COMMON CENTS WINE CLUB January 2021 | 3-bottle line up

2019 Masseria Li Veli Askos Verdeca : Verdeca Region: Salento, Retail: $19.99

Kicking things off this month we have this gem coming to us from the dramatic, rocky coast of Puglia. Rumor has it that this little-known grape variety dates back to pre-Roman times, when the Ancient Greeks had control of this Italian region (hence the Greek name Askos). Did they lay on the turquoise beaches, drinking crisp white wine, soaking up the sun, and eating fresh seafood all day? We’ll never know for sure, but that’s definitely what we’d be doing.

Drinking & pairing ideas*: This wine is a bright spot in the middle of the rainy winter we’re ​ having. Try it with creamy vegetable soup and some crusty bread, roasted fish with citrus and olive oil, or a pear pastry-ish dessert.

Special unbroken case price is $193 (that’s $16.08 / bottle if you buy 12)

2019 Salcheto Biskero : , Canaiolo, , Region: Tuscany, Italy Retail: $16.99 Pronunciation: “key-on-tee”

The Salcheto winery is nestled in the Tuscan countryside, with a plant-covered farmhouse from the 13th century converted into a tiny hotel that used to be a watchtower for the roads leading to . The views across the valleys go on for days, and it’s all so picturesque it hurts.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Chianti is born to go with food, so you have a lot of flexibility here, ​ but we tend to find the most inspiring pairings in pretty simple dishes. Try it with a plate of prosciutto that you eat with your fingers before dinner, a margherita pizza, or a dry-aged steak.

Special unbroken case price is $168 (that’s $14 / bottle if you buy 12)

2018 Château Godard Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Grapes: Merlot, , Cabernet Franc, Malbec Region: Bordeaux, France Retail: $21.99 Pronunciation: “bore-doe”

We’ve been on the hunt for awhile now, determined to find a red Bordeaux at an excellent value to delight your monthly line up. Well, here she is! This one comes to us from wife-and-husband team Corinne and Franck Godard. Their family has been running the farm where the vineyards are since 1895, and with all that time they’ve been able to create a richly biodiverse ecosystem, using bees for pollination, letting their animals graze the land, and fertilizing with natural teas.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Steak frites! Or anything with some fat and umami — duck, sautéed ​ mushrooms with lots of black pepper, salty cheese, roasted rosemary potatoes. We’d go on but we need to wipe the drool off our keyboard.

Special unbroken case price is $210 (that’s $17.48 / bottle if you buy 12)

*As always, our food suggestions are just starting points. Wine is nostalgic and we’re big fans of making what you like, drinking what you like, and not giving a damn if they “go” together.