Imported and distributed by Winebow.
Puriri Hills Mokoroa Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Marlborough, New Zealand, $18
This combines the spicy character of New Zealand sauvignon blanc with ripe star fruit and kumquat flavors. And is there a ghost of gooseberry, that elusive descriptor that has sparked a movement to redefine how we describe wine? Well, I’ll let people who eat gooseberries chime in on that. ABV: 12.5 percent. BW: 420 grams (Light).
Imported and distributed locally by Salveto.
Standing Stone Vineyards Farm Red 2021
If someone asked you to name red wine grapes grown in the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York, cabernet sauvignon, saperavi, merlot and petit verdot are not likely to be high on the list. Yet this delicious, soulful wine weaves them into a compelling, shape-shifting blend that is one moment ripe, another herbaceous, and then on the next sip earthy. You can dissect this — the petit verdot contributes a tart boysenberry flavor, while the saperavi offers pepper and wild mushrooms — but I urge you to simply enjoy the conversation. ABV: 12.5 percent. BW: 410 grams (Light).
Distributed locally by Lanterna.
Prices are approximate. For availability, check Wine.com, Wine-searcher.com and the websites and social media feeds of the wineries, importers, distributors, and your favorite local wine store. You can also ask your local retailer to order wines from the distributors listed. Bottle weight is included, because this is the single most important contributor to wine’s carbon footprint. Have wine questions for Dave McIntyre? Send them to Food@washpost.com.
★ Good: The wine delivers what it promises at a fair price. If it says chardonnay, it tastes like chardonnay.
★★ Excellent: A wine with character and added interest. May elevate your eyebrows at the first sip.
★★★ Extraordinary: An exciting wine that stands out from others in its class. Fist-pumping, table-thumping good.
★★★★ Sublime: Otherworldly. May have you thinking, “So this is what they were talking about.”
