Artisan Sampler

Chenin Blanc will forever be one of our favorite grape varieties - of course, not every Chenin is great, but when it sings, it's one of the world's most unique and satisfying whites. This bottling from Chenin's home in Saumur opens with delicate notes of ripe ctirus, salty minerality, and yes, a touch of white flower, while the palate opens with lush fruit, but quickly moves to a focused, intense finish that leaves you wanting more.

For most white wines from the Loire, raw shellfish is usually a great option, but in this instance, just cooked seafood may be a bit better. Grilled oysters with chili butter and seasoned breadcrumbs, lightly-seared scallops with beurre blanc, or a grilled lobster will all be fabulous, and almost any lighter vegetarian preparation.

There's something magic about this wine. It's not from a region you've likely heard of, the Colli Euganei, but the grapes are probably as familiar as the back of your hand, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. Their combination results in a wine that delivers the power, structure, and fruit of Bordeaux, the rustic, earthen edge of Italy, and also the freshness and elegance that comes from higher latitude, higher altitude vineyard sites. It's a stunner, full stop.

A bold, Bordeaux blend like the Versacinto will be right at home beside elegant and rugged beef preparations ranging from Tournedos Rossini to Biftek Fiorentina, or even a steak tartare. However, it does have enough mineral freshness to match poultry like roast duck or chicken, or deeper, darker vegetables like roasted eggplant or grilled mushrooms.

A fabulous example of the class found in Bordeaux rosé, the Pommes d'Amour opens with a distinct whiff of the ocean beside freshly-picked strawberries and just a touch of fig leaf - on the palate, the wine's restraint and elegance really come to the fore, with the strawberry fruit presenting very pure alongside complementary notes of wet stone and fennel leaves.

A lovely gastronomic rosé, the Pommes d'Amour will sing beside flavorful raw seafood like a salmon tartare or hamachi crudo, grilled shrimp, or a crudité and baba ghanouj.