2024

Organic/Bio This more or less natural wine estate in Tuscany focuses on biodynamic farming of non-traditional grapes for the region. Like here, a wild blend of Alicante Nero, Mourvedre, Sangiovese and Alicante Bouschet done -... Read More

From vines at 1,300 meters (4,200 feet) elevation, this picks up a bit of mountain intensity to go with the lucious, ripe, fruit and touch of oak spice. Talking about the last vintage, Jancis Robinson summed it up nicely (in her... Read More

This is a terrific introduction to Piemonte Nebbiolo done in a nicely open, ready to drink, style. It's made all in tank with the cap held submerged to give lovely aroma, flavor and color with milder-than-expected tannins.... Read More

Lower ABV A delicious, fresh and vibrant, Pinot Noir that delivers a big gush of ripe cherry fruit with just enough varietal spice on the back to stay interesting and fun. Pretty, supple, and easy to drink. You'd be forgiven... Read More

Organic/Bio As usual, one taste and you'll think, Ah, so THIS is what Willamette Valley Pinot Gris is supposed to taste like! From an organically farmed vineyard south of Salem, it's fermented and aged 50/50 in stainless... Read More

Organic/Bio The wine formerly known by Stephen’s son’s name “Juel” now goes by his nickname, Little Bud. But it still tells the story of this wild vineyard in overview, combining fruit picked from all four... Read More

Organic/Bio There’s something joyfully incongruous about a bearded outdoors guy who wears flannel, farms his vineyard with horses, chickens, sheep, geese and (his own) children, and waxes on passionately about the quality... Read More

Organic/Bio The edges of Antiquum Farm’s “Big Field” vineyard are kind of the far edge of what Pinot Noir can do. The winemaking is simple enough – fully de-stemmed fruit, open top fermenters, a bit of... Read More

Lower ABV A different kind of pink – the label alone tells you that! – that gets to the perfect level of rosé refreshment via a different route. It’s Gaglioppo, the descendent of Sangiovese and sibling... Read More

It was only after the Cowley family purchased their 65 acre vineyard in 1998 that they discovered that it had been the site of the first vinifera grape plantings in all of New Zealand. There's even a tiny winery cellar remaining... Read More

Lower ABV Pretty much exactly what you’d want to drink with seafood and sunset on the Greek Island of Evia. Blending salty Assyrtiko with fragrant Viognier, it serves up generous aromas of white peach and apricot and a burst... Read More

One of the most deliciously savory Proseccos we've ever tasted comes from the very best subzone of the region and brother/sister team making benchmark wines for the past 20 years. The Vinous 91 point review describes it well:... Read More

There aren’t a lot of “great” California Pinot Noirs at this price point; this is one of them. From a vineyard at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains first planted in 1910 and then replanted with cuttings from... Read More

Lower ABV Off and on through the early 20th century, Gamay grew in the Cote d’Or alongside Pinot Noir, so it’s not surprising it can shine in Bjornson’s estate vineyard next to Pinot in the Willamette Valley.... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV After a classic Albarino that delivers big, salty, bite to go with some leesy texture and crisp fruit? That's what this delivers from a fairly young winery working with certified organic grapes and ultra-low... Read More

Like kumquat, Seckel pea and/or underripe Geengage plum serviced up with a salty, mineral, finish and burst of orange oil on the dry, talky, finish? Of course you do! And you’ll love this very sophisticated and fresh expression... Read More

Unless you taste a lot of California Chardonnay, it can be hard to realize how big an accomplishment Bartholomew Broadbent has pulled off here. It's 100% Chardonnay, picked ripe and full of pear and stone fruit flavors perfectly... Read More

Cuatro Rayas was founded in 1935 to do one thing - make terrific Verdejo. Back in the beginning, that meant a wine that would seem really...let's say exotic...to us, a white wine aged in glass demijohns in the hot Spanish... Read More

As Wine Advocate said in their 93 point review of the 2021: Here's a wine to stock in your refrigerator for easy access when needed. It’s full of crunchy fruit and stone aromas and flavors with a bit of dried lemon and... Read More

Always one of our favorite Pinot Grigio’s for it's compelling blend of depth, richness, vibrancy and cut. It’s grown by the 143 member/farmers of the Terlano cooperative winery (founded 1893!), each paying lots... Read More

Bellone was the dominant grape of this hills and valleys of Lazio, the region around Rome, in antiquity, made into a strong, sweet, nutty-brown wine consumed Roman elites at day-long symposia. After phylloxera, it was nearly wiped... Read More

This does just what good Languedoc Chardonnay is supposed to do: give you a nice dollop of Chardonnay varietal flavors with no oak or butter to get in the way of thirst-quenching delight. You’ll enjoy the sliced apple, crisp... Read More

With Domaine Tempier, the Portalis family’s Ch Pradeaux defines Bandol’s history and leads the appellation on quality. Their rosé is a 50/50 blend of Mourvedre and Cinsault, giving this both serious intensity... Read More

Lower ABV Chased out of post-phylloxera vineyards by higher-yielding Trebbiano, Pecorino was thought to be extinct until a few very old vines were discovered in the mid-1980s. Today it's arguably the flagship white of Italy's... Read More

Lower ABV Frankly, this is just better than most any Moscato d'Asti you've ever tried. It's from 40-50 year-old vines on limestone which gives an extra dose of concentration and minerality to the super-ripe apricot... Read More

