LOW ROAD WHITE

2023 Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli, $17.95

This Basque wine is bone dry and acidic with a slight effervescence. It is the ultimate starter wine and can be enjoyed with food or by itself on a sunny day. Pour it high so it splashes a little in the glass to release the bubbles. You fancy! Psst, it was named one of the Top 100 Wines of 2024 from Wine Spectator. Show off a lil’...

2023 Paitin Roero Arneis “Elisa”, $18.44

This Arneis is named after Elisa Elia, the woman who managed the winery during World War II. The family has been making this wine since she died in 1973. Everything we look for in an Italian White... think acidity, melon, floral notes, and no oak. Like most Italian wines, you can drink it with almost any food.

LOW ROAD RED

2022 Garofoil Monte Reale Sangiovese, $13

We firmly believe that there is a wine for every occasion... sometimes two. This is the perfect affordable red for when the stock market is tanking, tariffs are coming, and summer is around the corner. We also saved half a bottle for Day two (pause for shock) and it held up well. Try it and let us know if you want a case for the summer. Here comes the sun.

Alternative description: Bedroom Wine. A noun or adjective coined by Club member Heather to describe an affordable light-to-medium-bodied red wine with a screw cap that holds up well over two days of drinking. Merriam Webster status pending..

2021 Planet Mouraz “Chibu” Tinto, $19.33

Portuguese reds are generally blends (think Port) and this is no exception. 20 varietals, 80% red, 20% white, most from old vines and different plots surrounding this village. Glass half empty – so many varietals, too easy! Glass half full – a beautiful wine with minimal intervention. As they make it, if they didn’t like, simply adjust the blend! It’s so easy that Chibu, the buck pictured on the label is listed as the winemaker. We’re going with “$19 buck chuck.”

HIGH ROAD WHITE

2023 Cristom Louise Vineyard Viognier, $27

Viognier is usually found in France (sometimes even blended in small amounts with Syrah in the Rhône). If you are going to drink it from the USA, we think the Northwest makes the best style. This single-vineyard Viognier from Oregon is a rockstar. Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc drinkers rejoice! This party brings the acidity of a fancy lunch and the body and flavor of a nice dinner. Rock on.

2021 Alvaredos-Hobbs Godello, $27

If you’ve been with the Club for a while, you know we love when Paul Hobbs partners with foreign wineries and gets the most out of their potential. Hobbs works with aging, barrels, and blending to get the best vintage of every varietal. Natural wine drinkers (cough) might call him a cheater, but we call him a Winemaker. Yes, we know. It’s a 2021, but it’s the current release and Wine Spectator said you can drink it until 2029. Awarding it 91 points and opined “There's a lush quality to this white's flavors of golden apple, creamed almond and vanilla, yet a spine of vivid acidity and a tangy streak of salinity trim the rich profile effortlessly. Fresh and well-balanced on the palate, with aromatic broom, ground ginger and Meyer lemon peel notes lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2029." Or as we would’ve put it, “That’s so Hobbs!”

HIGH ROAD RED

2021 Sandro Fay ‘Valgella’ Valtellina Superiore DOCG, $23.88

Yeah,  we just had a Nebbiolo in the February Delivery and the other High Road Red is Italian. I struggled with it, too. But we loved it so much! After we drank the case that we bought to have around the house that everyone slurped up, we’ve put away our pretense. You’re welcome for an extra Italian wine. Prego.

Sandro Fay is the winery, Valtellina is the region in the northernmost part of Italy, Valgella is the single vineyard that has their oldest vines of Nebbiolo (called Chiavennasca in the region). It is a enjoyable summer red that is medium bodied and complex. Let it breathe for a minute (or two for the patient). It’s a mere 13% alcohol, soooo if you are so inclined,  go ahead and drink the bottle.

2017 Franco Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino, $40

I was gifted a bottle of this from a friend. We wanted to taste it blind (beat it, Google). I opened it, gave Sarah half a glass, and drank the rest. It was fantastic. Google told me that it earned 92-94 points but it was too expensive for the Club (no offense friends). Except, we had to have it. We negotiated a better deal, lowered our markup, and barely zipped this into the High Road. We think you should drink it now, but it is Brunello, so do what you want.