Dirk’s Cuvée

By Dirk Smits

More than just a review of the wine itself. Travel where the wine was originated, with the story and history of the vineyards and winemaker.

Catena Zapata, “Catena” Malbec 2018 | Mendoza – (02/15/2021)
Domaine Bousquet Brut | Uco Valley, Mendoza – (12/06/2021)
Estancia Los Cardones, Anko, Torrontés 2019 | Salta, Argentina– (04/25/2022)
Leo Hillinger, Blaufränkisch 2017, Leithaberg | Burgenland – (03/07/2022)
Weingut Umathum, Zweigelt, Neusiedlersee 2018 | Burgenland – (02/07/2022)
Henry of Pelham, Baco Noir, Old Vines, 2019 | Ontario – (08/23/2021)
Inniskillin, 2019 Riesling, Ice Wine | VQA Niagara Peninsula – (10/11/2021)
FRANCE
> Bordeaux
• Château Beychevelle, Amiral de Beychevelle, St.-Julien 2017 – (12/21/2020)
• Château d’Escurac, Médoc, Cru Bourgeois 2018 – (06/28/2021)
Château Haut-Guillebot, Entre-deux-Mers 2020 – (10/18/2021)
• Château Lassègue, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2017 – (12/07/2020)
• Clos des Lunes, Lune d’Argent, Bordeaux Blanc 2018 – (08/10/2020)
SUGGESTED READING: A Chef with a Grand Future at SoN’ Restaurant | Bordeaux
> Burgundy
• Domaine Faiveley, Mercurey Premier Cru, Clos des Myglands, Monopole 2018 – (11/09/2020)
• Domaine Laroche, Chablis Saint-Martin 2018 – (04/12/2021)
• TerraVentoux, Terra Solis Intuition, 2017 | Ventoux – (08/31/2020)
> Champagne
• Champagne Deutz, Amour de Deutz Rosé 2009 – (02/08/2021)
• Champagne Waris-Larmandier, Racines de Trois Brut NV – (12/20/2021)
> Loire Valley
• Château La Rabotine, Sancerre 2018 – (04/05/2021)
• Couly-Dutheil, 2016 Clos de l’Écho, Chinon – (12/13/2021)
• Domaine Champalou, Vouvray 2020 – (02/21/2022)
Domaine Chéreau Carré, Château l’Oiselinière de la Ramée, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie 2019(11/22/2021)
> Alsace
• Domaines Schlumberger, Gewürztraminer, Grand Cru “Kessler” 2015– (03/01/2021)
• Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Zind, Vin de France, 2018 – (09/14/2020)
> Rhône
• Château Guiot, Costières de Nîmes Rosé 2020 – (06/14/2021)
• Domaine du Séminaire Côtes du Rhône 2019 – (04/19/2021)
• Domaine Galuval, Le Coq Volant, Côtes du Rhône Village Blanc 2020 – (10/31/2022)
• Nicolas Badel, Saint-Joseph 2018 – (03/14/2022)
> Provence
Château La Coste Rosé d’Une Nuit, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence(07/24/2023)
Clos Cibonne, Tibouren, Cru Classé 2019 | Côtes de Provence – (05/31/2021)
• TerraVentoux, Terra Solis Intuition, 2017 | Ventoux – (08/31/2020)
> Jura /Savoie
• Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot, Patchwork, Chardonnay 2018 | Arbois – (09/28/2020)
• Clos Guirouilh, 2017 Jurançon Sec | Jurançon – (11/01/2021)
• Domaine Bruno Lupin, Roussette de Savoie, Frangy 2019 | Savoie – (07/19/2021)
> Languedoc
• Château de Stony, Muscat de Frontignan 2018 – (01/03/2022)
• Château de Villemajou, Corbières-Boutenac 2017 – (07/25/2022)
• J.Laurens, Le Moulin, Blanquette de Limoux NV– (02/14/2022)
> Beaujolais
Domaine Les Roches Bleues, Les Trois Loups | Brouilly 2019 (04/11/2022)
• Georges Duboeuf, Beaujolais Nouveau 2020– (11/23/2020)
• Manoir du Carra, Beaujolais Nouveau 2021 – (11/15/2021)
> Cahors
• Château du Cayrou, Cahors 2015 – (09/27/2021)
> Corsica
• Yves Leccia, E Croce, Patrimonio 2019 – (08/15/2022)
> By alphabetical order
• Amiral de Beychevelle, St.-Julien 2017, Château Beychevelle | Bordeaux – (12/21/2020)
• Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot, Patchwork, Chardonnay 2018 | Arbois – (09/28/2020)
