May 23, 2024
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, sunny weather and outdoor dining beckon. In our latest Tasting Highlights lineup, explore 12 exceptional white, rosé and red wines that scored 90 points or more on our 100-point scale. Whether you’re enjoying light snacks, eagerly awaiting lunch from a sizzling grill or seeking pairings for a flavorful dinner, these wines serve as delightful companions.
Having a variety of white wines at a cookout can be useful, both for refreshment or for pairing with subtler grilled entrees like planked swordfish, zesty shrimp or herbed chicken on a bed of greens. Vibrant Chardonnays, medium-bodied Italian whites and lip-smacking Alvarinhos are fantastic options here. Beyond white wines, refreshing and pale pink rosés are equally appropriate for these dishes, particularly those that offer herbal and minerally characteristics.
Pairing Rosé Wine with Grilled Dishes
Meanwhile, powerfully built rosés—like French versions from Tavel in the Southern Rhône Valley or Bandol in Provence—are potential stars alongside lighter barbecue, thanks to their impressive quality, complexity and versatility. These wines are delicious on their own, but they have enough strength of character to accompany flavorful off-the-grill delights. (For even more rosé pairings, check out these five recommendations!) Even better, they often represent tremendous value and can impress even the most experienced wine fans at your warm-weather festivities.
What Red Wines Should You Pour with Barbecue?
Beaujolais reds have a reputation for being light and fruit, largely thanks to the seasonal popularity of early-release Beaujolais Nouveaus. However, Beaujolais’ serious cru bottlings (particularly those from Fleurie, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent) feature concentrated fruit notes with mineral, earth and spice accents. Akin to riper Pinot Noir styles, these Gamays have the power to stand up to generously spiced barbecue. When served slightly chilled, they can also pair beautifully with flavorful tuna, bluefish or salmon dishes.
While lively Pinot Noirs and Gamays can refresh your palate between hearty bites, Zinfandels offer a different approach for those who prefer pairing like-with-like: With broad, powerful fruit profiles and savory and herbal undertones, Zinfandels can boldly dance alongside the smoky char of grilled steak or the distinctive flavors of grilled lamb, deliciously complementing the flavors of each.
CAROL SHELTON
Zinfandel Mendocino County Wild Thing Old Vine 2021
Score: 90 | $21
WS review: Right out of the briar patch, this Zin is appealingly rustic, with zesty cherry, cranberry, roasted sage and cracked pepper flavors. Drink now through 2031. 7,614 cases made. From California.—T.F.
What Wine Is Good for Memorial Day?
As one of the first celebrations to kick off the warm months and barbecue season, Memorial Day presents a great opportunity to explore your wine options. And there are many! But which wines should you go with, particularly if you’re pairing them with barbecue? Well, as it turns out, everyone has their own go-tos when it comes to barbecue pairings (including the pros). The main thing here is to drink what you like while also keeping an open mind, in case you might stumble upon a surprise new favorite.
Luckily, many great wineries across California, France, Italy, Portugal and beyond are offering fantastic wines at affordable prices, making it that much easier to stock up and/or explore new bottlings. That includes producers with strong track records for quality, including Rivers-Marie and Reata in Sonoma, Domaine de l’Olivette in Bandol (part of France’s Provence region) and Vini Franchetti-Passopisciaro in Sicily, among others. But even with so many great producers to turn to, what types of wine should you open for spring and summer celebrations?
If you’ll be sipping by the pool, consider an appealingly minerally rosé; or if you’re pairing your pink with lighter fare, try a refreshing yet rich and complex version. Serving barbecue dishes like grilled shortribs? Go for a peppery red like a Zinfandel or maybe a fruit-forward Pinot Noir. What about grilled oysters or chicken? There, it may be time for a flavorful and refreshing white wine from, say, Italy or Portugal. And these are only a few of the pairing options you can try during warm-weather festivities.
Just make sure to keep your options open; you really never know when your new favorite bottle will turn up! Continue your explorations and get our scores and tasting notes for recently rated, outstanding value wines from across the globe!
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