The Wines You Need to be Drinking Right Now

One of my favorite foods is wild boar, and this week I had the pleasure of tasting some meat from that animal. Rich, earthy, complex, accented with allspice and larded with bacon. It was satisfying, and with it I drank a Pinot Noir, a 2017 from Cuvaison (Los Carneros).

This wine is 100 percent Pinot Noir, and it’s worth every penny of the $42 retail price. Cuvaison has a rich history as a winery, and is a family-owned estate that was founded in 1969 (it has been owned by the Schmidheiny family, based in Switzerland, since 1979). Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir are the stars at Cuvaison, but Rosé, Syrah, sparkling wines and dessert wines are part of the mix. (Watch the video below for a look at Cuvaison.)

The Pinot we drank was from Los Carneros, a cool-climate area of rolling hills and (primarily) shallow clay. Cherry and soil dominate the bouquet — we tasted immediately after opening the bottle — accompanied by notes of rose petal. Tannins are restrained and supple, and the wine paired well with the boar and garlic potatoes. In the glass, a luminous garnet color attracts the eye. This is a wine that’s made well. (Word to the wise: Visit the Cuvaison winery. The tasting room is stunning, and the environs are beautiful.)

Another wine I enjoyed this week is from Sicily, the 2018 Regaleali Le Rose Terre. Nerello Mascalese is the grape here, and you should drink this wine as often as you can.

Its acidity and brightness are exemplary (and deliciously refreshing), and paired well with our roast chicken and spinach. You’ll taste raspberry and rose petals (thousands of rose bushes thrive on the estate where the grapes that produce this wine are grown), and you should drink this slightly chilled (but not overly — don’t freeze your tastebuds). The video below takes you on a tour of the Regaleali estate.

This wine can be found for around $17, and I’d recommend buying it by the case, because it drinks well with poached salmon, roast pork, eggplant dishes, and pasta. It’s a food-friendly pour, indeed.

I love its color; the makers describe it as “deep salmon,” but I liken it to a sunset I was fortunate to see in Oman… shiny light wet copper. You’ll drink this with your eyes as well.

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