Our Master Sommelier Sur Lucero trained his palate in some of the finest cellars in Napa Valley—and he maintains it with a killer collection at home. That’s why we’re always keen to find out what he’s got in his glass.
This season his picks are bold, fresh, and perfect for spring and summer fare—and they’re all ready to ship today.
2019 Massican Winery Annia White Wine Napa Valley Magnum (1.5 L), $59.00
“Living in Napa, you have to sometimes turn the tables on the perception of what a Napa Valley white wine should be,” Sur says, about Dan Petroski’s 95-point Italian-inspired Annia. “This wine is clean, fresh and focused, while its 1.5-liter format is perfect for outdoor celebrations with friends.”
2018 RAEN Pinot Noir Sea Field Vineyard Fort Ross-Seaview, $85.00
Sur is great friends with the Mondavi brothers behind RAEN—but friendship alone is not enough to turn a Master Sommelier on to a wine. “I drink RAEN for its pursuit of purity and detail. Every glass I’ve had has had a vibrational life force, a detailed precision that runs through the glass. I just love their focus.”
2016 Ballot Millot & Fils Meursault Charmes Premier Cru, $120.00
“I love this vintage, village, and vineyard for an expression of Chardonnay, and this wine exudes elegance, power, and pleasure.” It’s a gorgeous white Burgundy from one of the top vineyards in the renowned village of Meursault.
2020 Brokenwood Wines Semillon Hunter Valley Australia, $22.00
“This is my benchmark for Hunter Valley Semillon,” Sur says, about the white wine that brings a blend of subtlety, complexity, and verve that can be found nowhere else. In terms of value, well, there’s not much competition.
2018 Domaine de Villaine Aligoté Bouzeron, $36.00
There’s no better expression of Burgundy’s Aligoté grape than this one from Aubert de Villaine, director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. “I reach for this bottle for that tiny association with the great DRC,” Sur says. He loves its clarity and transparency, and so will every lover of crisp white wines like Chablis and Sancerre.
2017 Aldo Conterno Il Favot Nebbiolo Langhe, $39.00
Anyone who knows Sur knows that he’s a Barolo fanatic—which is why he’s nuts about Il Favot. From the winery named for the late “King of Barolo,” this wine hails from Bussia and Granbussia terroirs—same as Conterno’s pricy Barolos. For beautiful Piedmontese richness, elegance, and structure for a bargain price, you can’t do any better.
2018 Penfolds Wines Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, $69.00
When Sur heard that Australian icon Penfolds was setting up shop in Napa Valley, he knew they would spare no expense—but definitely didn’t expect the results of their very first vintage to be this fabulous. A 96-point Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection, Penfolds’ inaugural Bin 704 is a towering Cabernet that outpaces Napa classics like Far Niente—at about half the price.
2018 Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany, $20.00
The definition of an overachieving everyday do-it-all red, Sur grabbed two cases as soon as it went on sale—and was followed by a stampede of Wine Access members, who made it one of our top sellers. Bursting with vibrant red berries accented by fresh herbs, Vinous called the 93-point Caparzo “a real knockout,” and “one of the very best (Rossos) from the 2018 vintage.”
