Flatiron Wines & Spirits SF

In the tightly knit world of Cornas, the name Verset carries a weight almost heavier than the granite soils themselves. For decades, Noël Verset was the benchmark, the genius who put this rugged appellation on the map. When he retired in 2006, it felt like the end of an era, but the vines—and the lineage—did not simply disappear. This brings us to A&E Verset, a domaine run by Emmanuelle Verset, the daughter of Alain and the grand-niece of the legendary Noël. While the name draws you in, it is the wine in the glass that keeps you there, proving that this is not just a case of resting on genealogical laurels.

We previously described Peter Lauer's Barrel X as a pantry staple—something you should just have on hand for daily life. But life does not end with staples. While the Barrel X is designed for easy, uncomplicated refreshment, Lauer’s Fass series specific bottlings represent the serious, granular study of the Saar valley’s terroir. 

There is a famous quote from Robert Parker that has followed this estate for decades. He famously declared that if he were forced to drink only one Brunello di Montalcino for the rest of his life, it would be Pertimali. This was always a somewhat shocking admission, because Parker built his reputation on loving massive, modern, oak-driven wines. Pertimali, run by the Sassetti family, is none of those things. It is a staunch, unwavering traditionalist.