Wines with John

Papagiannakos winery is one of the oldest wineries to be bottling Savatiano while the winemaker, Vassilis Papagiannakos, is referred as the "patriarch" of the Attica vineyard variety, highlighting its potential. This is a vibrant looking wine with bright golden-yellow color. Pure, intense and fruity nose with some mineral notes. Balanced flavor with nice acidity and some sweet notes. Light and dry on the finish.

Viré-Clessé, located within the Mâcon, achieved AOC status in 1999, making it its own appellation within the Mâcon itself. Made from 100% Chardonnay, this wine is totally dry with vibrant acidity and steely minerality. Yellow apple and saline/flinty flavors, complex and very long on the palate, make for an exhilirating finish.

Post & Beam Pinot Noir, crafted with the same care and expertise that defines Far Niente Wine Estates, is sourced from the Sonoma Coast's cool, coastal vineyards. This wine offers vibrant acidity, expressive fruit, and nuanced complexity, with aromas of ripe red fruit and a hint of spice. The smooth, balanced palate finishes with elegance, making it perfect for backyard get-togethers.

The Baudrys cultivate Cabernet Franc in all of the many soil types of Chinon and bottle several single-vineyard cuvées, ending up with an astonishing variety of expressions from this one grape. Les Grézeaux comes from their oldest vines—more than sixty years old—planted in gravelly alluvial soil near the Vienne River, which yield a simultaneously concentrated and silky rouge that is very much ready to drink today but will age beautifully over at least the next ten to fifteen years. With perfectly integrated tannins and notes of blackberries, forest floor, and stones, Les Grézeaux is a shining example of the heights Cabernet Franc can attain.

Located 11 miles from the Atlantic coast amongst lush hillsides, palm trees, and olive groves, Bodega Garzon was a dream come true for founders Alejandro and Bettina Bulgheroni, who established the estate in 1999. Working alongside winemaker Alberto Antonini, they produce wines that embody the distinct personality and elegance of Uruguayan viticulture. This red is 100% Marselan, a hybrid varietal originally from France, though it has taken quite well to Uruguay’s temperate climate and ancient granite soils. We get lots of ripe dark fruit on the nose and palate that mingle with notes of red berries, cocoa, and a clean, gravelly minerality. Fine, well integrated tannins give the wine lovely structure and a rustic edge. Give this wine 45 minutes to an hour for best results.