Imported and distributed locally by Winebow.
GREAT VALUE
J. de Villebois Pinot Noir 2022
Light in body and color, this Loire Valley pinot noir carries flavors of cherries and plums on a wave of silk. ABV: 13 percent. BW: 560 grams (Average).
Joey Tensley Fundamental Pinot Noir 2021
Central Coast, Calif., $25
Joey Tensley made his name with syrah from Santa Barbara County. Now he’s branching out with Fundamental, a line of value-priced wines from California marketed through Total Wine & More stores. (The line includes a cabernet sauvignon, a chardonnay and a white blend.) Flavors of dark cherry and tart boysenberry dominate, seasoned by an herbal note of sarsaparilla. Moderate tannins on the finish give the wine texture and grip. ABV: 13.7 percent. BW: 545 grams (Average).
Available from Tensley Wines and Total Wine & More.
Prices are approximate. For availability, check Wine.com, Wine-searcher.com and the websites and social media feeds of the wineries, importers, distributors, and your favorite local wine store. You can also ask your local retailer to order wines from the distributors listed. Bottle weight is included, because this is the single most important contributor to wine’s carbon footprint. Have wine questions for Dave McIntyre? Send them to Food@washpost.com.
Legend
★ Good: The wine delivers what it promises at a fair price. If it says chardonnay, it tastes like chardonnay.
★★ Excellent: A wine with character and added interest. May elevate your eyebrows at the first sip.
★★★ Extraordinary: An exciting wine that stands out from others in its class. Fist-pumping, table-thumping good.
★★★★ Sublime: Otherworldly. May have you thinking, “So this is what they were talking about.”
