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Waiting in Line for Wine? Absolutely.
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Love 'em, hate 'em, or have utter apathy toward them, more than a decade after the first iPhone dropped, Apple continues to create buzz, drive speculation, and keep people standing in lines for the latest gadgets we didn’t know we needed.
It seems no matter the update or style of the new iPhone, it’s always a demand driver that has people scrambling for preorders or those first precious spots in the queue. So, while we’re standing in line for the iPhone 13 today (hello Portrait mode for wine videos), we thought we’d ask our team of Sommeliers and wine professionals what wines they would stand in line for come rain or shine.
These are the next level drops that we need year over year—maybe a sneaky, under-the-radar wine that pours beyond its price point, or maybe one we’d be willing to sell our new precious iPhone for just to get our hands on. Either way, these wines are worth the wait. Here are 7 Wines That We'd Wait in Line For.
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01
2019 Autour De L'Anne "Les états D'Anne"
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Cinsault-Grenache from Languedoc, FR 🇫🇷
$37.00
The Languedoc region of France doesn't get nearly as much love as it should, and anything Anne Paillet makes, shows off the greatest expression of the terroir. Her wines are *highly allocated* and there's no doubt I'd wait in a loooong ass line to get my hands on a bottle of this Cinsault-Grenache blend. The "States of Anne" is that perfect sexy light red blend—bright red fruits, a gentle touch of spice/earth, hints of crushed violet, and has an incredibly fun texture—almost like it's dancing on your tongue. Lots of dimension, fun, dry, and oh so crushable. Serve her chilled! | Natalie Pelletier @drinknattywines
www.helenswines.com
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02
2012 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Brut
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Sparkling Wine from Champagne, FR 🇫🇷
$89.99
Yes, we always see these iconic bottles of the Yellow Label Veuve Clicquot being popped on Instagram, and just about everywhere else, but let’s step it up a notch. I’m talking vintage—a 2008 (if you can find it), or this 2012 Veuve Brut. Vintage Champagne is like the Olympics. Sometimes you have to wait 4 years to see it, but it’s absolutely worth the wait. Expect honey, apricots and pears layered over a delectable brioche. This bad boy is crisp, round and utterly refreshing. I might even grab two bottles—one for now, and one for waiting in line for the next vintage release. | Devin Reed @wineandculturelosangeles
www.wine.com
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03
2019 Esporão Reserva Branco
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Antão Vaz from Alentejo, Portugal 🇵🇹
$23.99
This summer I discovered the Esporão Reserva 2019. But it wasn’t just this delicious white from Alentejo, Portugal that I was discovering, it was a whole new philosophy that would stick with me for the rest of the year (and still does). The people who made it have a whole manifesto about the importance of slowing down in life, which seeps into every aspect of what they do. A blend of Antão Vaz, Arinto and Roupeiro, this white coaxes you in with a nose of buttered toast, ripe fruits, flowers and freshness. The palate is all about vibrancy, weight and depth with zingy lemon sherbet, fragrant peach bundles, crunchy pineapple, and fresh apples. Crisp stony minerality joins forces with a fresh salinity to create balance, complexity and pure pleasure. 100% a wine I would stand in line for every time! | Hannah Lunn @winewithhannah
www.vivino.com
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04
2017 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay
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Chardonnay from Sonoma, CA 🇺🇸
$58.99
I still remember the moment I had my first Gary Farrell Chardonnay. It was in a wine education course, and I was dreading it. To put it mildly, I was not a California Chardonnay enthusiast. This, however, was the wine that changed everything. The Russian River Chardonnay has finesse, elegance, balance and complexity. It is brimming with bright citrus, florals, spice flavors, even a touch of brioche, and zesty acidity denoting a remarkably mineral-driven core that sends goosebumps up your arms. This was a wine that had me at hello, and to this day is one I’m lining up for. If you’re still leery of California Chards, this might be a game changer. If not, I’ll take your leftovers. | Kristy Wenz @kristys_winetravels
www.vivino.com
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05
2014 Recaredo "Intens" Rosat Brut Nature
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Sparkling Rosé from Corpinnat, Spain 🇪🇸
$50.00
Step aside, Champagne. Corpinnat is the new kid in town, and it's here to play. Established in 2017, Corpinnat is an EU-recognized body that sets higher standards of Cava production, including 100% organic, hand-harvested, min 18 months aging, 90% indigenous grapes, etc. All that to say, these are some serious wines. Recaredo’s “Intens” is a total powerhouse. The base rosé wine provides a stunning deep ruby color and uber concentrated flavors of strawberry, cherry, red currant, raspberry, black cherry, blood orange and a hint of fennel. 36 months of lees aging and five plus years of bottle aging really takes this biodynamic wine to the next level. We’re talking cream, toasted brioche, bread dough, stewed cherries, balsamic, earth and leather. For this precious ruby gem sparkler, I'll camp out overnight. | Madison Powers @vin_decanted
www.curatedwineclub.com
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06
2017 Piedrassasi "Patterson & Sebastiano Vineyards" Syrah
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Syrah from Sta Rita Hills, CA 🇺🇸
$50.00
As a beverage director, there are hundreds of wines each year I wait in line for as it relates to business. But for personal enjoyment, as well as accessibility, the list is much more limited. That said, if a local shop decided to surprise the public with such a situation, I would be first in line for a bottle of 2017 Piedrasassi Sta. Rita Hills Patterson & Sebastiano Vineyards Syrah. This wine never ceases to amaze me. If you like dark, gamey, and meaty wines with highly floral aromatics and spice notes, this will scratch that itch. It’s medium to full-bodied, not overly ripe or tannic, and has just enough finesse to be versatile at the table. Easily punches far above its price point, especially compared to the classics of the Northern Rhone and South Australia. | Phil Castelluzzo @that.somm.phil
www.winemerchantcafe.com
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07
2016 John Duval "Eligo" Shiraz
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Syrah from Barossa Valley, Australia 🇦🇺
Was $100.00, Now $49.99
This is a wow wine. The kind where it’ll remain special for many years to come, but you simply can’t resist opening. If a wine can smell expensive (it can), then this is the image on Wikipedia. The new French oak cozily blankets the black fruit smoke and harmonizes with fresh mint, bay leaf, graphite, and an abundance of violets. On arrival, the fruit gets triggered and goes off like Steph Curry draining 3’s in the 4th quarter. Brambly blackberries and perfectly ripe blueberries collide with elevated structure and pure fruit dominance around a chalky frame. That textural component is off the charts, with juiciness and sneaky acid that picks up speed on the finish. It’s not a shy wine, with the fruit possessing so much power and lift. But this is a luxury sports car that glides down the tracks. Absolutely next level. | Josh Entman, Vinohead CEO
www.vivino.com
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IF YOU DON'T KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW
If you want wines from Sine Qua Non, Screaming Eagle, Ovid, Marcassin, or Harlan, you won’t find them at retailers. Rather, these "cult" or "collectible" wines are often available via mailing list only. And it can take a decade—yes, a decade—to make it beyond just the allocation wait list for these extremely limited offerings. These prestigious, highly-rated wines might also be found at auction, but expect to drop some serious coin. For example, a 6-liter bottle of 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon was sold for $500,000 at the 2000 Napa Valley Auction.
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8.3 
