M. Bonnamy Cremant de Loire Brut (Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay), Loire Valley, France, NV – Bright lemon and peach go hand-in-hand with delicate mousse and struck flint. The whole package sings “Loire.”
Anima Negra Bianco “Quibia” (Premsal, Callet), Mallorca, Spain, 2013 – A bit of age gives this island wine the depth and nuttiness to stand up to an all-night pintxos binge, especially the fruits of the brine.
Giorgio Nicolini Vitovska, Venezia-Giulia, Italy, 2015 – Vitovska is aged with extended skin-contact and bottle without filtration for a hue of burnished gold and psychedelic flavors of clove, guava, and nutmeg.
Rojac Refosk, Istra, Slovenia, 2013 – Slovenia had to sneak in here somewhere, and in what better form than this dynamite Refosk (a synonym for Croatian Terran). Plum, spice, and bittersweet chocolate.
Joan d’Anguera “Altaroses” Garnatxa, Montsant, Spain, 2015 – A bright, tangy, utterly stupefying Garnacha given almost a sherry-like treatment. Bright cherry cordial tempered by herb and a salty bite.