DECEMBER 2025 EDITION
the jm zell report
Where fine wine, good company, and commercial real estate intersect
All,
As we head into the holiday season, we want to extend our warmest wishes to our friends, clients, partners, and colleagues. May the final weeks of the year be filled with great meals, memorable bottles, and time shared with those who matter most. We look forward to raising a glass with many of you in 2026.
Cheers,
Jeff & the JM Zell Team
WHAT WE’RE DRINKING:
A NIGHT AT TOSCA IN D.C.
We recently spent an exceptional evening at Tosca in Washington, D.C.—a jewel of modern Italian fine dining where the service is polished, the food is deeply thoughtful.
This dinner featured a truffle tasting menu, with the standout dish being a decadent truffle risotto paired beautifully with 2010 Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Échezeaux —a combination that elevated both the dish and the wine into something unforgettable.
Other highlights from the JM Zell cellar and generous friends around the table included:
Jacques Selosse Lieux-Dits Champagne:
A benchmark in grower Champagne—tense, oxidative, textural, and unmistakably Selosse. A wine that feels alive in the glass, unfolding layer by layer with air.
VIEW WINE DETAILS ≫
2019 Domaine Roulot Meursault Clos du Haut Tesson:
Precision and purity from one of Burgundy’s most admired producers. The 2019 Haut Tesson balances richness with striking mineral drive—an example of why Roulot remains in a class of its own. VIEW WINE DETAILS ≫
2010 Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Échezeaux (Courtesy of David):
A rare treat. Silky, perfumed, and ethereal, showing the signature Mugneret-Gibourg finesse. A wine that reminds you why Burgundy is as emotional as it is intellectual. VIEW WINE DETAILS ≫
1989 Château Clinet, Pomerol (Courtesy of Larry):
Mature Pomerol at its finest—plush and beautifully resolved. A vintage with decades of life still ahead but delivering profound pleasure right now. VIEW WINE DETAILS ≫
WHAT Jeff is Buying:
A look our newest additions to the cellar—producers defined by precision, detail, and unwavering craft.
2022 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Coche-Dury
Even at the regional level, Coche delivers unparalleled purity and tension. The 2022 is bright, energetic, and already showing the signature reductive flair that collectors chase. VIEW WINE DETAILS ≫
2022 Chassagne-Montrachet, Alex Moreau
Alex Moreau continues his ascent as one of Burgundy’s most exciting winemakers. The 2022 Chassagne is layered, textural, and deeply expressive—classic Village wine elevated into something more. VIEW WINE DETAILS ≫
2023 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Domaine Rapet
A Grand Cru built on power and minerality. The Rapet Corton-Charlemagne (2023) shows structure, lift, and long-term aging potential. A serious, architectural white Burgundy. VIEW WINE DETAILS ≫
Products and purveyors
our latest obsessions
Pure Bred is redefining American lamb with a focus on marbling, consistency, and heritage genetics. Their lamb is prized by top chefs for its delicate flavor, fine texture, and reliability across cuts. Whether roasted whole, slow-cooked, or charred over fire, Pure Bred Lamb showcases depth without gaminess—a benchmark for premium domestic lamb.
Bordier butter is revered in kitchens across France and beyond. Hand-churned, kneaded on wooden tables, and salted with intention, Bordier produces butters that feel more like grand cru dairy than pantry staples. Whether the seaweed butter, the demi-sel, or the Espelette version, each adds extraordinary dimension to even the simplest dish.
This newsletter is created for JM Zell’s friends, clients, business associates, trusted vendors, and professional partners. Please enjoy and share responsibly.
JM Zell is offering its opinions only in this newsletter and is not a representative or advocate for any of the wine, restaurants, suppliers, or growers discussed in this newsletter. JM Zell receives no remuneration for its recommendations.