Mike

Mike grew up in Connecticut and comes from a Puerto Rican family, and that mix shows up clearly in how he approaches wine. There is a strong sense of tradition there, along with warmth and an understanding of how wine fits into food, family, and everyday life.

He has spent years in the wine industry and brings a deep, practical knowledge of wine styles and palate. Mike is drawn to wines that are balanced, well-built, and honest. He values structure and consistency, and he has a clear sense of what works at the table over time. His experience helps ground the shop in wines that are thoughtful, reliable, and meant to be enjoyed rather than overanalyzed.

Eric

Eric is originally from Alabama and has lived in New York City for over twenty years. His entry into wine came through curiosity and collecting, spending years learning through blind tastings and studying regions, styles, and producers. Early on, his interest leaned heavily academic, focused on understanding how wines were made, how they compared, and how they evolved.

Over time, and especially through tasting alongside Mike, that academic foundation became something more lived and practical. Eric’s approach remains classical and traditional at its core, but shaped by real experience and repetition rather than theory alone. He is interested in wines that reward attention without demanding it, bottles that fit naturally into meals, routines, and shared moments. As a psychiatrist, he also values moderation and balance, seeing wine as something that should enhance life rather than dominate it.

Together

Every bottle at La Même Chose is chosen through independent blind tastings by both of us. We taste separately, compare notes, and only bring in wines we both genuinely want to drink. That dialogue between experience and study, structure and curiosity, is what defines the shop.

We are a neighborhood store first and foremost. Our selection is meant to support everyday drinking as well as more regular, curated deliveries for people who want something ongoing and thoughtful. The goal is simple. Well-chosen wine that makes sense in real life.