Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife.  Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few may have been given as gifts).

NV L. Aubry Fils Champagne Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France: Retail $60. Extremely Heavy Bottle (851g; 30.0oz). 31% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir, 31% Meunier, 7% Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau. 70% 2021, 30% reserve wine back to 1998. Disgorged December, 2025. This is a new “batch” of this wine, which I picked up at H-E-B for $43. I love the fact that Aubry, one of the better-known grower champagnes, continues to use the lesser-known approved grape varieties in Champagne. This “new version” is just as delightful as the previous iterations I have tried. Great citrus and tree fruit on the nose, paired with that lovely yeasty aspect, of which I just can’t get enough. The palate is wonderfully tart and expressive (if a bit young, at least for me). Always one of my favorite wines, I need to go buy more and hold onto them for 6-12 years (although I know I won’t be able to). Excellent. 92 Points.

NV Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve, Champagne, France: Retail $75. Extremely Heavy Bottle (834g; 29.4oz). 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay. Bottled in 2018, disgorged in Dec, 2024. I paid $54/bottle from Last Bubbles. For a while, I claimed Bouzy as my hands-down favorite Grand Cru Commune in Champagne. And while my approach to my favorite wine region has evolved a bit, Bouzy remains one of the top towns for Pinot Noir and perhaps the top producer in town is Paul Bara. Paul Bara passed away in 2015, and although I never met him, I have been a big fan of the wines even though they can be a bit difficult to come by in the U.S. Thus, when I saw this on Last Bubbles, I jumped and bought six, and this is the first that we have tried. Whoa. If I am reading the clues correctly, this spent about six and a half years on the lees, and it shows; rich, brilliant straw color with a fine sparkle and rich pear and peach aromas in the glass with just a hint of yeastiness. The palate is rich and seductive, with intense fruit, mouth-watering tartness, incredible depth, and finishes with a wave of fresh croissant-like goodness. Yes, this is a bit more expensive than what I would consider an “every day” champagne, but it is so good that it makes me want to work even harder so that I can afford it. Whoa. Outstanding. 94 Points.

2015 College Cellars of Walla Walla Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla, WA: Retail $35. Very Heavy Bottle (688g; 24.2oz). This is a wine created by the students and faculty at the Community College of Walla Walla. I first visited Walla Walla for the Wine Bloggers Conference of 2018, which is when I procured this bottle. I have since been back a few times, becoming enamored with the region and its many producers, restaurants, and the general vibe. This wine falls into that ethos with a rather dark demeanor initially in color, aromas and flavors, with plenty of cassis, blackberry, and plum, but also some earth, spice, plenty of tartness, and a healthy dose of verve. There is also an herbal, savory character that one rarely (ever?) finds in wines of a lesser age. Yeah, this is likely on its downward slope, but there is still plenty to celebrate. For lovers of older wines, this is a gem, with secondary and tertiary notes swimming among the fruit and frivolity. I doubt that there are many of these bottles still out there, but if you have one and care to invite me when you open it? I will be there front and center! Outstanding. 93 Points.

2023 de Négoce Chardonnay Lot 509, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $16? (De Négoce claims a “$60 value”). Very Responsible Bottle (470g; 16.6oz). Agglomerated stopper. I have bought a few wines now from the De Négoce venture, and I have liked (loved?) every bottle. Briefly, they buy grapes, juice, or already-made wine on the secondary market, and then bottle it under their own label, never revealing the source other than the appellation and the relative retail “value” of the wine. This Russian River Chard is true to its origins with both tree (peach) and citrus (lemon) fruit, a touch of creaminess, and a load of white flower on the nose. The palate is pretty darned fantastic as well, with plenty of fruit initially, followed immediately by a lip-smacking zing, and accompanied by some subtle oak notes that really work. Another fantastic wine for a more-than-reasonable price. If I had paid sixty bucks? Honestly, I don’t think I would be disappointed. Thrilled to have paid 1/4 of that. Excellent. 92 Points.

2025 Bodega Garzón Albariño Reserva, Maldonado, Uruguay: Retail $22. Very Responsible Bottle (410g; 14.4oz). Under screw cap. I was writing an article for a local publication here in Texas and the idea was to review a few wines from a few regions where I might like to travel during the unbearably hot month of August in Houston. I decided to select only white wines (OK, there were also two rosés) since, if you are like me, the thought of drinking a red wine when it is 95° (or higher) outside with a humidity to match (or higher), simply makes no sense whatsoever. I saw this on the shelf at my local H-E-B (I love my H-E-B) and snatched it up for about $17. I have never been to Uruguay, although they tell me it’s nice, but I have had a few wines from the South American country, including from Garzon, and all have been stellar, including this gorgeous Albariño. While the variety is from Spain, it has certainly found footing in Uruguay, and this is a textbook example as to why. Impressive fruit both in the glass and on the palate, it’s expressive, carries the right amount of ‘heft’, and punches well above its weight in both flavor and intrigue. Yeah, I am really “digging” this wine. Excellent. 91 Points.

2025 Stoller Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $22. Responsible Bottle (469g; 16.6oz). Under screw cap. The other day, I got into a bit of a disagreement with someone who thought that my assessment of this rosé was, well, too generous (to put it mildly). While I am the first to admit that I prefer to extoll a wine’s virtues (perhaps to the extreme), said confrontation came from a wine lover who appears to prefer rather big red wines. I get it. Not everyone loves rosé. There might even be a large segment of the wine drinking public that does not “get” rosé or, even worse, sees no point in pink wines. Fine. But coming from someone who tastes (and drinks) a ton of rosé, this is really good, regardless of the price. Outstanding. 94 Points.

WINE OF THE WEEK: Well, this week I was faced with a dilemma, I didn’t have a photo of any of the wines we consumed and I am currently on the road so I can’t take a photo from an additional bottle in the cellar. Instead, I offer up a picture from a recent (enough) party in Cloverdale to celebrate a “significant” birthday of mine (the walker was inserted as a joke, I am not in need of one just yet). As for my top wine this week? I have to go with the Paul Bara Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Reserve. As I said in the note, the wines from the town of Bouzy have always held a special place in my heart and I am thrilled that I have another five bottles of this wine to drink.

What was your Wine of the Week?