The Best Wines I’ve Drank (Lately)

What has wine done for me lately?

via GIPHY

A lot of things! Since I got my WSET-2 from American School of WinesI started working a few hours a week at Underdog Wine Co. in Kansas City, Mo. (ps, recently renamed one of the top 50 wine shops in the United States by wine enthusiast!) and I have been writing on my own for SOMM TV Online Magazine (Which, if you like wine or food, is a must-play streaming service!). It has been AWESOME.

And, here at FBG, they also sent me some new wines to try, and let me tell you, that new job doesn’t suck.

Read on for some of the bottles I’ve tried that have made me feel like a heart-eyed smiley face emoji with every sip.

Wine Folly Wine Club via Wine Access

I have loved wine madness for a long time, so try a shipment from the Wine Folly Wine Club via Wine Access It was a no-brainer when we got the offer.

Every two months, the wine club will send you four bottles with an educational focus in mind (cost is $120, plus tax and shipping for each shipment). Our focus was on warm-climate wines, with super-tasty, hard-to-find bottles from producers in Spain, South Africa, California, and Australia. In addition to the bottles, it came with detailed tasting notes and background information on how a warm climate influences a wine and which varietals thrive in higher temperatures.

How were the wines you ask? SO GOOD. I invited a few friends over to try them all (always a good time), and while each had his favorites, there wasn’t one we didn’t like or wouldn’t drink. And it’s always fun to try things side by side to see the differences between varieties and regions. (Don’t want to open all four bottles at once? You could do these bottles one night at a time, or consider investing in one coravinso you don’t have to uncork the whole bottle).

I’m a wine nerd at heart, so I really enjoyed the educational component of the Wine Folly Wine Club, but Wine Access also has a number of other interesting clubs at a variety of other price points and themes, including Sunset Mag Wine. Club that features wines from the west coast and the Michelin Guide that is curated in conjunction with sommeliers from Michelin-starred restaurants. (See all clubs here.) Wine Access also sells wines by the bottle. — with a beautiful collection from around the world that you don’t exactly find in your supermarket every day.

Literally Anything by Unico Zelo

Apparently there is no only Zelo It came from Australia which I don’t love.

Because in the last few months I have had Sea foam: a deliciously salty and fruity Pet Nat made with Fiano and Vermentino.

The perfectly balanced River sand (Fiano) that’s a fabulous mix of lemon, nectarine and roasted almond:

esotericwhich is a blend of Fiano, Zibbibo, Moscato Giallo, Gewurtztraminer and Greco that has a mango, nectarine and spice flavor with lots of minerality (never mind the reno kitchen in the background):

I can not forget cool AF either, that it tastes as fun as its name. A blend of Nero d’Avola and Zibibbo, it’s light, fresh and juicy like… well, you know.

And I love you ALL. truffle hound It’s next on my list to try, but let’s be honest: If I see a bottle of Unico Zelo I haven’t tried yet, I buy it. (And, at $25-$35 a bottle, they definitely feel special, but not so special events that horde them for the birth of a child or other important event.)

Adobe Road Winery

Last but not least, there are two wines Adobe Road Winery sent me, they are not playing.

Started by former professional race car driver Kevin Buckler and his wife Debra Buckler in 2002, Adobe Road Winery sources its grapes from some of the largest and most historic family-owned vineyards in Cali’s Sonoma and Napa counties.

To be honest, I don’t drink a lot of Cali Chard on a regular basis, but the 2019 Chardonnay Petaluma Gap, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Roberts Road ($31)It was just lovely. With ripe peaches and nectarine, plus plenty of acid to give it a bright freshness, it’s aged, but not too old. Think baking spices and a creamy bite that is full-bodied but not too heavy.

then there is COAL, which is, let’s say, not shy. A dark, tinted blend of 48 percent Petite Sirah, 26 percent Malbec, 22 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 4 percent Petit Verdot, the bottle design itself is as heavy as its mouthfeel ( Seriously, I could use this bottle as a dumbbell in a pinch.) You get aromas of black cherries, licorice, and rich toasty oak leading to flavors of ripe plum and crushed blackberries with a bit of violet and lots of incorporated tannins giving you a long, crazy finish. Again, not a timid wine and not something I’d drink every night (especially at $85 a bottle), but it’s definitely delicious for those times when you’re in the mood for something that will really haunt you.

What wines have you drunk lately that are giving you good vibes? Share that love in the comments! —Jenny