What Ray’s Pouring Now
2016 LA CAPILLA RIBERA DEL DUERO CRIANZA ($33) Want a quick trip to Spain? This Ribera del Duero will take you there. The dark, sweet blueberry and black currant fruit; vanilla notes from oak; and warm earthiness feel inarguably Spanish to me—put out a plate of jamón Ibérico and some good Manchego, and bienvenido a España. 2019 PENFOLDS BIN 311 CHARDONNAY ($40) At a tasting in late 2020, I was blown away by the interplay of succulent fruit and minerality (think wet stones and light brininess) in this cool-climate Chardonnay from Aussie mainstay Penfolds. It’s beautiful now, but I predict it will also age well for a decade or so. 2017 NAPANOOK ($60) Bordelais vintner Christian Moueix’s Dominus is one of California’s greatest Cabernets. Napanook, the winery’s more affordable second wine, is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon,…