Sandwiched in between Le Chateaubriand and Le Dauphin, la cave (or rather, Le Cave) of monsieur Iñaki Aizpitarte continues dealing out naturapathic gems. Opened in 2015 by his ex-lead somm’ Sébastien Chatillon (who took the final leap by becoming a winemaker), it’s currently run by Mouloud Ourabah (a former member of the techno adventure Concrete). This tiny den with parquet floors brings together the pur jus classics (Dufaitre, Foillard, Ganevat, Nicq, Princic, Radikon, Mosse, Villemade, Puzelat…), balanced finds (including a Côt Boy from Jean-Guillaume Caplain in the Loire at €15 a bottle) and well-established vintages – like this 2011 Cabernet-Sauvignon from Dario Princic in Friuli (€52). Take it all to go for an apéro with Murcian olives and anchovies, aged gouda, cecina de Léon… and if you’re really hungry, sous-vide dishes from Iñaki’s kitchen next door. // E.T.
The bullet-proof bottle: A Riesling from Florian and Mathilde Beck-Hartweg, two young winemakers in Dambach-la-ville (€15).
