Gordon McIntosh wanted to golf in his retirement from being a GM at an auto dealership in the Bay Area, but when it starting taking 6 hours to finish a round he found another hobby instead–wine.

For 11 years now he has been the proprietor of University Wines, located just northeast of the University of Washington between two of Seattle’s most sought-after neighborhoods, Laurelhurst and Windermere.  What makes this little shop so unique is it’s connection to Jeanne-Marie de Champs, a Beaune négociant who the Wall Street Journal once dubbed “The Grande Damme of Burgundy”.  Jeanne-Marie is a household name in burgundy and she has developed relationships with many small producers whose vines are literally spitting distance from the vines of some of the most highly-regarded estates in the world.  The prior owners of the shop had a good relationship with Jeanne-Marie, and Gordon has taken that to a new level and now provides his loyal customers with bottles that cannot be found anywhere else outside of France.  Every year Gordon personally makes a spring trip to Burgundy to barrel taste (pictured on R  with Vinarmour founder Brian Hart and winemaker Denis Clair of Saint-Aubin, during a morning of barrel tasting his many Premier Cru white burgundies….) to make sure imports only the best.  Although “U-Wines” emphasis is on eastern France, they also have a healthy collection from Bordeaux and Champagne, as well as offering some unique Italian and Spanish wines.  When in Seattle and you are looking for some unique and delicious bottles of Burg for the cellar, stop by U-wines and consider also getting one other the Vinarmour Wine Carriers they sell to help get it home safely.