Five for Friday: Sip-Worthy Wines to Start Your Weekend
From bold reds to crisp rosé , here are five standout bottles with stories, flavor, and style—perfect for your Friday night pour and beyond.
Stag’s Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 ($65):
A sprawling collection of aromas—headlined by blackberry, violets, sage, and scrubby mountain brush—greets the nose. Blackberry, currant, potpourri, anise, graphite, and cedar flavors stand out, as a minty note steps up on the finish. It's an easy-to-drink wine with well-integrated tannins.
90+ Cellars, Lot 132, Rosé Côtes de Provence 2023 ($12.49):
So light in the glass, it has a silver-pink tint. The nose is very pronounced, with both floral notes and cantaloupe. Melon and strawberry flavors follow on the palate.
Bouchaine Carneros Pinot Noir 2022 ($50):
A pronounced nose of strawberry, cranberry, and pomegranate yields to a medium-bodied Pinot with a juicy cherry and strawberry profile, accented by hints of spice.
Château La Coste “Nooh” Rosé ($25):
This non-alcoholic rosé still manages to deliver the mouthfeel of a traditional rosé. Charming flavors of melon, clementine, and lime carry the experience in a refreshing way.
Etude Carneros Grace Benoist “Heirloom” Pinot Noir 2021 ($95):
There’s sunshine and power in this wine, which can be enjoyed today or cellared for years. At its core is flowing acidity that supports generous fruit and spice flavors.
The nose of dark fruit jumps from the glass, but it’s the tart cherry, cigar wrapper, and hints of dust, earth, and chopped dark chocolate that accentuate the fruit. The flavors are bold, yet the wine remains light on its feet. A core of juicy acidity keeps the palate lively. It’s an epic achievement that embodies everything that makes California Pinot easy to love.
