2021 Eolia Bianco Cuvee V Salina Malvasia IGT

This might be the biggest surprise of the year. I can’t remember the last time so many customers bought a single bottle of a wine, only to return a week or two later for a six-pack. It’s unprecedented, especially for a wine I was initially reluctant to even taste.

I’ll be honest: an obscure Malvasia from the remote island of Salina isn't my usual go-to. But before I tell you what it tastes like, you need to know the story. This is the passion project of Luca Caruso and Natascia Santandrea, a couple with experience from Michelin-starred restaurants. They founded Eolia during the pandemic, farming six high-elevation, terraced parcels of Malvasia on the island's volcanic slopes. This isn't just wine; it's a pure expression of place.

So what does it taste like? Imagine a Meursault with its mouth-coating richness—achieved here not by oak, but by aging on the lees with bâtonnage. Then, add the intense salinity and sea-breeze scents of great Chablis (think iodine and savory herbs). Finish it with the steely energy and cleansing freshness of top-tier Sancerre. That is the 2021 Eolia Cuvee V.

It’s a beautiful pairing with seafood and shellfish, but it's also stunning as an apéritif on a warm evening like tonight.

Now for the final piece of the puzzle. The estate only makes 2,300 bottles for the entire world each vintage. This was originally an $89 wine, but the importer gave me a special deal, allowing me to slash the price to $65. I immediately bought everything he would sell me.

You would spend $65 or more on a good White Burgundy without a second thought. Do yourself a favor and try something that is going to blow your mind. It will completely change the way you think about Sicilian wine—I guarantee it.