Lower ABV The kind of excellent value in all-purpose, clean, fresh, and delicious Pinot Grigio that's getting harder and harder to find. Importer Lia Tolaini-Banville sources fruit from across the Veneto and ferments it cool... Read More

Pecorino was the dominant white grape in the Marche for hundreds of years before it dwindled post-phylloxera in favor of more productive vines. Thought to be extinct, a few plants were rediscovered in the 1980s and today it's... Read More

Lower ABV Fun, delicious, highly drinkable, Sauvignon Blanc with just a bit more going on than the modest price would suggest. You’ll find a big burst of green melon, ripe peach and grapefruit zest aromas and flavors with... Read More

Organic/Bio Refined, pretty, Pinot Noir from 50 year-old certified organic vines in the north of the Cote d'Or. The old vine fruit ripened to elegant perfection in the difficult 2024 vintage and 12 months in 20% new French... Read More

Organic/Bio Just a short distance from Sancerre, Pouilly Fume showcases the smokier, gunflint, side of Sauvignon Blanc. Especially at this outstanding estate run by 8th generation winegrower Katia Mauroy-Gauliez working with some... Read More

Organic/Bio Eric Bonnet took over his family estate in 1999, so he has 25 years of organic farming and careful winemaking experience behind him now. It shows in this challenging vintage as he's crafted a stunning white from... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV A blend of 60% Viognier, 25% Roussanne, 10% Clairette and 5% Bourboulenc, all planted by Vincent Boyer about 15 years ago and farmed organically. The ripe fruit is harvested in the early morning cool and... Read More

Organic/Bio The little village of Visan in the middle of the Cotes du Rhone always seems to give wines with a sleek fruit and a hint of something we might call “ink” (but in a good way – really!). The blend of... Read More

Organic/Bio Since the 2001 vintage first appeared in the store years ago, Dragon Rosé has been a consistent customer and staff favorite year after year. The Lienard family tends about 50 acres of vines in Provence and makes... Read More

Ever done something that made no sense and had it work out beautifully? Apparently, that's what happened to Maude Autran who took ripe Rhone red Grenache and made it into white wine! This illegal blend - declassified to Vin... Read More

Lower ABV In the western Loire, Sauvignon sometimes struggles to ripen past its herbal, even bell-peppery, youth. In Cheverny, growers get their Sauvignon ripe AND get to add Chardonnay (15% here) for even more freshness and texture.... Read More

Lower ABV From 40 year-old vines in the little village of Peronne, this delivers the lovely richness and depth we expect from Gentilhommes even in a cool harvest like 2024. The 15% of the wine aged in oak (the rest in steel) helps... Read More

This small (20 acre) family-owned estate makes delicious wines that studies the interaction of Sauvignon Blanc and Sancerre's diverse soils. Here you’ll taste the impact of Sancerre’s famed “terres blanches,”... Read More

Lower ABV Bastardo in Portugal, Maturana Tinta in Spain, but Trousseau remains best at home in Jura, France. And this is what it's supposed to be like, feathery light (12.5% alcohol) but with HUGE flavor impact, fresh in feel... Read More

Lower ABV There’s a touch of spritz to this traditional Gaillac white, but it drinks more like a summer white Rhone than a sparkler. It’s 100% Loin de L’Oeiol, a native grape that gives terrific textural and... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV No way you try this blind and guess it sells for <$20. Because it shouldn’t and only does because importer Lia Banville-Tolaini owns the vineyard and winery and uses it to craft this “door... Read More

Lower ABV There's a lot of pretty poor Moscato d'Asti out there. And then there's Perrone, perhaps the benchmark for what can be done with passion and commitment. This is from a single vineyard at 350 meters elevation,... Read More

Lower ABV A good Vinho Verde is pretty much the perfect warm weather wine. And this is one of a pair of top-notch Vinho Verde, both from 100% Loureiro grapes grown on steeply sloped vineyards overlooking northern Portugal’s... Read More

Lower ABV A good Vinho Verde is pretty much the perfect warm weather wine. And this is one of a pair of top-notch Vinho Verde, both from 100% Loureiro grapes grown on steeply sloped vineyards overlooking northern Portugal’s... Read More

Organic/Bio The four friends who started Envinate (“wine yourself”) expand beyond their Canary Islands roots to create this 70% Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet) and 30% Moravia Agria organically grown at... Read More

Lower ABV Joe Bauer's son, Florian, has taken over here and is making wines with a touch more precision and energy with no loss of juicy, intense, flavor. This smells almost salty at first before scents of sliced Granny Smith... Read More

Lower ABV This San Gimignano producer makes a lovely, light, and delightfully fun to drink Sangiovese. Vinous’s description of the 2020 applies here: “racy and exuberant in the glass. A rush of black cherry fruit,... Read More

With Greco and Fiano, Falanghina is one the old Greek grapes that still makes the finest wines of Campania, just inland of Naples, Italy. Especially on the powdery volcanic soils of Sannio, where Libero Rillo and his family have... Read More

This delicious frizzante wine is a rare version of red Malvasia, made with a touch of sweetness and a light, frothy, sparkle. As The Washington Post’s Dave McIntyre said about the 2011, “This delightful little frizzante... Read More