2019 Terre Brûlée Chenin Blanc ($16)
Vincent Carême, a Loire Valley star, recently started this South African project (his wife, Tania, is from the Cape region). His deft touch with Chenin Blanc translates seamlessly into this bright, peachy-lemony white.
2019 Chemistry Willamette Valley Pinot Gris ($16)
A collaboration between Oregon’s Stoller Family Estate and Chehalem Winery, this white has scintillating nectarine and sweet citrus aromas; it’s juicy and ripe, with flavors in a similar vein.
2019 Santa Julia El Burro Natural Malbec ($15)
Organic Argentine winery Santa Julia jumps into the natural wine game here (minimal intervention, no sulfur, natural yeasts, etc.). Think spiced plum cake flavors but with a little raw-yet-appealing edginess.
2019 Inama Soave Classico ($17)
Classic Soave: crisp, mouthwatering, with pear and apple flavors and a slight almond note that lingers. Inama is a top Soave producer, and its 2019 vintage maintains its hold on that claim.
2018 Iconic Sidekick Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)
If you want a Cabernet that seems designed to go with a roast bird, this one fits the bill. It leans to the elegant side, with surprisingly long red cherry and currant notes and light, fine tannins.
2019 Sokol Blosser Evolution Lucky No. 9 White ($18)
Oregon mainstay Sokol Blosser’s popular Evolution white is now out in nifty 1.5-liter boxes (about 10 glasses). Made from a host of white grapes, it’s full of crisp melon and citrus flavors.
2019 Balletto Rosé Of Pinot Noir ($18)
Rosé makes for a fantastic Thanksgiving wine; who cares if it’s November? Winemaker Anthony Beckman’s version may be Provençal pale pink in hue, but its wild strawberry, tangerine, and spice intensity is all Sonoma.
2018 Innocent Bystander Yarra Valley Pinot Noir ($21)
The eternal quest: Find a $20 Pinot that actually tastes good. Quest resolved: this Australian version, with layers of red cherry and raspberry fruit and hints of toasted herbs.
2019 Radio Boka Tempranillo ($23)
This Tempranillo from Spain’s Castilla region is full of dark berry and plum flavors, with a mocha-oak note. Crowd-pleasing is the word; the same goes for the cool retro-radio look of the 3-liter box.
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