Matthew Rorick Dexter Lake Red Handlebars California 2014 $18.99
This bright, juicy red is full of fruit, though focused and refreshing. It’s a blend of grapes — primarily cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and graciano — with small amounts of zinfandel, barbera, merlot, trousseau and mataro. Dexter Lake is a lower-priced label from the excellent grower and producer Matthew Rorick, whose Forlorn Hope label does a lot with grapes not usually associated with California.
Chris & Andrea Mullineux Kloof Street Swartland Rouge 2016 $19.99
The Mullineuxs, a husband-and-wife team, make excellent syrahs and chenin blancs from the Swartland region of South Africa. Kloof Street is their entry-level label and gives a good impression of their style. This wine is 84 percent syrah, with cinsault and carignan making up the rest. It’s got a savory syrah aroma with an unexpected bright, juicy, floral note. (Skurnik Wines, New York)
Bibich Riserva 6 North Dalmatia 2016 $19.99
The phrase “Mediterranean wines” rarely conjures up Croatia, but the country has a gorgeous coastline along the Adriatic Sea, made notable by the beautiful cities of Split and Dubrovnik. Alen Bibic of Bibich makes wine in the region of Skradin north of Split, focusing on indigenous grapes, like this blend of babic, plavina and lasin. It’s deliciously spicy, with just a touch of oak. (Blue Danube, Los Altos Hills, Calif.)
Filipa Pato Beiras 3B Extra Brut Rosé 2017 $16.96
Beiras is a large Portuguese wine region that encompasses several smaller appellations, including Bairrada. Filipa Pato comes from a winemaking family. Her father, Luis Pato, helped put modern Bairrada on the map. This lively sparkler is a pretty copper color, with steely, lightly fruity, floral flavors, with a touch of licorice. It’s made mostly of the baga grape with 25 percent bical, which gives it a crisp acidic edge. (Skurnik Wines)
Domaine Giacometti Patrimonio Cru des Agriate 2014 $18.99
The Giacometti estate is on an isolated plain on the northern end of the gorgeous island of Corsica. Its wines tend to be easygoing and inviting, like the juicy, generous Cru des Agriate, which is made primarily with niellucciu, a grape that is genetically identical to sangiovese, but, when planted in the Corsican earth, has very much its own identity. This is a pleasingly fruity wine, with an underlying earthiness that pulls it all together. (Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, Calif.)
Romeo del Castello Etna Rosso Allegracore 2015 $19.99
Making wine in the foothills of Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, is not without risk. Eruptions can happen at any time. But the volcanic soils are also hospitable to the nerello mascalese grape, which can make gorgeous, complex, graceful red wines. This one, from Romeo del Castello, is bright, pure, earthy and lightly tannic. If you have wondered about the fuss over Etna reds, this is a great introduction. (Louis/Dressner Selections, New York)
Corisca Rias Baixas Albariño Ecológico 2015 $16.99
Compelling albariños are not easy to find, but this one, made of organically grown grapes, is delicious, with depth and presence. It is steely and bone dry, with aromas and flavors of apples, herbs and minerals. Perfect for your next shellfish feast. (Terrell Wines, San Francisco)
