2016

Blard et Fils produce this light, cheerful white from low-yielding alpine vineyards, and the influence of their cool climate is quite apparent! Flinty and floral on the nose, with notes of citrus fruit, white flowers, and stony... Read More

As the second wine of the famed 2nd-growth Château Brane-Cantenac, this classic example of Margaux offers surprisingly good value! Supple and seductive, it offers brambly red fruit, cedar and pencil shavings, subtle spice,... Read More

A superb example of grower champagne at a very reasonable price point! Using the best of the estate’s organically-farmed fruit and produced with relatively low dosage, this is racy and nervy but with generous red fruit and... Read More

Helmed by the great-grandson of James de Rothschild, this small Bordeaux estate boasts the clay-limestone soil that makes for the finest Saint-Émilion. Layers of Morello cherry, black fruit, spice, and vanilla from well-integrated... Read More

This off-dry style of Chenin Blanc balances subtle sweetness with bright acidity and slightly waxy, honeyed flavors imparted by time developing in bottle. Quite fresh in style despite the sweetness, it is a highly versatile wine... Read More

This gorgeous ‘Super Tuscan’ combines international varieties with Sangiovese, all organically-farmed by a top producer. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, cassis, cedar, and menthol with silky tannins. Ornellaia... Read More

This bold, full-bodied Amador County Zinfandel still manages balance, thanks in large part to keeping its alcohol in check and using only 10% new oak. The resulting wine is classically-styled, with ripe, jammy dark fruit flavors... Read More

From a picturesque hillside domaine overlooking the entirety of Mercurey, this offers superb value for great Burgundy. Coming from the cool 2016 vintage, this is an elegant, refined with with superb acidity, red fruit, high-toned... Read More

In the ‘60s and ‘70s, Monsecco’s Gattinara was legendary, a match for even the finest Barolo, but sadly the estate disappeared. Resurrected by Giorgio Zanetta, this structured single vineyard Gattinara offers... Read More

Among Chinon’s greatest wines, Raffault’s ‘Les Picasses’ is incredibly concentrated & age-worthy, with the ability to cellar for 2+ decades. Even in its relative youth, it offers lively red fruit, earth,... Read More

Among Chinon’s greatest wines, Raffault’s ‘Les Picasses’ is incredibly concentrated & age-worthy, with the ability to cellar for 2+ decades. Even in its relative youth, it offers lively red fruit, earth,... Read More

A restrained Rioja made in the traditional style, with aromas and flavors of bright red fruit, subtle spice, mushroomy earth, and warming (but subtle) oak. Bright and accessible in its youth, with the potential to age for up to... Read More

From a site farmed for 400 years without any use of chemicals (!), this is a remarkably expressive old vines Syrah with lovely dark fruit, savory undertones of olive brine, pork fat, and black pepper, and restrained tannins for... Read More

From a winemaking family with history dating back to 1780, this rich, robust Spanish red remains an incredible value for such a traditional, small-production offering. Intense aromas of fruit jam—darky cherry, brambly blackberry—and... Read More

A darker, spicier expression of Barbera, this delicious wine layers complex notes of dried rose petals, dark red cherry, blackberry, and black pepper with lifting, food-friendly acidity and a well-structured, silky finish. An... Read More