2019 Vik La Piu Belle Rosé ($28)
Classy and elegant, this lavender-scented rosé from one of Chile’s top producers comes in a stunning art bottle and tastes of ripe berries, herbs, and citrus.
Light, Rich Reds
From fruity examples ideal for chilling to serious grand dinner bottles
2018 Tenuta San’Antonio Familia Castagnedi Nanfrè Valpolicella ($15)
This young Valpolicella from an Amarone producer is everything you want in a daily quaffer: It’s bright, fresh, fruity, and just plain yummy.
2017 Herdade de Coelheiros Coelheiros ($16)
With its smoky richness, this silky-textured alicante bouschet-aragonez blend is flat-out delicious. Wines like this are why Portugal’s Alentejo region is hot.
2018 Schiava Abbazia di Novacella ($19)
Soft, light reds that can be chilled are having a moment. This Italian bottling is delicate and juicy, with hints of alpine herbs.
2018 Masseria Li Veli Salento Susumaniello Rosso ($22)
A top winery in Puglia overdelivers in this lovely, dry, juicy red from an ancient grape. It’s loaded with mouth-filling dark cherry flavors.
2011 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Tinto Crianza ($26)
This revered Rioja estate’s traditionalist wines include this undervalued lively and subtle tempranillo-based red.
2017 Moric Blaufränkisch ($29)
Winemaker Roland Velich is the Austrian maestro for the blaufränkisch grape, and his savory entry-level bottling serves up a lot of elegance for the price.
2018 Château Moulin-à-Vent Couvent des Thorins ($30)
Sadly, Beaujolais wines are not as cheap as they once were. This one is completely satisfying, smooth, and serious—it just says, “Drink me.”
2017 David Duband Hautes Cotes de Nuits Rouge Louis Auguste ($33)
Burgundy is expensive, so it pays to look in the “outer boroughs.” This ripe, crushed-berry red has some of the top bottles’ famous silky texture.