Ogier Artesis Cotes du Rhone Rouge

There is a history to European wines and Ogier can point to an eponymous patriarchal origin story: Ogier the Dane fought for Charlemagne in the Basque lands in 800AD and settled afterwards in southern France. His descendent, Antoine Ogier, started his wine business in 1859 in the nearby Rhône Valley. The business has grown and includes vineyards throughout the Rhone. Making wine for 160 years and getting good at it.

Ornellaia Le Volte

Bolgheri wines are powerful, compact, hard, okay, they’re most often hard and in need of cellaring, but they can have balance. It all comes down to climate – if you are too close to the sea, you will rarely ripen those vicious, vindictive tannins. Ornellaia is in a sheltered spot where the sun can radiate, and where the ocean winds can’t quite penetrate, and Bordeaux varieties can attain deliciousness, complexity and age-ability, especially in the hands of Ornellaia (and Masseto) winemaker Axel Heinz and his team. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are fermented separately and then blended to be aged in concrete and oak. 2019 is a keeper, with freshness and richness in equal measure.

Paringa Shiraz

Once a wine powerhouse, the Australian state of Victoria lost its mojo a century ago – due to phylloxera, they say, though competition from sheep herding was probably the true cause. Vineyards were destroyed in a government program and, until the 80s, there was little more than a handful of wineries. When schoolteacher Lindsay McCall tasted a 1980 Seville Estate shiraz in 1983, he determined that Victoria was not only for lighter varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Riesling (much the thinking then). Syrah too was not just potential but already being accomplished. He planted his Shiraz vineyard in 1984 and gained fame soon enough. Today his son is the winemaker, having trained in Oregon. And, whether because of climate change or just increasing knowledge and skill, Victorian Shiraz is now a thing. A really, really good thing.

Philippe Girard Sancerre

Philippe Girard Sancerre Rose

Poggio Scalette Chianti Classico

If you drink much Chianti, you’ve probably run into Il Carbonaione, a delicious and vibrant Chianti made by the great Vittorio Fiore. It‘s his signature wine for the Poggio Scalette estate, which takes its name from the stone walls supporting the vineyards that appear very much like a series of steps. Fiore took over the estate in 1991, abandoned like much of old Chianti until the 80’s and 90s. These old vines represent the first planted after World War One, comprised of an older clone called Sangiovese di Lamole. But don't get the impression that the wines are Old School (not that there’s anything wrong with it, like Seinfeld used to say). The Poggio Scalette Chianti is super bright and very red fruits intense and speaks well of the great modernization of Chianti that has altered its hoary fortunes over the last decade or two.

Pra Soave 'Otto'

Pra', from the Soave region, is 100% Garganega. What in the world is Garganega? It is an Italian varietal that produces affordable, delicious and easy going wines... Grab your iPad, fill up your glass and enjoy an afternoon on the back porch.

Pulenta Pinot Gris

The Pulenta Family has been making wine in Argentina since 1912, just after they arrived from Italy. But if this is your first time hearing about them, you’re no different than anyone who hasn’t visited Argentina. When you go there and you taste with varied winemakers, you can ask who else is making really good wine. You keep hearing the Pulenta name. And when you taste the wines, you’ll know why. This is tangy, lemony, with green and yellow apple flavors.

Ramona Ruby Grapefruit 4 pk

Most of us have said for years that people should drink what they like, and for years the sommelier community agreed, while mocking anyone who didn’t drink the newest coolest label. Certain sommeliers are more open-minded than others; one of the most famed, Jordan Salcito, is talking about this simply enjoyable combo of Italian Zibbibo (think Muscat) grapes, cane sugar and grapefruit juice. If it all sounds like some sort of wine cooler, well, what’s wrong with that?

Robert Foley The Griffin

I miss Bob Foley. I used to see him a lot because I was obsessed with Pride Mountain Vineyards, producer of one of the world’s great Merlots. Bob started at Heitz Cellars, but more importantly spent 15 years as the founding winemaker for Markham Vineyards (more great Merlot). Then in 1992, Bob began another 15 years as the founding winemaker for Pride Mountain Vineyards. He also created the highly acclaimed Switchback Ridge, Hourglass, Paloma, and School House wines. Now he has his own eponymous winery on Howell Mountain, and I don't get there (too many other places to be) but there he makes Cabernets as well as various blends, like the Griffin, the Foley Family crest in Irish heraldry and a blend of the best in the red wine cellar: Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Charbono, Petit Verdot, and sometimes others.