It’s no secret that we spend a lot of time throughout the week thinking, reading, talking and writing about wine. This means that when Friday finally comes, most of the people here at WEHQ have an extensive list of bottles they’re excited to taste on their time off.
As the last hours of the workweek go by and we wrap up the finishing touches on our soon-to-be-released 40 Under 40 tastemakers list, discussion has inevitably turned to what pours everyone plans to sip over next two days. So, in honor of another issue sent off to the printing press and time with family, friends and imbibing ahead of us, here are the bottles the Wine Enthusiast crew is excited to savor this weekend.
Recommended wines for the weekend
Elena Walch 2017 Vigna Castel Ringberg Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige); $28, 93 points. Structured and elegant, this Pinot Grigio shows enviable class and pedigree. It opens with delicate scents of white spring flowers, ripe pears and a whiff of dried Alpine herbs while the round, polished palate delivers creamy apple, honeydew and white almond. Fresh acidity lifts the rich flavors, while a tangy mineral note suggesting saline lingers on the close. USA Wine West. Editors’ Choice. —Kerin O’Keefe
Quady North 2018 GSM Rosé (Rogue Valley); $17, 92 points. Herb Quady’s deft touch with rosé is exquisitely expressed among his three distinct 2018s. This bottling blends 56% Grenache, 39% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, all specifically planted and picked to be made as rosé. Juicy, crisp and complex, this is a sappy mix of apple, peach and apricot, dusted with cinnamon. Editors’ Choice. —Paul Gregutt
Orsi Family 2015 Barbera (Dry Creek Valley); $28, 91 points. This tiny-production estate wine is bright and juicy, offering a soft rustic underpinning of layered tannin, rounded richness and high-toned acidity. It tastes of freshly picked strawberry and cherry, with a lasting tartness that appeals. —Virginie Boone
Palacio de Fefiñanes 2017 Albariño (Rías Baixas); $28, 91 points. Fefiñanes ranks among the best and most consistent makers of Albariño in Rías Baixas, so no surprise that this comes across clean on the nose, with lively notes of white fruits and buttercup. A plump but vibrant palate is still in peak condition, while this tastes of nectarine, apple, honeydew and lime. Drink through 2019. Kysela Père et Fils. —Michael Schachner
Aphros 2018 Loureiro (Vinho Verde); $17, 90 points. Intense and spicy, this wine with lees aging is rich and tangy. Made from biodynamically grown grapes, the concentrated texture is dense in baked-apple ripeness. Drink from late 2019. Skurnik Wines, Inc. Editors’ Choice. —Roger Voss
Callan 2018 Boushey Vineyards Picpoul (Yakima Valley); $25, 90 points. A bright lemon-zest aroma leads the expressive nose of this white wine. Tart citrus flavors contribute to the puckering mouthfeel on the palate, brightened even further by a blast of acidity. It screams out for oysters. Editors’ Choice. —Sean Sullivan
Clos Henri 2018 Petit Clos Pinot Noir (Marlborough); $20, 90 points. Perhaps the quietest expression to date of this wine, some swirling in glass brings forth delicate aromas like rose petals, strawberries, cherries, white spice, wild herbs and a warm earth character. The palate is elegant and textured, with tangy fruit and tannins that feel a little on the astringent side. As usual, the Petit Clos range of wines offers stellar value from a top biodynamic Marlborough producer. Monsieur Touton Selection Ltd. —Christina Pickard
Halos de Jupiter 2015 Costières de Nîmes; $16, 90 points. Crisp red-currant and cranberry aromas are edged by blossoms in this full-bodied, fresh-fruited wine. A blend of Grenache and Carignan, it’s ripe and supple but not warming or heavy in style. Red-fruit flavors are tinged by a refreshing crush of minerals and delicate umami notes. It’s a fruit-forward but finessed wine at a bargain price. Saranty Imports. —Anna Lee C. Iijima
Keuka Spring 2017 Dynamite Vineyards Gewürztraminer (Finger Lakes); $22, 90 points. A perfumed nose of rose, ginger and melon starts off this powerful single-vineyard Gewürztraminer. The palate is broad in feel, fleshed out by flavors of creamy melon and potpourri, with gentle pithy tones of lemon rind providing astringency. A healthy vein of acidity helps carry it along to a lengthy, spicy finish. —Alexander Peartree
Iby 2018 Blaufränkisch Rosé (Burgenland); $18, 89 points. A certain earthiness on the nose leads onto a rounded juicy palate that features strawberry, juicy plum and bright citrus. This is a rounded, dry and fresh rosé. MS Walker. —Anne Krebiehl MW
Published: August 2, 2019