In 2018, a bottle of 1945 Romanée Conti sold for $558,000 at a Sotheby’s sale. It’s a rarer bottle that costs six figures, but oenophiles know that price isn’t always the final arbiter of taste.
Enjoying fine wine is about exploration in both tasting, as well as collection. “Once you understand wines that you like, look for wines that share a similar profile and expand, expand, expand. There are great wines being made of every style around the world,” says Ryan Prichard, director of winemaking at Three Sticks Wines in Sonoma, California.
If you are looking for ways to expand your palette, building a relationship with a retailer or another wine expert is a good place to start. That expert can learn your palate and help you push the boundaries of your tasting experience. As you develop your palate, you can deepen your education and ability to taste thoughtfully.
“What do I think? Like how long is the finish? Is this wine balanced? Like having that kind of internal monologue and slowing down is very helpful,” says Jesse Warner-Levine, owner of Convive Wine and Spirits in New York.
Wine preferences are a matter of personal taste. If you are looking to broaden your tastes, these 10 fine wines from regions around the world are worth considering.
1995 Harlan Estate
Harlan Estate is a Napa, California, winery founded in 1984. Winemaker Bob Levy and owner Bill Harlan are known to restrict production of their Bordeaux-style wines, which in part results in the high per-bottle prices. The 1995 vintage is a deep red color, a vibrant variety of aromatics that include coffee, fruit, smoky notes, vanilla, earth, mineral notes, sage and olive.
The average price of a bottle is $2,509, according to Wine-Searcher.
2015 Enric Soler Nun Vinya dels Taus
Enric Soler began his career as a sommelier before he shifted to making his own wines. He produces white wines in Catalonia, Spain, and he has made more than 15 vintages, according to wine exporter Paris Wine Company. His Nun Vinya dels Taus wine is aged in French oak barrels sourced from the cooperages in Burgundy.
The 2015 vintage sells for an average of $84 per bottle, according to Wine-Searcher.
2016 Seña
Chile’s volcanic soils offer fertile ground for the arts of viticulture and winemaking. Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi founded Seña, located in the Aconcagua Valley, in the 1990s with the goal of creating an icon wine. It released its first vintage (the 1995) in 1997. Seña produces a Bordeaux-style red blend.
The 2016 vintage is an average of $127 per bottle, according to Wine-Searcher.
Patrick Sullivan 2019 Ada River Chardonnay
Australian winemaker Patrick Sullivan studied viticulture. Now, he grows and makes wine in the Gippsland region of Victoria. Legend Australian Wine Imports describes the 2019 Ada River Chardonnay as classically styled with notes of yellow peach, finger lime, toasted wattleseed and lemon aspen. The production size for this wine is 150 dozen. It is priced at $80 per bottle, according to Wine Enthusiast.
Warner-Levine points out that Australian wines entering the US market have been worth watching. “[There are] wine styles that are traditional but producers that are new and fresh,” he explains. “It’s an opportunity to get some great stuff that isn’t wildly popular or highly sought after.”
2020 Henri Germain et Fils Morgeot Les Fairendes
Burgundy wine is among the most sought after types of wine due to the unique style produced by its terroir. Henri Germain is a top producer of Burgundy wine, but the family remains relatively low profile because they do little publicity, according to Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy.
The 2020 Henri Germain et Fils Morgeot Les Fairendes is a buttery and complex wine that sells at an average of $143 per bottle, according to Wine-Searcher.
Three Sticks' 2021 Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir
Three Sticks owns and produces all of the grapes used to make its wines. It has three vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Its Durell vineyard is planted mostly to pinot noir and chardonnay.
“Napa may be what put California on the map for fine wines, but Sonoma County has been doing a great job showcasing how its cool climate is perfect for delicious and cellar-worthy wines,” says Prichard.
The 2021 Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir, priced at $75 per bottle, has tasting notes of red fruit, toasted almonds and cardamom.
Art of Creation Pinot Noir 2022
Creation is a South African winery that grows its vines on the hills of Babylonstoren Mountain. The vineyard has earned local and global recognition. Cellarmaster Jean-Claude Martin is behind Creation’s single-vineyard wines.
The Art of Creation Pinot Noir 2022 is a pomegranate red with a velvety texture and spice. It sells for R 940 (approximately $51) per bottle.
2019 Etienne Calsac Clos des Maladries
Etienne Calsac created his own estate in the Champagne region in 2010. He focuses on chardonnays with a minimalist approach. His Clos des Maladries is a single-plot cuvée. The winemaking process embraces spontaneous fermentations and involves no filtration or fining.
The 2019 vintage sells for an average of $172 per bottle, according to Wine-Searcher.
2022 Hermannshöhle
The Dönnhoff family’s vineyards are located in the Nahe wine region in Germany. The fourth generation of the family is currently running the entire operation, including the vineyard and cellar. Originating from mineral-rich soils, 2022 Hermannshöhle is a dry Riesling that promises both flavor and minerality.
It sells for an average of $103 per bottle, according to Wine-Searcher.
Giovanni Rosso 2016 Ester Canale Rosso Poderi dell'Antica Vigna Rionda
Giovanni Rosso produces Barolo wines. The family-owned producer is currently being led by the fourth generation: Davide Rosso. The 2016 Ester Canale Rosso Poderi dell'Antica Vigna Rionda is a 100-point wine. The red has a complex play of flavors and a strong backbone with enough acidity for balance, according to Wine Enthusiast.
It sells for $450 per bottle.