The weather will be warming up by the end of the week, and it is time to get some Albariño in your life! We had the 2023 Bodegas La Caña open at our Spain Night Spanish wine tasting last night, and it totally stole the show!

Scroll down for the lipsmacking details on our favorite version of this scintillating Spanish white, and for a unique Bordeaux-influenced red from 11,000 kilometers to the south, then hit down fast on that Big Green Button to get these beauties in your glass!

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2023 Bodegas La Caña Albariño
Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain
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We’ve been fans of the Albariño grape since it was introduced to us nearly 30 years ago by a young Jorge Ordoñez. After years of ups and downs, it is now having a real moment in the sun.

Fermented and aged on its lees for eight months in stainless steel (75%) and a selection of previously-used barrels (25%), this generous, plump, zinging, and crunchy white gives tremendous pleasure with each sip.

"Bring on the Oysters!"
- James Suckling, July 2024

Rich flavors of white peach, yellow apples, and tangerine are complicated by bay leaf, oyster shell, and river stone minerals. Dense and long with a fine spine of energy, this is an impressive wine, especially after it’s been allowed to breathe for few hours!

“The 2023 Albariño comes from a regional blend that includes 25% fermentation in 500-600L oak barrels. This deep yellow wine reveals ripe notes of baked goods, pear and pineapple with subtle complexity. It presents a light body and a fine touch of CO2 that adds texture and freshness. The palate shows moderate acidity and a creamy texture, with nuanced flavors shaped by a rainy harvest. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2033.”
          - 92 Points, Vinous - Joaquin Hidalgo (2/2025) 

“Crushed seashells, chalk, salted lemons and sliced apples on the nose. Bone-dry salinity brings out plenty of briny austerity on a textured, medium-bodied palate. Pithy and gastronomic in the finish. I like the fact that this is not a fruity but rather a bony albarino. Bring on the oysters! Drink now.”
          - 92 Points, James Suckling (7/8/2024) 

As James Suckling exclaims, this is THE wine you want for oysters. And, that's not the only great pairing. Just about anything you'd match with a tasty bottle of Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Grigio, or Chablis would go great with this. Vinous quotes $25. At 28% less, our price is tough to beat.

Vin Chicago Price: 17.99

94-Point, $16.79 Patagonian Red from Patricia Ortiz!

2022 Wapisa Malbec
Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina
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Boasting old-world flavors of rocky minerality, peppery and tangy red berries, and savory herbs that continue all the way through the long, tense finish, this charismatic red presents like Argentina-meets-Bordeaux.

Perhaps it's the limestone soils, the ocean-influenced Patagonian climate, or the fact that Patricia Ortiz hired the legendary Jean Claude Berrouet of Château Petrus to be on her winemaking team!

Pouring a deep purple-red and offering gobs of yummy fruit on the nose and palate, our sample bottle was a perfect pairing with steak tacos. On our scale it's a strong 91 points. Awarding scores of 94 and 91 points, Vinous and James Suckling write...

“Incense, black pepper and lavender to the nose with some cassis and blue berry fruit. Some peppermint as well. A linear, medium-bodied palate with fine tannins and a concentrated fruit core. Intense, but not heavy or redundant. Drink or hold.”
         - 94 Points, James Suckling (3/4/2023) 

“The 2022 Malbec originate from Los Acantilados Estate, San Javier, Viedma, in Rio Negro. Aged for eight months in both new and second-use French oak barrels (80%), as well as American oak barrels (20%), this purple-hued wine features primary notes of plum, violet, and subtle oak undertones. Dry and medium in body, the Wapisa bears a compact, reactive mouthfeel. This is an ocean-influenced Malbec from Argentina. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2032.”
          - 91 Points, Vinous - Joaquin Hidalgo (11/2023) 

Vinous quotes $25. Median online retail is $21. We bring it to you today for what looks to be the very best price in the country. Drink the La Caña with the oysters, save this one for the meat!

Vin Chicago Price: 16.79