Spotify has its yearly music “wrapped”, a collection of your tastes to share with all of your friends, so they know you’re a real one... Or at least a huge nerd that spent too much time alone this year, digging for the best new songs, or researching micro-genres because your previous jobs were at record stores and you’re always chasing the next song that will make you feel like you’re falling in love for the first time. Well we had all the fun for you, and did that digging (or in this case, drinking) to find you the best wines. The following are your friendly Hop City wine buyers’ top picks of 2023:
Liz Miller - West End Wine Buyer
$51.99 Phelan Farm Autrement
For my birthday this year, I asked the staff at Krog to steer me in the direction of something really unique. They claimed that this wine was bursting with flavors of resinous herbs, and that it would blow my socks off. It sounded like the perfect wine to kick off a new chapter of my life. Autrement is a Savoie inspired blend of Pinot Noir (20%), Gamay (40%) and Mondeuse (40%) and will transport you to an Alpine cabin with notes of coniferous pine needles, bark, smoke, leather, and a core of sour cherries. It really did blow my socks off... Right down to my birthday suit!
$25.99 Claus Preisinger Puszta Libre!
An old coworker described this wine as tasting like “adult cherry cola”. As soon as I took my first sip, I totally got it. This wine has the same refreshing herbal and bark notes of an old fashioned soda shop pop. Pop one in the fridge for an hour before savoring with your favorite movie and a hot ‘za. Shoot... Invite the girls over for a good old fashioned slumber party. This glou glou wine is one your friends will thank you for introducing them to.
Jade Palmer - Krog Street Wine Buyer
$41.99 Outward Wines Massa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine is a beautiful ode to the Cali Cabs of yore - bright, fresh red and black fruit blending harmoniously with notes of leather, baking spices, and cedar. It's lighter than your typical California Cab and that's what I love about it. The acidity plays well in
balancing the fruit and structure on the palate. Plus, this is an incredibly small production - only 228 cases produced! We're super lucky to have it on our shelves.
$35.99 Scar of the Sea Topotero Vineyard Gamay
This was a surprise to me - Gamay like I'd never had before. It has the typical semi-carbonic notes of candied red fruit, but it's also layered with flamed orange peel,pink peppercorn, and fresh strawberries. I also love the hands-off approach that Mikey
and Gina take with their wines; all of the Scar of the Sea wines are well-crafted, true expressions of the terroir.
$28.99 Domaine Sérol Turbullent
These off-dry Gamay bubbles have been a constant for me this autumn/winter. The small amount of residual sugar provides a little weight to the palate, which is full of fresh raspberry and strawberry notes. This is the perfect pre-dinner drink!
