Whenever a friend or relative asks me to assemble a case of quintessential Kermit Lynch selections for around $20 a bottle, two parameters come to mind: What are the exceptional village and regional bottlings currently available that deliver outstanding terroir character and great bang for your buck? And which bottles can I not keep my hands off at this time of year?
     For spring, I look to crisp and mineral white wines like Henri Perrusset’s Mâcon-Villages, a beautiful, pure, and distinctive expression of Chardonnay from southern Burgundy that marries as well with a shrimp or lobster roll as a grilled chicken salad. A red like the Bruniers’ Pigeoulet rouge meanwhile, is also an easy choice. A soulful blend that so clearly evokes northern Provence, Pigeoulet, like any wine made by the Brunier family, sets the bar for its appellation. In these warmer months, I’d be remiss not to include a couple of classic rosés, like Joguet’s elegant Chinon and Fontsainte’s luscious, citrusy Gris de Gris, two wines that we have imported for decades.
     For a selection of darker, richer, and more savory wines, check back here in the fall, but for now, here are twelve bottlings that are perfect for spring picnics and barbecues. They’re a little crisper, lighter, juicier, or more floral—in other words, ideal additions to your patio ice buckets and beach blankets.