Hope Estate 2015 “The Ripper” Shiraz
Hailing from Western Australia, this will give you the drunken power of seven wombats. Eh. Actually, this is a white-pepper driven beauty with clear notes of cedar and dried fruit. Think currants and sun-dried blueberries, and a bit of milk chocolate on the finish. This is a super fun wine.
Wine Rating: 90 points (WSoP)
Pricing in PA: $10.99
Hecht and Bannier 2018 Rosé
From Cotes de Provence, a light footed rosé of Grenache and Cinsault. Fresh lavender and bright cherry on the nose. Lean on the palate, but with a saline-richness in the finish. Flavors of melon and fresh strawberry with crushed mineral and zippy acidity.
Wine Rating: 89 Points (WSoP)
Pricing in PA: $11.99
Celene Améthyste Brut Blanc de Noirs
This Crémant de Bordeaux is a lovely bubbly. This is a unique bottle being sourced from Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. Crystal clear, with pretty strawberry and peach flavors underpinned by delicate bubbles and a surprisingly toasty creaminess.
Wine Rating: 88 points (WSoP)
Pricing in PA: $11.99
Hugel et Fils 2014 Pinot Noir
This is the winery’s “Classic” bottling from Alsace. This wine is often included in our Core Sommelier programs because it’s a true-blue pinot noir. Its barnyard-and-roses aroma is pure and exhilarating. Light-bodied, high toned acidity, and a bare whisper of tannin. Have with a mushroom tartlet for maximum Frenchiness.
Wine Rating: 89 Points (WSoP)
Pricing in PA: $17.99 (but often $15 in other states)
Vite Colte 2016 Barbera D’asti Superiore
This is the winery’s “La Luna e I Falo” bottling. An exceptional example of this varietal. Red fruit driven with a bouquet of flowers in for the ride. Nearly full bodied with plenty of lush-n-laser tension that makes this my top pick for summer grilling this year. I could forget about 2020 when pairing this with short ribs.
Wine Rating: 90 points (WSoP)
Pricing in PA: $12.99
Catena 2017 Malbec Paraje Altamira
Hailing from Uco Valley, one of the premier wine regions in Argentina, this is not your aunt’s Malbec. Complex and elegant, this is less of a fruit bomb and more of a world-class juggernaut of deliciousness. Black fruit is interwoven with complex earth. Burnt chocolate, lushly tannic, and a finish of incredible length.
Wine Rating: 92 Points (WSoP)
Pricing in PA: $14.99