Serious Drinking

It’s time to get back to some serious drinking with these delightfully complex whites and reds, some pricey, others less so.

Also, at the end of the listings are two Vermouths that emphasize the freshness of the base wines as much as the complexity of their herbs. Good for drinking as is or mixed in cocktails.

Now, just look for a compelling novel to read.

2023 Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes Dry Riesling ($19). Good, fragrant fruitiness, juicy, clean and lightly spicy, good depth of flavors, still a little tightly wound.

2022 Norton Mendoza Chardonnay Reserva ($20). Clean, crisp and very refreshing with tart apple and lemony flavors.

2023 Domaine Curry Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($45). A mellower Sauvignon – open and a little blousy – not tightly structured, yet with a very interesting mélange of fruit flavors.

2021 B. Wise Vineyards “Nobles Vineyard” Fort Ross-Seaview Chardonnay ($75). Good golden fruit – a touch honeyed – with flavors of apples, wood and baking spices and very smooth texture.

2022 Heitz Cellar “Quartz Creek Vineyard” Oak Knoll Chardonnay ($81). A lightly oaked Chard with soft woody flavors, good apple fruit, a little light on the acidity, but develops well in the glass.

2020 Querciabella “Batàr” Toscana IGT White Wine ($105). Love the complexity of this wine – floral, like honeysuckle, but also with green fruity notes and barrel spiciness, full-bodied, but not heavy.

NV Berlucchi “61” Franciacorta Rosé ($46). Very fresh strawberry flavors with some savory, nutty notes – good mousse, medium intensity.

2023 Michel Chapoutier “Bila-Haut” Pays d’Oc Rosé ($15). A bit limpid with light flavors of peach.

2023 Château des Ferrages “Roumery” Côtes de Provence Rosé ($20). Very nice orange flavors with peppery spiciness, medium body and a crisp finish.

2022 Hahn California Cabernet Sauvignon ($17). Enjoyable, with medium weight and vibrant blackberry fruit, good balance and pleasant tannins.

2021 Xanadu “Circa 77” Margaret River Shiraz ($18). Lean and linear with spicy red fruits, including cranberries – good for grilled foods.

2022 Montes “Alpha” Valle de Colchagua Cabernet Sauvignon ($20). Rich, chalky flavors of mulberries and mulled blackberries with light tannins.

2021 Craggy Range “Te Kahu” Hawke’s Bay Red Wine ($24). A lighter red that doesn’t seem to have a central core, either in structure or flavor.

2021 La Nerthe “Les Cassagnes” Côtes-du-Rhone Villages ($27). Very generous and quite enjoyable – mulberry and blackberry flavors, rich yet mellow.

2018 Cecchi “Aurelio” Val delle Rose Maremma Red Wine ($40). Tart Sangiovese flavors of red berries and raspy tannins with medium body.

2020 Argentiera “Villa Donoratico” Bolgheri Rosso ($51). A little granular in texture with juicy blackberry flavors, some savory notes,  a tad hot on the palate, with gripping tannins.

2021 B. Wise Vineyards Moon Mountain Syrah ($65). Lovely combo of oak and red and black fruits – complex flavors of dark cherries and black raspberries that are smooth and long on the palate.

2021 B. Wise Vineyards “Silver Eagle Vineyard” Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($75). Full-bodied, but not heavy, with chewy cherry fruit, a fair amount of dry tannins and some pleasant bitters notes around the edges.

2021 B. Wise Vineyards Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($95). Rich mixture of black and red fruits, mainly blackberries, with some brambles notes – dense without being jammy.

2021 Flora Springs “Holy Smoke” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($150). Muddled fruit – slightly tart blackberry flavors nicely integrated into warm oak – a wine to savor.

2021 Flora Springs “Out of Sight” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($105). My favorite of the three Flora Cabs – full-bodied, but not overly tannic, with a layer-cake-like fruitiness, a clafoutis-style red. Great tastes and textures.

2021 Flora Springs “Wild Boar” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($150). Good fruit density – “fruity sweet” with blackberries flavors and some notes of bitter chocolate.

NV 9 di Dante “Purgatorio” Extra Dry Vermouth di Torino Superiore ($33). Just a lovely, floral base wine with hints of creamy vanilla layered with fresh herbs – drink it chilled, and drink it straight.

NV 9 di Dante “Inferno Rosso” Vermouth di Torino Superiore ($35). Lightly sweet and fresh with good blend of fruity reds and a nice bitters component – perfect for a Manhattan.

Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.