The Perfect Pair Collection

This curated collection is just waiting to be paired with decedent chocolate, hardy steak or simply enjoyed with your better half.

Tasting notes, pairings, and more for all of the wines in your box are shown below. Scroll down to learn about each of the wines.

Wines

Vintage

2020

Region

Sicily, Italy

Grapes

100% Nero d'Avola

Tasting notes

Big strawberry and cherry fruit flavors with a whiff of black pepper and just enough grip. A versatile everyday red with loads of fresh-from-the-icebox plum flavors and scents.

Pairs with

Pizza with fresh mozzarella, spinach salad, sausage and peppers with toasted baguette

Interesting fact

Nero d'Avola is "the most important red wine grape in Sicily" and one of Italy's most important indigenoius varietals. Whereas grapes like Chardonnay and Cabernet are grown worldwide and beloved from all over, Nero d'Avola is still only grown in Sicily and yet manages to carve out a name for itself.

Vintage

2019

Region

Blaye Cote de Bordeaux, France

Grapes

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting notes

Fruity and a touch smoky, with blackberries in vanilla creme flavors mingling with typical Bordeaux notes of plum and cassis. Warm baking spice framing cherry jam mimics a fresh cherry pie in a glass with a hint of fresh roses.

Pairs with

Veal burgers, fajitas with fresh tortillas, chocolate with peanut butter center.

Interesting fact

Just across the Gironde from the Médoc, the region appellation that holds 4 of the 5 Bordeaux 1st Growths, is the beautiful Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux.

Vintage

NV

Region

Piedmont, Italy

Grapes

100% Nebbiolo

Tasting notes

A brighter expression than you'll find in the long-aged Barolos. Though aged in the same big casks (but for only 24 months), the wine displays tart raspberry and fresh snipped flower scents and drinks siwth flavors of bright red fruits, cherries soaked in alcohol and hints of licorice and forest floor bramble.

Pairs with

Seasoned cheeses, spicy Asian cuisine, venison steaks, beef jerky

Interesting facts

There are two major features affecting the weather in Piedmont: the ice cold Alps and the warm Mediterranean. The tug-of-war (a.k.a. Diurnal) temperature variation makes the whole area fill up with morning fog that slowly burns off during the day. This means the land higher up on the hills gets more sun. More sun = happy grapes = good wine. There are good wines to be found north of the Apennines in the foothills of the Alps. But since this area (around Gattinara) is much cooler, expect much lighter tasting, higher acid wines.

Vintage

2019

Region

Bordeaux, France

Grapes

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Tasting notes

A fruity, juicy wine with swathes of black currant and berry flavors. The depth and complexity from ancient vines shows itself in the length of the finish and the smoky, spicy characteristics. The youthful touch shows itself in that the fruits are fresh and pronounced, and not stewed or overripe like some Bordeauxs. This is the wine to drink to convince a friend that Bordeaux can be approachable, or maybe the bottle to finally sway you!

Pairs with

Steak frites, buffalo burgers, poultry, green beans

Interesting fact

A young winemaking couple took over the centuries-old vineyards and winery, and the wines are showing a balance of vine age and winemaker age. La Favorite is named after the ship a British sailor docked near Bordeaux and never left.

Vintage

2017

Region

Piedmont, Italy

Grapes

100% Nebbiolo

Tasting notes

The most well-known Nebbiolo region, and for good reason. Released 4 full years after harvest, 3 of those spent in oak, Barolo is a powerhouse of rich rose and anise aromas and mouth-drying tannins. The paradox is that all of this is contained within a seemingly light wine; coffee, vanilla, red cherry, potpourri, allspice, truffles, tar, liquorice and primordial Earth are all here. Oh, and tons and tons of enjoyable fruit on top of those gripping, addictive tannins. The King Of Italy!

Pairs with

Braised short ribs, parmesan risotto with truffle oil, meat lovers pizza

Interesting fact

Barolo must be aged at least 4 years, of which 18 months must be in oak, before being released. This 2017 vintage is the newest release!

Vintage

2018

Region

Abruzzo, Italy

Grapes

100% Montepulciano

Tasting notes

Made from select vineyards planted with a clone of Montepulciano, this wine is complex in the best way. Ruby red with violet reflections and notes of oregano and boysenberry on the nose. The palate is full and rich, yet held up by bright acidity, like a dark cherry that still has a hint of sour.

Pairs with

Black bean burgers, beef empanadas, baked mac n cheese, chocolate covered fruits

Interesting facts

In order to allow the flavors of the wine to develop before an impatient consumer opens the bottle, all of the wines in this cuvee are aged for at least 36 months before being bottled. Imagine waiting 3 years to open a bottle!