The standard that Catherine Breton and her son Paul hold their Vouvray Brut to is not other Loire sparkling wines, but Champagne.

This is Vouvray sec of the cold mountain stream persuasion—bracing, with a clean finish.

The sweetness—more like a honeyed roundness—is at the front of each sip, then whisked away by the same brisk finish as their Vouvray sec.

A cold glass hits the spot every single time, bursting over the taste buds with bright citrus, wild strawberry, and a juicy finish that makes one’s mouth water in anticipation of the next sip.

The vines have been soaking up Mediterranean sunshine for the past century and a quarter, and they give it all back in each toothsome, rosemary-scented sip.

This one is vibrant, high-toned, and lengthy, with fragrant, velvety fruit that will make your eyes widen with pleasure.

It’s racy, dialed-up, and chalky, so if these qualities appeal to you, you may fall hard for it.

This perfect mix of acidity and unctuous texture gives persistent floral notes with a long almond finish.

Frédéric soon had a local following in and around his village for his old-school, dark, juicy Crozes with its hints of tapenade and smoke.

Expansive savory aromas, meaty, broad, velvety tannins, grandness, ripeness and freshness, all at once. Only in Hermitage!

From a cool site at high elevation, his Santa Maria Riserva exudes the gentle touch proper to this Montalcino artisan, with a seductive aroma of rose petals.

Fragrant notes of Tuscan herbs, forest floor, and brambles define this Sangiovese, possibly the perfect comfort wine for a homemade plate of pasta.

Stony, faintly spicy, and elegant, it’s the kind of bottle you want to pop open again as soon as the first is drained.

February Club Gourmand ~ Showcasing notes of brambly fruit, violet, stone, and smoke, this classic bottling of Les Moriers offers so much to love.

Vibrations, which is a blend of Chénas terroirs, is a lively and fresh Beaujolais, with bright red fruit and silky tannins.

Vibrant and full of the volcanic minerality, this dark-hued rosato could only come from one place.

Mixing stone fruit with sea spray, this crisp Vermentino is the bottle you should reach for the next time you make linguine with clams or fish tacos.

In Alta Rocca, you’ll find a noble red full of herbs, ripe berries, and spice. Don’t miss one of Corsica’s grandest wines!

November Club Chevalier ~ Alain Pascal’s red is polished and pedigreed, but remains au naturel somehow: uninhibited, unfussy, and raw.

Terrebrune’s 2021 is harmonious, ripe with garrigue and wild berries, and bold in all the best ways. It’s firm and full of character but not at all showy.