2025 Wine List

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whenwine1

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In 2025, I continued to teach WSET Level 1 and 2 at the International Wine Center. While enhancing my knowledge through teaching, I visited Chianti Classico and Montalcino and attended various wine events and masterclasses.

Presenting my 2025 Wine List, thoughtfully organized into four distinct categories:

  • White (including Rose and Amber Wine)
  • Sparkling
  • Red
  • Fortified/Dessert

Within each category, I’ve further classified the wines into three subcategories:

  1. Amazing Value (<$30): Wines that offer exceptional quality without breaking the bank. (*means less than $20 after tax!)
  2. Just Enjoy ($30-$75): Wines perfect for enjoyment, falling within a moderate price range.
  3. Fancy ($75-$200): A Wow Wine on the table. More complex and concentrated wine with longer finish. Wines that are collectible and often have age potential.
  4. Special Occasion: wines that cost over $200 but are often accessible through specialty wine shops or fine dining establishments.
  5.  A Whole New World, focused on rare and exceptional wine experiences I had in 2025. You can access those wines through auctions and fine dining.

To enhance your wine selection process, I’ve also included insights into the collectability and ageability of each bottle:

  • Drink: Indicating wines that are best enjoyed immediately. Holding them won’t enhance their quality.
  • Drink/Hold: Suggesting wines that can be enjoyed now or, if preferred, aged in your cellar for a few years to develop further.
  • Hold: Reserved for wines that are currently too young to be consumed. It’s recommended to let them rest for at least a few years before uncorking.

It’s important to note that most wines are designed for immediate enjoyment, so there’s no need to feel pressured to acquire bold, tannic, age-worthy wines if they don’t align with your preferences.

Cheers to a well-rounded and enjoyable wine experience!

White/Rose/Amber (Orange) Wine

Although most white wines are meant for early drinking, some can age remarkably well if they have the right acidity, concentration, and structure. If you love Burgundy but don’t want to break the bank, consider focusing on smaller producers: they sometimes offer excellent Premier Cru bottles for around $50.

Red Wine

Many of these wines can be notably young upon release, as I often tasted them at trade events where producers and importers showcase or pre-release their latest vintages. While these wines can be exceptional, many red wines benefit from aging or, at a minimum, decanting to reach their full potential.

Sparkling

Most sparkling wines are non-vintage, representing the signature style of their respective houses.
If you enjoy the bread-dough and brioche notes typical of the traditional method but want to stay under $20, consider trying Cava or Cremant.
1. For those who appreciate Champagne, especially vintage, exploring “grower”
2. Champagne or small producers can offer exceptional value compared to the well known, classic labels.
3. It is possible to get vintage champagne under $75. Focuses on the sales!

Dessert and Fortified:

Don’t let your grandma’s cream sherry fool you. dDessert and fortified wines can be both intriguing and beautiful. Some wine bars are starting to incorporate sherry into cocktails, so it might be time to try some home experiments of your own.

Special Occasion:

A focus on wines priced above $200 or those that are harder to find due to older vintages. While these bottles can be a splurge, they are often still accessible through specialty wine shops or fine dining programs.
Some older vintages may surprise you. Excellent bottles can sometimes be found for under
$150 at select retailers or through auctions, offering a completely different tasting experience.
They are absolutely worth exploring.
It’s important to note that regions like Burgundy often show significant vintage variation,
which heavily influences a wine’s ageability. In contrast, vintage Champagne tends to
emphasize stylistic differences rather than strict notions of aging potential.

A Whole New World:

A focus on rare and exceptional wines that are hard to find.
As a recognized wine educator, I have had the privilege of tasting rare wines and those in magnum or jeroboam sizes at various trade events and master classes. Some of these older vintages, even at 40 or 50 years old, have retained remarkable youthfulness. Others, while past their prime, have left me with unforgettable memories.

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