Alta Via Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio’s are all alike, right? Hmm, well, yes, often, that is true. But differences exist. For instance, Pinot Grigio from some of the top spots in the Friuli Venezia region can carry some weight and distinct minerality. Alto Adige, up in the foothills of the Alps (and higher), is the grape’s other sweet spot. Here the flavors become almost shockingly fresh, like you’re biting into a cold ripe grape you've just plucked off the vine.

Averaen Pinot Noir

Perhaps you’ve heard of Banshee Wines. They started as a little garage unit in north San Francisco (the locals call it Dogpatch) and they simply bought tasty juice from the right vineyards and then made the best wine that they could. It’s worked out pretty well for them; they’ve gotten bigger and bigger. And now they’ve decided to go full Oregon. They’re buying grapes from some of their favorite spots in the Willamette Valley, and creating some of the most delicious values in the state.

Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape

2017 Chateau de Beaucastel is the benchmark for Chateauneuf, and is the only producer that I know of to use all 13 Rhone varietals in their blend. You may have read about how amazing the 2017 vintage was in both the Northern and Southern Rhone and the reviews for this wine are, across the board, absolutely glowing.

Bellacosa Cabernet

Benieres Rouge

Fresh and fruity Pinot Noir from the Pays d'Oc, a region warm enough and varied enough to allow even persnickety Pinot Noir to find its happy place.

Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve

One of the most consistently delicious of Champagnes, Billecart is medium-bodied and more elegant than bombastic, exactly as Champagne should be.

Billecart Salmon Brut Rose

Every sommelier has a hip-pocket wine, the wine they go to when they need something they can rely upon for value and excellence and Billecart Salmon Rose is one of those wines.

Black Slate Gratallops Priorat

Priorat is for people who want big wine, gorilla big, glowering and roaring in front of winedom's schoolchildren. This wine is a perfect example of that - and in terms of Priorat is a real value.

Bodegas Ego Marionette

This is what Jumilla does in spades: to produce wines at a very friendly price point and with Mediterranean Spanish richness, all with the balancing acidity gained from higher elevation sites.

Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon

Chuck and his family, as you probably know, are virtual dynamos in the California wine business, with Joe Wagner, his son and the grandson of Chuck Sr. one of the great pioneers of Napa, producing Pinot Noir in Oregon as well. Chuck and his other son Charlie and daughter Jenny, continue to make Caymus the grand Napa benchmark that it is. So when he makes a tasty little blend like this, it makes sense to buy some and enjoy them tonight.