Contributed by: Joe Roberts
There's nothing dissonant about this Bordeaux Blanc inspired white blend from Blackbird Vineyards. They seem to have found the "Goldilocks" spot for this blend in recent vintages, bringing a flinty, floral and mineral nose, along with a palate that has ripe and broad tropical fruit flavors but also just enough tingling acidity to keep things fresh and inviting on the palate. Best of all, it's a quality Napa Valley sourced white that can be found for under $20!
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Chile seems to be betting heavily on Organic wine production, fast becoming an innovative leader in that area in the global wine business. As a result, high-quality Organic reds like this blend from Vina Tarapaca have become available for wine lovers, and they represent excellent bargains. Incredibly spicy, with herbal nuances and dark red fruit flavors, this blend brings boldness and depth without ever becoming heavy and tiring.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
White wines get almost *all* of the attention when it comes to France's Alsace... and the attention that those delightful whites don't get tends to go to the region's excellent sparkling wines. But Alsace has long made elegant Pinot Noir, and this Reserve from Domaine Barmes-Buecher is a great example. Zesty, energetic, and spicy, with flavors of forest berries, this is a nice alternative when you need a break from heftier Pinot Noir reds from California.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Cheeky packaging and naming aside, Pasqua's "Hey French" (subtitled, "You Could Have Made This But You Didn't") actually fires a serious salvo across the bow of France's white wine producers. Certainly, Italy and the Veneto could stand on its own merits when it comes to white wine production long before this delightful sipper came around, but Pasqua's amusing label is a fine addition to that tradition of high quality. Floral and intense, this white is refreshing while also bringing ample depth and complexity on the palate.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Well-regarded Pinot Noir producer Siduri has recently expanded their lineup to include a white wine, and it makes for a great reminder of why Chardonnay might just be the Willamette Valley's most exciting grape variety at the moment. Combining buttery breadth with herbal, floral complexity and a fine line of refreshing acidity, this new addition to Siduri's lineup serves as an excellent ambassador for the bright future of Chardonnay in Oregon.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Clean slate is aptly named, evoking the mineral, slate soils that have made Riesling viticulture on Germany's meandering Mosel river so famous among wine lovers. Year in and year out, this white offers just the right balance of citrus fruit, smokey minerality, lip-smacking acidity, and lemon-drop sweetness—all in an easy-drinking package that won't stress the wallet.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
One of Cava's most recognizable names has stepped out with this sparkling red made from Pinot Noir, rather than the traditional Spanish Cava grape varieties. The result is a bubbly full of brambly red berry fruit flavors and earthy tones —a nice bargain that is a natural match for charcuterie and cured meats.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
It you're not yet acquainted with Northern Italy's Roero Arneis white wines, the waning days of Summer are just about THE perfect time to remedy that. These whites are refreshing, but carry a bit more "fleshiness" in their ample stone fruit flavors and enticing toasted nut aromas. Filippo Gallino's Roero Arneis is a stalwart among Roero Arneis producers in Piedmont, and a great choice for starting your exploration of this often overlooked grape.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Typically a blend of signature Douro Valley red grapes like Touriga Nacional, Tinto Roriz, and Touriga Franca, Quinta do Crasto's nails the spicy, succulent, plummy formula that makes the Douro such an attractive spot for dry reds like this. Sourced from Crasto's top plots growing on schist souls in the Douro Superior, this red has top notch touches of smoke and graphite aromas, while also providing attractive, user-friendly red fruit flavors that are simply too delicious to turn down.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Here's one that's poised to take the market by storm. Combining the red hot categories of Rose, Prosecco, drier sparkling wines, and Organic/Vegan offerings is almost certainly going to be a winning hand played by Corvezzo. Their entry in the relatively new area of Rose Prosecco is earnest, authentic, and expertly crafted, with a palate full of zing and abundantly friendly red fruit flavors. If you're looking to please a crowd, this one seems as sure a bet as you are likely to find.
