Red Wines Sommeliers Approved to Buy Now

Ask the maker of a great red wine, and you’ll learn there is much more to it than truth. Many human and environmental variables must be harmonious for a wine’s balance to be outstanding. When choosing the top red wines, we may need to consider older vintages, but it is essential to invest in the current. The thrill of finding more aged, more difficult-to-find vintages is just as rewarding as shopping for younger bottles. You can choose a young, fresh red wine to drink now or one to keep for 20 years. Here are some of our sommelier-approved bottles that will stop you in your track.

King Estate Temperance Hill Pinot Noir 2016,

King Estate produces some of the best wines in the South Willamette Valley. Although they offer various grapes, you can go with the region’s most famous wine, pinot noir. This 2016 Temperance Hill bottling is special for King Estate because its eponymous site was first made available in this vintage after years of being sought-after by the winemakers. Temperance Hill, which sits at a higher elevation than most of King Estate’s other vineyards, has been sustainably cultivated since 1999 and produces stunningly earthy, complex wines, as demonstrated by this 2016 Pinot Noir. You can expect violet, rose petals, and blueberry notes with bright acidity, gentle tannins, and hints of truffle.

Kita Camp 4 Vineyard Grenache, 2017

Tara Gomez, a winemaker from Santa Ynez Chumash tribe, has steadily risen in popularity over the past 20 years. Her passion and talent are unmatched, and her impact on the global wine industry is undeniable. Kita is a sustainable winery in Santa Ynez that produces various award-winning, eco-friendly wines. The 2017 Camp 4 Vineyard Grenache, while a little hard to find, is an outstanding wine with a beautiful blend of notes, including cocoa, violets, red fruits, and ripe earth. Remember to check out the wines from Camins2 Dreams – a boutique winery Gomez founded with her wife, Mireia, in 2017, when shopping for this bottle.

Penfolds Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018

The Penfolds Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon will be worth every penny of severe collectors (and the year you wait to open it). This is the quintessential expression of the winery’s signature style, favored by critics. The 2018 Quantum vintage blends Australian cabernet vines grown in Napa Valley and a small amount of old-vine Australian shiraz. It has an undeniable intensity and presence. This wine should be aged for at least five years before consumption.

Bodega Chacra “Treinta y Dos” Pinot Noir, 2017

Piero Incisa della Rocchetta is a winemaker who has a long family history. His grandfather, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, was responsible for the legendary Super Tuscan Sassicaia. Now Piero is pursuing his vinous dream by producing old-vine, biodynamic pinot noir deep in Patagonia. Bodega Chacra’s 2017 Treinta y Dos, a single-vineyard wine from the Bodega Chacra, is a very impressive bottle. It’s age-worthy and can hold its own after a decant. This pinot has a beautiful floral, with prominent black and cherry notes. It also has finely structured tannins as well as a distinct salinity.

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato, 2017

It’s always possible to enjoy big, bold Italian wine. Pio Cesare is a family-owned producer known for producing some of Piedmont’s best wines. Ornato 2017 is particularly interesting because it was Pio Cesare’s first single vineyard bottling. The 1985 vintage was also the first. It has gained a reputation for being Pio Cesare’s most potent wine due to its intensity. Ornato is a Barolo made of 100 percent nebbiolo. But it has a certain richness and concentration that makes it stand out. This one will need to be cellared for at least four more years.

Frescobaldi Gorgona Rosso, 2018

This stunning red blend from Frescobaldi is as captivating as its contents. The island of Gorgona, off the coasts of Livorno, is a penal settlement. The winemaking project of the inmates is an innovative social reform program designed to prepare its residents for success outside the prison walls by providing them with valuable skills, living wages equal to those of Frescobaldi’s employees, and boosting their morale. This operation is not only doing good for the world — Gorgona has a low recidivism rate — but it also produces delicious. The amphora-aged red wine Gorgona Roso blends Sangiovese grapes with rich spices and an ample bouquet. It has a velvety palate and complex taste that ends in a volcanic finish.

Realm Cellars, The Bard, 2018.

California Cabernet is vast, but a few wineries and bottles stand out. Realm Cellars, a Bordeaux-native winemaker, has built a loyal following over the years. It is known for its artistic partnerships and exclusive membership club. Touquette’s Bordeaux blend Bard is an excellent entry-level wine for newcomers to Touquette (and for the more experienced), and 2018 is a fantastic value. This wine is a mighty cabernet-dominated powerhouse that pairs well with grilled meats, mushrooms, creamy sauces, and pungent cheeses. The 2018 Realm Cellars Bard will last for a few more years. If you want to drink it now, choose a 2011 or older vintage.

Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Les Bons Batons, 2018

The Domaine Ghislaine Barthod has been making wine for nearly 100 years and is considered a legend on the Cote-d’Or in Burgundy. Ghislaine Barthod is the protégée of Gaston Barthod, the previous winemaker of the house and her father. She has an uncanny ability to bring out the best expression of her grapes and of the soils in which they are grown. Les Bons Batons, named after a parcel of the estate that is particularly special, is an extraordinary wine. The 2017 and 2018 vintages are especially popular among the sommeliers. The wine is medium-bodied and earthy, with a nose and palate that are both strikingly earthy. It has notes of cherry, raspberry, and silky spices, leading to a balanced and lingering finish. You can drink it right away or store the bottle for ten years.

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