La Cave Privée at Bistro Guillaume runs until the end of May – with a spotlight on rare cellar door wines by the glass or bottle when you dine at Crown Melbourne.
Showcasing 26 individual wines – you’ll find eight available by the glass, with the remainder exclusively by the bottle to be enjoyed in the restaurant.
Priced from $37 to $160 per glass and $320 and $4,740 per bottle – this is no ordinary occasion out; it’s a bucket list for the ages.
The Write Drop spoke to chef and restaurateur Guillaume Brahimi and Director of Wine Matt Brooke about the unique collaboration at Crown Melbourne’s Bistro Guillaume.
WE RECENTLY DINED AT BISTRO GUILLAUME PAIRING OYSTERS, SCALLOPS, DUCK + CREME BRULEE. HOW DOES LA CAVE PRIVÉE ADD ANOTHER LEVEL OF APPRECIATION WHEN DINING OUT?
For me, the beauty of this wine list is how naturally it works with our menu. With oysters, I would always lean towards something very pure and mineral. A Chablis from Raveneau has that oyster-shell salinity and freshness that complements the natural brine of the dish perfectly.
With scallops, you can move slightly richer. A white Burgundy from Meursault, like Domaine Leflaive or Coche-Dury, has more texture and generosity, which works beautifully with the sweetness of the scallop while still keeping the elegance.
For duck, I would always go to Pinot Noir. A wine from Gevrey-Chambertin or Morey-Saint-Denis, such as Domaine Armand Rousseau or Domaine Dujac, has the structure and subtle earthiness that matches the richness of the duck without overpowering it.
The idea is always the same, balance and harmony. The wine should lift the dish, and the dish should bring something new out in the wine.
HOW DOES LA CAVE PRIVÉE ELEVATE A DINING EXPERIENCE AT BISTRO GUILLAUME
La Cave Privée transforms a meal into something much more immersive. When you have access to rare wines that are considered, cellared and served at their peak, it changes the way you approach the menu. Guests can build their dining experience around the wine, choosing dishes that complement each glass, rather than the other way around. It also allows us to showcase the depth of French wine culture in a very immediate way. You’re not just drinking a wine, you are experiencing a moment from a particular region, producer or vintage. The offering also allows guests to experience wines that are usually reserved for very special occasions. At Bistro Guillaume, La Cave Privée adds another dimension to the dining experience. It becomes not just about the menu, but about discovery, about tasting something you may never come across again. That is what makes it truly special.
YOUR FAVOURITE WINE ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW
It is very difficult to choose, but I have a particular love for the wines of Meursault and the great white Burgundies. Producers like Domaine Leflaive or Coche-Dury show incredible precision and depth. They are powerful but always elegant, and they evolve beautifully in the glass. There is also something very special about the Grand Crus on the list. Wines like Montrachet or Bâtard-Montrachet are iconic for a reason. They have a complexity and presence that stays with you.
Ultimately, my favourite is always about the moment. But with a list like this, you are truly spoiled for choice.
Crown Melbourne Director of Wine Matt Brooke on LA CAVE PRIVÉE:
La Cave Privée is about giving guests access to some of the world’s most coveted wines in a way that feels approachable and exciting. This particular offering is focused on Burgundy and brings together an extraordinary mix of producers, from icons like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leflaive through to benchmark estates such as Raveneau, Coche-Dury and Dujac. These are wines that are usually only seen on top-tier cellar-lists, and very rarely poured by the glass. What makes this experience special is the ability to move through different vintages and styles in one sitting. You can start with a mineral-driven Chablis from Raveneau, move into the richness of Meursault from Coche-Dury or Leflaive, and then explore the elegance and depth of Pinot Noir from producers like Rousseau or Dujac. It’s a rare opportunity to taste some of Burgundy’s most revered producers without committing to a full bottle. For wine lovers, it’s incredibly special, and for those newer to Burgundy, it’s a great way to discover just how expressive these wines can be.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHICH 8 WINES TO POUR BY THE GLASS
The starting point was always the experience we wanted to create for our guests. With a cellar like this, there’s an incredible depth of rare and iconic bottles, but the challenge is making those wines accessible. Using Coravin allows us to open wines that would normally never be poured by the glass, so we were able to be much more ambitious with the selection. From there, it was about building a journey through Burgundy. We’ve chosen wines that represent different styles and producers, from the precision and minerality of Chablis with Raveneau, through to the richness of Meursault with producers like Coche-Dury and Leflaive, and into the structure and elegance of Pinot Noir from Rousseau and Dujac. Importantly, every wine on the list has been selected for how well it works with the menu at Bistro Guillaume. It’s not about prestige alone. It’s about balance, drinkability and the way the wine enhances the table.
A FAVE WINE BY THE GLASS
The Raveneau Chablis really stands out for me. It has incredible purity and precision. You get that classic Chablis minerality, almost an oyster-shell character, but with real depth and length. It’s a wine that feels both powerful and restrained at the same time. What I love most is how versatile it is. It works beautifully with seafood like oysters or scallops, but it’s also compelling enough to enjoy on its own. It’s the kind of wine that quietly shows why producers like Raveneau are held in such high regard. For me, it captures exactly what La Cave Privée is about. Access to something rare, expressive and incredibly rewarding in the glass.
