2016 Silverado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ($50)
A plummy, balanced Napa cab that doesn’t break the bank is hard to find. This is it.
Geek Wines for Adventurous Drinkers
2018 Two Shepherds Skin Fermented Pinot Gris ($27)
Orange wines are almost mainstream—there’s now a book on them, Amber Revolution. This dry, refreshing, rich-textured example from Sonoma’s Russian River is a good introduction.
2015 Kabaj Rebula ($25)
Some orange wines are funky, but not this tannic, elegant orange-hued one from Slovenia, made by a winemaker who worked in Bordeaux.
2018 Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosé ($33)
Volcanic soil drew this obsessive biodynamic winemaker to Mt. Etna. His food-friendly rosé, a blend of red and white grapes, is beloved of geeks the world over.
Sweet
NV Patrick Bottex Bugey-Cerdon La Cueille ($23)
Located near the Savoie, this is a pet nat made from gamay and poulsard that’s lightly sweet, gulpable, and low in alcohol.
NV Warre’s Otima 10 Year Tawny Port (500 ml, $23)
This fresher, lighter, tangier version of port, with its overtones of caramelized orange peel, will please even those who don’t like its richer darker cousins.
2013 Hawk and Horse Vineyards Latigo ($50, 375 ml)
This dark, scrumptious port-style sweet wine is made from certified organic grapes in California’s Lake County. It’s tailor made for chocolate.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.