I faced the question about my addictive interest in wine this week and it led me to another question: could wi...

I faced the question about my addictive interest in wine this week and it led me to another question: could wine ever wear me out? I don’t see that day coming. These bottles, all from 2025, reassure me, they prove that this day probably won’t come soon. Surprisingly good, surprisingly bad, the ones you know you’ll always circle back to, the ones you’ll patiently wait for… So wine will never leave me short on inspiration. PS: This is not a best of 2025 post, if it’s not obvious to you yet. Théo Cécchetti’s single vineyard champagne, vintage 2020. As I describe to a sommelier what we like to drink, she finds the perfect match. A good amount of oxidation and power to dance with Piedmontese food. Generous Pinot-based Champagne, with wow effect. Normally, I go with familiar bottles, especially when ordering wine for a group. But the sommelière was so confident, it couldn’t possibly be a bad surprise. Another good surprise came through a tasting: if a bottle can overwhelm you with its strength and character, that’s this one. Complex, unexpected flavors. Not your crowd-pleaser type. Tasted blindly and loved it. Then the reveal: under 20 euros. When talking about wine, I’m usually unsure whether it’s necessary to talk about money. But it’s hard not to be surprised by the price of this bottle. Herrenhof Lamprecht Furmint 2022 is awfully good, with or without its price tag on. Speaking of crowd-pleasers, rosé. It’s usually a no-brainer to bring one to a dinner party, rosé is my ultimate comfort bottle. Clos Cibonne from Tibouren (2019) brought pure joy on a hot summer day, alongside vegetables. Personally, I see no reason to shy away from rosé bottles. I circle back to them, happily. And a little horror story for the spice: a 2010, one of Tuscany’s most interesting vintages, from Caparsa, their serious Chianti Caparsino from Radda is showing absolutely no aroma. So closed on the nose. You can wait a couple of days for it to open up, but it’ll still show you the middle finger. Its harshness, though, somehow comforts me. A great wine doesn’t always shine. I never fell for that myth, no product could ever be like that. It is okay. Deep breaths. #winediary #winegram