Trousse Chemise Pinot Noir Cuvee Daniel Boulud 2018

In the winter of 2016, sommelier Raj Vaidya, Daniel Boulud’s Uber-talented wine-director, determined to source a single American Pinot Noir to be featured in each of Daniel’s NYC hotspots (Bar Boulud, Daniel, DB Moderne and Cafe Boulud).  Vaidya, while always perfectly polite, is extraordinarily critical at the tasting table.  After several months of tastings, Raj settled upon a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, crafted by Anne Sery-Martindale, a graduate of the University of Bordeaux’s graduate program in Enology, chaired by the late Denis Dubourdieu.

For three years, Vaidya worked closely with Sery-Martindale in the crafting of Trousse-Chemise Willamette Valley Pinot Noir “Cuvee Daniel Boulud,” wowing diners from downtown to the Upper East and West side.  In the fall of 2019, Vayida locked into 10 barrels of Trousse-Chemise, just enough to take him through the year.

Or so Anne thought before the lights went out in NYC!

The NY distributor had two choices.  A) soak off the labels, apply for a new label with the TTB…or B) call me at Restaurant Nicholas.  He chose option B.  And I took every bottle remaining.

For as long as this tiny batch of wine lasts, what could be had for upwards of $25 per glass can now be yours for $27 per bottle, $24.30 if you go all in on a case. The case is the right move…