What I'm Drinking This Summer
Summer in Texas means heat. Real heat and this summer, a lot of humidity. The kind where you open the back door and immediately reconsider your life choices.
What that also means is that my glass looks a little different in June than it does in January. Here's what's been in rotation lately — two whites, two reds, and zero apologies.
Roger Pobiot Pouilly-Fumé Le Coteau 2023
If you want to understand why Sauvignon Blanc can be serious wine, start here. Pouilly-Fumé is a small appellation in the Loire Valley in France, and Roger Pobiot is making some of the most honest, expressive juice in the region. This one has that classic flint-and-citrus thing going on — bright, crisp, and just enough minerality to make you think. Nice and cold on a hot Texas evening. Yes.
Bingham Roussanne Texas High Plains 2023
I love putting Texas wine on this list because I genuinely believe in what's being grown on the High Plains. Bingham Family Vineyards has been quietly doing great work for years. Roussanne is a white Rhône grape that can handle heat — which makes it perfect for our climate. This one is rich without being heavy, floral without being perfumey. It's a Texas wine that doesn't need any asterisks.
Madone Urfé IGP Les Rougeots du Clos 2021
This one's for the red wine drinkers who don't want to sweat through a big Cab in July. Urfé is a small IGP in the Loire Valley — most people have never heard of it, which is exactly why I love it. Light, bright, earthy, and built for food. Serve it slightly cool and watch people ask questions.
Gaja Ca'Marcanda Promis 2023
OK, this one is a splurge. But if you're going to splurge, Angelo Gaja's Ca'Marcanda estate in Bolgheri is a good place to do it. Promis is their most approachable wine — Syrah, Merlot, and Sangiovese blended together in a way that just works. Complex but not fussy. Worth every penny.
There you go — four bottles that have been earning their keep this summer. If you want any of these or something similar, shoot me a message. Special orders are kind of my thing.
— Darrin, The Wine Dad