• Champagne Deutz, Amour de Deutz Rosé 2009 | Champagne – (02/08/2021)
• Champagne Waris-Larmandier, Racines de Trois Brut NV | Avize – (12/20/2021)
• Château du Cayrou, Cahors 2015 | Cahors – (09/27/2021)
• Château d’Escurac, Médoc, Cru Bourgeois 2018 | Bordeaux – (06/28/2021)
• Château Guiot, Costières de Nîmes Rosé 2020 | Rhône – (06/14/2021)
Château Haut-Guillebot, Entre-deux-Mers 2020 | Bordeaux – (10/18/2021)
• Château La Rabotine, Sancerre 2018 | Sancerre – (04/05/2021)
• Château Lassègue, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2017 | Bordeaux – (12/07/2020)
• Château de Stony, Muscat de Frontignan 2018 | Languedoc – (01/03/2022)
Clos Cibonne, Tibouren, Cru Classé 2019 | Côtes de Provence – (05/31/2021)
• Clos Guirouilh, 2017 Jurançon Sec | Jurançon – (11/01/2021)
• Clos des Lunes, Lune d’Argent, Bordeaux Blanc, 2018 | Bordeaux – (08/10/2020)
• Couly-Dutheil, 2016 Clos de l’Écho, Chinon | Loire Valley – (12/13/2021)
• Domaine Bruno Lupin, Roussette de Savoie, Frangy 2019 | Savoie – (07/19/2021)
• Domaine Champalou, Vouvray 2020 | Loire – (02/21/2022)
Domaine Chéreau Carré, Château l’Oiselinière de la Ramée, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie 2019 | Muscadet(11/22/2021)
Domaine Les Roches Bleues, Les Trois Loups, Brouilly 2019 | Beaujolais (04/11/2022)
• Domaine du Séminaire Côtes du Rhône 2019 | Rhône – (04/19/2021)
• Domaine Faiveley, Mercurey Premier Cru, Clos des Myglands, Monopole 2018 | Burgundy – (11/09/2020)
• Domaine Galuval, Le Coq Volant, Côtes du Rhône Village Blanc 2020 | Rhône – (10/31/2022)
• Domaine Laroche, Chablis Saint-Martin 2018 | Chablis – (04/12/2021)
• Domaines Schlumberger, Gewürztraminer, Grand Cru “Kessler” 2015 | Alsace– (03/01/2021)
• Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Zind, Vin de France, 2018 | Alsace – (09/14/2020)
• Georges Duboeuf, Beaujolais Nouveau 2020 | Beaujolais– (11/23/2020)
• J.Laurens, Le Moulin, Blanquette de Limoux NV | Languedoc– (02/14/2022)
• Manoir du Carra, Beaujolais Nouveau 2021 | Beaujolais – (11/15/2021)
• Nicolas Badel, Saint-Joseph 2018 | Rhône Valley – (03/14/2022)
• TerraVentoux, Terra Solis Intuition, 2017 | Ventoux – (08/31/2020)
• Yves Leccia, E Croce, Patrimonio 2019 – (08/15/2022)
ITALY
Abbazia di Novacella, Praepositus, Kerner 2020 | Valle Isarco, Alto Adige – (03/21/2022)
Alois Lageder, Schiava 2020 | Alto Adige – (01/31/2022)
Beni di Batasiolo, Gavi 2021, del Comune di Gavi, Granée | Piedmont – (08/21/2023)
Castello di Fonterutoli, Chianti Classico, Gran Selezione DOCG 2017 | Tuscany – (11/16/2020)
Cleto Chiarli, Vecchia Modena, Lambrusco di Sorbara Secco | Emilia-Romagna– (02/28/2022)
Cogno, Barbera d’Asti, Pre-Phylloxera 2018 | Piedmont – (07/26/2021)
Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino | Tuscany – (03/08/2021)
Corvo, Colomba Platino, 2019 Nero d’Avola | Sicily – (09/26/2022)
La Stoppa, Ageno, Bianco 2019 | Emilia, Italy – (07/10/23)
Luigi Maffini, Kleos, Cilento Aglianico 2017 | Campania – (08/03/2020)
Marchesi di Grésy, Barbaresco, Martinenga 2017 | Piedmont – (12/28/2020)
Marco Felluga, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso 2015, Ronco dei Moreri | Venezia Giulia – (04/18/2022)
Michele Chiarlo, Cipressi, Nizza 2018 | Piedmont – (03/28/2022)
Poliziano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017 | Tuscany – (11/30/2020)
Ruffino Chianti Classico, Riserva Ducale Oro, Gran Selezione 2018 – (09/18/2023)
Ruggero di Bardo, Susumaniello, 2019 | Puglia – (01/11/2021)
Sapaio Toscana, 2019 | Bolgheri (2/14/2024)
