Summer is still a way off for the Bay Area, but I can’t help but recall delicious childhood summers of running barefoot, brazenly sporting Lip Smackers lip gloss. In the hopes that June this year will defy its typical coat of gloom in Northern California, here are two unabashedly lip-smackingly delicious wines for the summer.
2006 Picpoul de Pinet Hughes Beaulieu ($7.99) Picpoul means “lip stinger,” which refers to the high acidity of its must. True to its name, this is one zingy white. Crisp, dry, and aromatic, Picpoul is often referred to as the Muscadet of the South. As you might have guessed, it's a wonderful companion to seafood, shellfish and well, pic-nicking. In fact, at this price, it's the wine to reach for whenever refreshment is in order.
2004 Côtes du Rhône Château de Montfaucon “Baron Louis” ($17.99) Smoke and ash frame dark plums, morello cherries and licorice. Warm, generous and full-bodied, this velvety Cotes du Rhone drinks like a caress. It can be consumed from the first year or cellared for up to eight to ten years. It would be spectacular with a Moroccan tagine or couscous. It will also shine with simply grilled or roast fare. —Nadia Dmytriw