Wine to Drink Now

It’s hard to deny that fall is here - October has arrived and the leaves are starting to drop. Until I turn on the heat in my car on the first chilly morning, though, I think it’s fair to say that the last whispers of summer are still hanging around. I love this time of year, especially because the wines that speak to late summer and early fall are some of my favorites. I’m talking about white wines with a little bit of heft, the kind that burst out of the glass with ripe tropical aromatics, redolent of late lunch in a seaside town with a salty breeze in the air. I’m also talking about medium-bodied red wines, structured and elegant with bright red fruit notes tempered by a lovely dry earthiness reminiscent of crunchy leaves underfoot and the smell of autumn. Can you tell I have a couple of very specific bottles in mind?

2023 Valminor Albariño $28

Sustainable and vegan, produced with all estate fruit, this delightful white comes from Rias Baixas in the North-Eastern corner of Spain along the Galician coast. It’s a super classic Albariño, bursting with ripe melon, peach, and fragrant white flowers, followed by a thirst-quenching salty, mineral finish. A match made in heaven with seafood - it would pair well with some grilled shrimp and roasted oysters, and perhaps best enjoyed al fresco before we have to resign ourselves to indoor meals for the next six months…

2020 E. Pira 'Chiara Boschis' Barolo Cannubi $172

This Barolo, from the legendary Cannubi vineyard site, epitomizes the excellence of the Italian winemaking tradition. James Suckling gave it 97 points, saying: "Nervy and complex nose with excellent depth. Oranges, nutmeg, steel, mineral and a touch of white pepper and oyster shell. Broad and expansive on the palate with very structured, chalky tannins that extend to a lengthy, mineral finish. Long and youthful. From organically grown grapes. Can drink now, but better from 2027."

Did one (or more) of these wines pique your interest? There are multiple ways to order with us! If you place your purchase through our online store, we’ll be happy to package and hold your bottles for you to pick up at your convenience. You can also email us and ask us to set aside any bottles you’re interested in picking up at a later date. If you have any questions or would like to make special arrangements such as shipping, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (919) 644-1243.