A few months ago, we put together a spring-focused sampler of quintessential Kermit Lynch selections for around $20 a bottle that followed two core parameters: 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 we not keep our hands off at this time of year? You all liked this sampler so much that we decided to make a fresh, new sampler with summer in mind.
     For summer, I look to rosés—both ethereal ones, like Anne Amalric’s Corsican cloud, and darker, spicier renditions like Château de Trinquevedel’s stony Tavel. A Sauvignon Blanc, like Salvard’s Unique, meanwhile, is also an easy choice. It moves from the kitchen counter, while you cook, to the patio table, surrounded by all kinds of summer produce, with incredible ease. Of course, we still drink reds in these warmer months, and I tend to prize bottles that take a chill particularly well—those like Sesti’s Monteleccio and the Savary family’s Pinot Noir from Burgundy’s coolest climate.
     For a selection of darker, richer, and more savory wines, check back here in the fall, but for now, here are twelve bottles that are perfect for summer porch hangs, potlucks, and barbecues. They’re a little crisper, lighter, and juicier—in other words, ideal additions to your back deck and beach blanket.