 months.

Wine critic Audrey Frick recently awarded the current release 94 points, noting its “pretty perfume of rose water, orange blossom, and peach” alongside “pithy grapefruit citrus and salty minerality.” The wine shows aging potential through 2030.

The trend toward Grower Champagnes (designated as “RM” or récoltant-manipulant on labels) represents a shift in consumer interest toward site-specific expressions that reflect individual villages and vineyards, similar to the evolution seen in other French wine regions.

Now available at Arrowine, this champagne joins their curated selection of artisanal producers from France’s historic wine regions.