Uncorked

Five bottle recommendations from a certified oenophile.

 by Vicki Denig

Greetings, Sophisticated Living! My name is Vicki Denig and I'm a wine and travel journalist and Certified Specialist of Wine, based between New York and Paris. When not posted up writing in either city, my favorite thing to do is scour the globe in search of the most interesting, delicious bottles I can find—and going forward, I'll be sharing five of my recent finds with you here. Below, you'll find a handful of recent discoveries that I've enjoyed, as well as a bit about their stories, what they taste like, and the context in which I enjoyed them (and how I think you'll best enjoy them, too!)

Pierre Péters L'Esprit Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2017 (Champagne, France – SRP: $99.00)

They say there's never a bad time for Champagne, so I figured kicking off this column with a vintage Grand Cru bottle from one of the region's most exciting small growers made sense! Based in the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs, Pierre Péters has been operating as an artisanal, family-owned operation for six generations. This 100% Chardonnay hails exclusively from Grand Cru-designated vines and is aged for four years on the lees prior to release. The wine is everything you want from a quality Blanc de Blancs—satiny and pleasantly creamy, with notes of citrus, marzipan, chalk, and toasted brioche. I enjoyed this bottle with fried spinach croquettes and a show-stopping sunset before dinner in the Maldives, and despite the tastiness of the main course, I can confidently say that this bubbly bottle stole the show. 

Fumey-Chatelain Crémant du Jura NV (Jura, France – SRP: $33.99)

As much as I love Champagne, not every night calls for something as grandiose as the above bottle; however, I'm a big proponent of normalizing bubbly beyond special occasions, as sparkling wines are some of the most food-friendly wines on the market—and let's face it, simply some of the most fun to drink. This approachable bottle hails from Fumey-Chatelain, an exciting domaine spearheaded by a young, second-generation vigneron in France's Jura region. Like the above wine, it's also made from Chardonnay, though grown in different soils and aged for about a year on the lees. Fresh, zesty, and super easy to drink, I actually enjoyed a glass of this today at lunch (paired with cod in a lemon cream sauce) upon landing in Paris after a red eye, as there's no better way to perk your palate up than with a glass of bubbly!

Wasenhaus Gutedel 2021 (Baden, Germany – SRP: $36.99)

Spearheaded by Christoph Wolber and Alexander Götze, Wasenhaus has taken the wine industry by storm. Located in the relatively lesser-known region of Baden, the pair has quickly showcased the immense potential for wines from southern Germany. They are known for their light hand and meticulous attention to detail in the cellar. Gutedel is a light-bodied, refreshing white made from the Chasselas grape, which is generally better known in Swiss wine production. I enjoyed this bottle with my cousin over a long lunch at Copenhagen's famed Møntergade restaurant, and it paired beautifully with perfectly fried plaice drenched in freshly squeezed lemon. 

Textura da Estrela Branco 2019 (Dão, Portugal – SRP: $34.99)

Although the most famous Portuguese whites tend to come in effervescent Vinho Verde format, this textured, thought-provoking bottle promises to change any preconceived notions you may have about white wines from the Iberian Peninsula. Produced from an organically farmed blend of native varieties (Encruzado, Bical, and Cercial), this fuller-bodied white is aged sur-lie in a combination of cement tanks and large-format French oak for 11 months, followed by 10 additional months in steel. Every time I taste this wine, I'm immediately brought to the complexity of White Burgundy, though offered at a fraction of the cost. If you tend to reach for Côte d'Or Chardonnay, I can't recommend this wine enough—think of it like your favorite White Burg's sunny and energetic Portuguese cousin. 

Biondi-Santi Rossi di Montalcino 2020 (Montalcino, Italy – SRP: $109.99)

Serious Italian wine lovers, especially those with an affinity for Sangiovese, are likely no strangers to Biondi-Santi. This pioneering estate played a massive role in shaping the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, thanks to their forward-thinking idea to bottle mono-varietal Sangiovese from this special area in Tuscany. Rosso di Montalcino is often deemed as the "little sibling" of Brunello, though when made as well as this one, the wine merits serious recognition in its own right. Juicy and savory, the wine's signature notes of red fruits, citrus peel, and crushed herbs are marked by bright acidity, fine-grained tannins, and a long finish, making it the perfect match for grilled meats, pizza, and all things red sauce—pasta, parmigiana, and more. 

Vicki Denig is a wine / travel journalist based between New York and Paris. Her work regularly appears in various industry publications, including Decanter, Food & Wine, WineSearcher, and more. In addition to journalism, Vicki also works with a handful of wine-focused clients, including Paris Wine Company, High Road Wine & Spirits, and more. When not writing, she enjoys running, indoor cycling classes, petting dogs, and popping bottles on her rooftop with friends.