Saracco, Moscato d’Asti 2019 – (03/22/2021)
Sella & Mosca, Alghero Torbato Spumante Brut 2018 | Sardinia – (06/07/2021)
Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Amarone della Valpolicella, Antonio Castagnedi 2015 | Veneto – (10/19/2020)
Travaglini, Gattinara 2016 | Piedmont – (10/05/2020)
Varvaglione, 2017 Papale | Puglia – (10/04/2021)
Vigne Surrau, Cannonau di Sardegna “Naracu” 2019 | Sardinia – (05/24/2021)
Zenato, Valpolicella Superiore 2017 | Veneto – (05/17/2021)
Alma Rosa, El Jabali, 2018 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, CA– (10/12/2020)
Alma Rosa, La Encantada, 2021 Pinot Blanc, Sta. Rita Hills, CA (08/07/2023)
Crossbarn, 2021 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA(08/28/2023)
Esfuerzo, Grenache Noir 2019 | Santa Ynez Valley, CA– (04/04/2022)
FEL, Chardonnay Anderson Valley 2019 | Mendocino, CA – (04/26/2021)
Frank Family Vineyards, Zinfandel 2018 | Napa Valley, CA – (01/18/2021)
Gamble Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 | Napa Valley, CA – (01/08/2024)
Hahn, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA Pinot Noir, 2019 | Santa Lucia Highlands, CA – (08/30/2021)
Hearst Ranch Winery, Reserve GSM, 2018 | Paso Robles, CA – (01/25/2021)
Honig, Sauvignon Blanc 2019 | North Coast, CA – (08/24/2020)
Jamshíd Maddahi Family Estate Vineyard, Cabernet Franc 2018 | Los Olivos, CA – (12/27/2021)
Kenwood Vineyards, Discoveries, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (11/03/2023)
The Malibu Vineyard, 2013 Pinot Noir, Rambla Pacifico | Malibu Coast, CA – (09/20/2021)
Mi Sueño Winery, Syrah 2017 | Napa Valley, CA – (12/14/2020)
Palmaz Vineyards, Riesling “Louise” 2017 | Napa Valley, CA – (01/04/2021)
Ron Rubin Winery, Pam’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay 2020 | California – (11/29/2021)
Sokol Blosser, Müller-Thurgau, Dundee Hills | Dundee Hills, Oregon – (08/16/2021)
Stinson Vineyards, Meritage, 2016 | Monticello, Virginia – (03/15/2021)
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Côtes de Tablas, Adelaida District, 2018 | Paso Robles, CA – (11/02/2020)
Vara Winery & Distillery, American Red Wine Tinto Especial 2020(08/14/2023)
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Reims, France
Champagne Drappier, Urville, France
Champagne Gaston Chiquet, Dizy, France
Champagne Jean Lallement, Verzenay, France
Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Tours-sur-Marne, France
Champagne Nicolas Maillart, Ecueil, France
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, Reims, France
Champagne Vilmar & Cie, Rilly-la-Montagne, France

Exclusive: Restaurateur Piero Selvaggio Joins Drago Centro’s Team

Chef Celestino Drago, Managing partner Piero Selvaggio, GAYOT’s Wine & Spirits Editor Dirk Smits, Sophie Gayot
Sophie Gayot, Chef Celestino Drago, Managing partner Piero Selvaggio, GAYOT’s Wine & Spirits Editor Dirk Smits




Watch Dirk Smits discussing with Piero Selvaggio the wines served during the dinner. Click here.

About a private dinner where these wines were served

Banyuls Grand Cru 1949




Opening bottles of long-aged wine can be a hit-or-miss experience.

Find out which vintages from several French selections still provided sublime sipping with my tasting notes. Click here.

An Italian Wine Tasting with Taub Family Selections

Italian wine tasting from Tuscany, Piedmont, Campania, Sardinia
Photo © Taub Family Selections



A portfolio of fine Italian wines produced by highly-regarded winemaking families with deep, long-established roots. Click here.