Daniel Johnnes, Burgundy specialist, joins Grand Cru
Daniel Johnnes may be the closest thing the American wine world has to Burgundy royalty. Yesterday he announced that he has joined Grand Cru Selections, an importer and wholesaler based in New York City, as a partner. It’s a big move, if somewhat “inside baseball.”
“This is an opportunity to be a partner in a young and dynamic company that I didn’t want to pass up,” he said by phone.
Johnnes, 60, helped pique America’s interest in Burgundy wines When he was a sommelier at the erstwhile restaurant Montrachet in the early 1990s, he hosted winemaker dinners with the likes of Christophe Roumier and Dominique Lafon that encouraged American collectors to add Burgundy to their cellars. In 2000, he tapped his connections in Burgundy to hold the first “La Paulée de New York.” This bacchanal now alternates annually between NYC and SF and is marked in red on the calendar of collectors. It also functions as a sort of “Burgundy university” for the sommeliers who work the event. Johnnes brokers a number of wines including Roumier and Lafon that he will be bringing to Grand Cru. He was #4 on our NYC wine power list a few years back. He currently is spending a year in Lyons.
Grand Cru Selections was started in 2010. Ned Benedict, a founding partner, said of their strategy: “we’re trying to build a really well-conceived portfolio of wines. Burgundy is obviously really close to all of our hearts.” But, he underscored, “we’re not trying to become a house of Burgundy–other regions are very important to us too.” Their portfolio includes the wines of J.L. Chave, Marquis d’Angerville, and nine wines from Piedmont, among others.
On November 6th, 2016 at 8:47 am ,David White wrote:
Any idea what this means for his book at Skurnik? Safe to assume it’s moving to Grand Cru?
On November 6th, 2016 at 12:40 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Hi David,
Great question.
Daniel Johnnes told me that Lafon, Roumier, and Roulot are coming over to GCS. The others are still up in the air. More details will emerge in coming weeks.
On November 21st, 2016 at 11:10 am ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Skurnik sent out an email to their customers with an update. It’s not all finalized but this is who his going and who is staying:
Staying with Skurnik:
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg
Domaine Paul Pillot
Domaine de L’Arlot
Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon
Domaine François Mikulksi
Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau
Domaine Balland-Curtet
Champagne JL Vergnon
Domaine Philippe Alliet
Domaine Alain Cailbourdin
Thibaud Boudignon
Domaine de l’Enchantoir
Domaine Les Hautes Noëlles
Domaine Laurent Martray
Domaine Mittnacht Frères
Domaine du Cayron
Domaine de la Remejeanne
Château de Landiras
Château La Grangère
Château Robin
Château Saint Julian
Château La Coudraie
Château De Clotte
Going to Grand Cru with DJ:
Domaine Bailly-Reverdy
Domaine Clusel-Roch
Dominique Lafon
Domaine des Comtes Lafon
Domaine Roulot
David Duband
They also voluntarily gave up the rights to DJ’s private
label “Petit Chapeau”
Undecided, per Skurnik email: Roumier, Granges des Peres, Hudelot-Baillet,
Mardon, Hudelot-Noellat
On December 6th, 2016 at 5:04 am ,James wrote:
Very nice move for Daniel Johnnes. I remember this Montrachet restaurant in 90s. This is a young company so with his help they will crush the market. Thanks for sharing.