Trending: Just Good Wine

By Mike Muirhead, ISG, CMS, Sommelier

Banville & Jones’ 20th anniversary celebrations have led to a lot of reflection about where we have been and where we are going. Our introspection included a sweeping overview of the trends in grape varieties and styles and how long each stayed in fashion over the last 20 years. We rehashed the Chardonnay kick in the early 2000s, Merlot’s downfall after the movie Sideways, and big gutsy reds giving way to blends and fresher reds. We also stepped back to examine what our community is drinking right now. And we came to an exciting realization: when we ask our customers, “What can we help you find?” their answers more and more often do not reflect a trend. Increasingly, our customers answer “Just something good. Something that you think I’ll like.”

To our excitement, it looks like what our wine community wants is “Just Good Wine.”

You see, we have been travelling the world for over two decades now in search of Just Good Wine to cater to this very (non-)trend. We spend our trips looking for the next great wine that you will fall in love with. We nerd out with our friends and colleagues about a new grape or region, but often fall back on less-than-scientific judgement: “It is just soooo yummy.” Just Good Wines are the ones we love to drink. So often, we have brought in Just Good Wines only 12 bottles at a time for fear that only the staff would venture to try them and fall in love. We are so excited that, above region, style, and pedigree, our customers are now hunting down the hidden gems that we have longed for people to adore as we do.

In our 20 years in the business, we have spent a lot of time trying to anticipate and capture trends, making sure we stock the wines that are “on-trend.” Now that Just Good Wines are the trend, we have those in spades.

A Wine for Any Occasion

Great wines come from everywhere. Great winemaking is not defined by a region or a grape. Every wine nerd in the store has a favourite “go-to” wine, a “desert island wine” (that wine you would choose if, God forbid, you could only drink one wine for the rest of your life), and a favourite “special treat.” Here are our wine experts’ picks for your next great wine.

MIKE

Heron Ridge 2010 The Flight Stellenbosch, South Africa $20.99

Terlan 2017 Terlaner Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy ($33.99)

Domaine Arlaud 2016 Gervrey Chambertin Burgundy, France ($112.99)

ANDREA

Smiley nv Chenin Blanc Swartland, South Africa ($23.99)

Monteraponi 2017 Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy ($31.99)

Pian dell’Orino 2010 Bassolino di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy ($599.99)

SYLVIA

Viña Zorzal 2016 Tempranillo, Navarra, Spain ($15.99)

Ployez-Jacquemart nv Extra Quality Brut Champagne, France, ($66.99)

Pearl Morissette 2017 Irreverence White Blend Niagara, Canada ($43.99)

JILL

Pinuaga 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Tierra de Castilla, Spain ($14.99)

Casa Silva 2016 Quinta Generacion White Blend Colchagua Valley, Chile ($25.99)

Calzadilla 2009 Gran Tempranillo/ Cabernet Pago Calzadilla, Spain ($89.99)

ROB

Zucchi nv Vino Frizzante Secco Lambrusco dell’Emilia IGT, Italy ($16.99)

Bernard Defaix 2018 Chablis, France ($39.99)

Vasques de Carvalho White Reserve Port, Portugal ($52.99)

GARY

Robert Perroud 2017 Terres Blanches Chardonnay Beaujolais- Villages AC ($21.99)

Dominique Roger 2017 Chêne Marchand Sancerre, France ($47.99)

Poggio di Sotto 2009 Brunello di Montalcino, Italy ($282.99) (even better in the Magnum: $564.99)

TODD

Alpha Estate 2016 Assyrtiko Florina, Greece ($45.99)

Rioja Alta 2009 904 Gran Reserva Rioja, Spain (1.5L/$229.99)

Saxum Vineyards 2016 Broken Bones Red Blend Paso Robles, USA ($267.99)