R. López de Heredia "Viña Cubillo" Rioja Crianza 2012

I've admired the wines of López de Heredia for nearly 20 years, and became forever smitten with this most classic of all Rioja estates after a 2005 dinner we hosted at Blackbird with the passionate María José López de Heredia as guest of honor. Her 2012 Viña Cubillo is wildly good. Perfectly and deliciously representing Rioja's traditional dried red fruits, grainy earth, forward wood and vibrant structure, it is the best example of this cuvée I have ever had. Simply gorgeous.

Sabine Godme "Terre De Verzenay" Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne NV

I love bubbles. Champagne is my desert island wine, especially grower Champagne. [It's true, just talking about Champagne puts Jen in a happy place! - Peter] Shiny like a new toy in the glass, you get ripe raspberry, spiced apple and pear, cinnamon swirl brioche and clove on the frothy palate on this treasure from Sabine Godme. The 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay blend has a nice tight acid corset keeping everything balanced and beautiful. Supply chain woes be damned - if I'm stranded somewhere, you better be shipping me this wine!

Domaine Gilles Barge "Cuvée du Plessy" Côte-Rôtie 2016

When I tasted the Cuvée du Plessy it brought back memories of the very first wine that completely blew me away. That wine was the 1979 Guigal Côte-Rôtie which back in 1984 was selling for $16.99. In preparation for our first Wine Discount Center newsletter in September 1984, we had to make room for the new arrivals so we ended up reducing price on the Guigal to $9.99. I bought a case and proceeded to drink it over the next month. Could not keep my hands off of it. Ended up buying the last case and savoring it for about a year. It had complexity and layer upon layer of flavor. That was the wine that turned me into a wine lover and probably helped steer me into a career of wine. The Gilles Barge brought back those memories. It has that black and blue fruit, black pepper, smoke and bacon quality that I just love. Liquid beef jerky with plenty of fruit and depth. The finish lasts for many minutes. Pricing of Côte-Rôtie has of course sky-rocketed over the past 30+ years with most in the $75 - $100 price category. I would call the 2016 Gilles Barge an absolute steal at $60.

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht "Clos Windsbuhl" Alsace Pinot Gris 2018

My pick is the 2018 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris "Clos Windsbuhl." I have been fortunate over the years to have enjoyed bottles from this vineyard going back to the early 90s, including several with at least 10 years of age on them. I most recently had the 1996 two years ago at Lao Sze Chuan. Longtime Vin Chicago shoppers know that I am a chef by training, and this is one of my favorite wines to serve with a variety of cuisine - ranging from foie gras to spicy foods.

Principiano Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

Our Elston shoppers might be familiar with my (deserved) favoritism for Italian wine. So of course, I'm picking something from Piedmont. If you haven't tried any of Ferdinando Principiano's recent bottlings, you're missing out. When I tried this bad boy, my main takeaway was simple - it just kept getting better. Don't get me wrong - it started out great, with classic Nebbiolo notes of dried cherry and wild roses. Usually, Langhe wines stop there but this one just got deeper and more complex. Lifted and dynamic, the palate shows plum, mushroom and forest floor, leaving me with a tantalizing grippy finish that reminds me of Barolo. Pairing-wise, if it has tomato sauce in it, throw it with this Nebbiolo. Seriously, this wine can go more than toe-to-toe with anything at the price.

Hendry "Blocks 7 & 22" Napa Valley Zinfandel 2017

Those knowing my vinous proclivities would not guess me to make Napa Valley Zin as my choice for WOTY. From two blocks of vines planted 26 and 46 years ago, the Hendry checks every box for intellectual and hedonistic drinkers alike. This beguiling and flavorsome red is loaded with fresh raspberry and green hillside herbs such as sage and bay which interplay with fresh and lovely floral, black tea and maple nuances. A tasty, terroir-driven wine, it fits the bill as the mythical Zinfandel-as-Claret, and impressively does so while ringing in at 15.6% ABV. The drinkability here is sublime!

Shady Lane Leelanau Peninsula Sparkling Riesling 2020

My wine of the year comes from the Leelanau Peninsula of Northern Michigan. The 2020 Shady Lane Sparkling Riesling has my heart for many reasons, one of them being the fact that I assisted in the winemaking while doing an internship there last year! Shady Lane's head winemaker Kasey Wierzba, who earned her winemaking chops in Napa Valley, and assistant winemaker Adrienne Stone have a tangible passion for cool-climate winemaking that blows me away. While technically off-dry, the acidity from the Riesling is thirst quenching and balances everything perfectly. The nose gives subtle hints of pear, honeysuckle, and brioche. If Northern Michigan sparkling wine is not yet on your radar, it should be!

Dry Creek Vineyard "Fumé Blanc" Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Domaine Saint-Germain "La Pierre Marquée" Roussette de Savoie 2019

Arnaud Lambert "Clos de Midi" Saumur Blanc 2019

It's no secret that I really love dry, bright white wines with a load of minerality. While I was only supposed to pick one favorite, I couldn't resist sharing the Clos de Midi with you too. I've probably had more bottles of this excellent Loire Valley Chenin Blanc over the past year than any other wine. As with the Roussette, you won't get the full experience until you allow it some air and let it warm up a good bit from fridge temp. Once that's done, just kick back and enjoy this beauty with your favorite hard cheese and charcuterie. In their 93-Point review, Wine Spectator describes the finish of this expressive wine as being "long and seductive." That is spot on. Such good stuff.