Top 5 Wines of the Month (June 2026)

Hey guys!

June has come to a close, which means it’s time for our monthly bottle recap. June was easily one of the craziest months of the year so far, and we opened some amazing bottles to show for it. Here are a few of the highlights:

Location: Yunnan, China 🇨🇳

Variety: Pinot Noir

This was one of the most intriguing wines I've had in a long time. Made by Alex Xu in Yunnan, China, it completely challenged what I thought was possible from Chinese wines. The grapes come from high density, hand harvested vineyards perched 2,800 meters above sea level. The wine had remarkable structure, concentration, and depth, reminding me some Pinots from Gevrey-Chambertin.

I had a glass of this at Lei during their one year anniversary celebration, which now feels even more special after their recent “Best New Restaurant” recognition from the James Beard Foundation. From the very first sip, you could tell it wasn't just an incredible Chinese wine, it was an incredible wine, period. The wines are expected to make their way to the U.S. soon, and I'll be keeping a close eye out because this is a producer I can't wait to follow.

Location: Rias Baixas, Galicia, Spain 🇪🇸

Varieties: Albariño

I have a special place in my heart for this wine. I first learned about Albamar on a trip to Galicia in 2024, when the Selection de la Viña team took a group of us to the Rías Baixas region, and the Albamar winery. We spent the day talking with the team, sharing an incredible meal, and, of course, drinking plenty of Albamar. Also on that trip was my friend Benny, the trumpeter for the band Lettuce, who also happens to distribute Albamar in Colorado under his company, Benny & Zoid Selections.

Fast forward to June, I was asked to source a wine I was excited to pour during a panel at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Since we were in Colorado, Benny and Albamar immediately came to my mind. It felt like the perfect opportunity to share a producer that’s personally meaningful to me.

Alongside some fantastic bottles from the other panelists, we had a great conversation about where the wine industry is headed, and I was especially happy to see how many people enjoyed the Albariño. Definitely a full circle wine moment.

Location: Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

This was a special bottle that our friend John shared with us as a groomsmen gift during his wedding weekend in Thousand Oaks, California. John is one of our closest college friends, and long before SuperVinoBros existed, the three of us got together at least once a week during our senior year to drink wine. To celebrate the weekend, he tracked down a 2010 Château Margaux, a bottle I'd only tasted once before, and one my brother had never experienced.

For those unfamiliar, Château Margaux is one of Bordeaux's most legendary estates and one of the region's five First Growths, alongside Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Haut-Brion, and Château Mouton Rothschild. It's a quintessential old school Bordeaux, not necessarily the kind of bottle we'd reach for on a typical night, but that was exactly what made it feel so fitting for the occasion.

Thanks again to our friend, John, for the special wine.

Location: Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Variety: Merlot

Like I said before, I'm not even the biggest Bordeaux drinker, but this bottle belongs in the ring of champions, not just because of the wine itself, but because of the experience surrounding it.

Earlier this month, Jimmy Butler invited me over to his place to blind taste a few wines and explore his incredible cellar. After opening a handful of special bottles throughout the afternoon, the conversation somehow turned to Pétrus. I mentioned that I'd never had the chance to try it, and without a second thought, Jimmy got up (still recovering from ACL surgery keep in mind) and disappeared to his cellar. A few minutes later, he returned with a bottle of 1982 Pétrus, one of the most coveted and collectible wines in the world. He opened it, decanted it, and we spent the rest of the afternoon drinking the bottle while watching a World Cup match.

For those unfamiliar, Pétrus is one of the most iconic and sought after wine estates in the world. Located in Bordeaux's Pomerol appellation, the estate is known for producing wines made almost entirely from Merlot. Pétrus produces only a limited number of bottles each year, and because of its reputation, rarity, and remarkable track record, it consistently ranks among the most expensive and collectible wines on the planet. To make this bottle even more special, the 1982 vintage is widely regarded as one of the greatest years in Bordeaux history and one of the finest expressions of Pétrus ever produced. Truly a bucket list bottle with some incredible company, thanks so much again to Jimmy.

Location: Cambria, California 🇺🇸

Variety: Savagnin

This bottle carries an incredible story. It represents not only one of the most exciting wineries in America today, but also a story of resilience, conviction, and perseverance.

Raj Parr has been farming Phelan Farm in Cambria, California since 2019, gradually converting the historic property to biodynamic farming while releasing wines that have quickly become some of the country's most compelling. Raj has long been one of the leading voices in the American natural wine movement, and what fascinates me most about Phelan Farm is the vision behind it. He chose Cambria because he believed its climate resembled some of his favorite wine regions in the world, including the Jura, Savoie, and Galicia. He then sourced cuttings from those regions and grafted them onto the existing rootstock, creating wines that feel completely unique while still echoing the places that inspired them.

Fast forward to this past weekend. My friends and I were driving up the California coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco when we happened to pass through Cambria on the same weekend as the second annual SLO Coast Wine Festival, hosted at Phelan Farm. Alongside Raj, producers like Matt Taylor Wines, Scar of the Sea, Outward Wines, and many others were pouring their wines.

During the day, Raj generously took the time to walk us through the vineyards and pour a few current releases. One bottle stood out above everything else: his 2022 Savagnin. As we tasted it, Raj shared that after the 2024 harvest, frost wiped out essentially his entire crop. He told us he came remarkably close to shutting down the Phelan Farm project altogether, but this wine reminded him what the site was capable of and gave him the motivation to keep going.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the most Jura-like wine I've ever tasted outside of the Jura itself. If you had poured it for me blind, I would have guessed producers like Domaine Ganevat, Maison Maenad, or Domaine Labet without hesitation. It was a remarkable bottle, but even more than that, it felt like a glimpse into the extraordinary potential of Phelan Farm. I feel incredibly lucky to have tried it.

July's shipment will be heading out soon, and we're really excited for you to try this month's selection. Keep an eye out for your shipping notification over the coming days. As always, if you run into any issues, just reach out to [email protected] and the Table22 team will be happy to help!

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That’s it for today! June was definitely a whirlwind, and I'm looking forward to seeing what bottles July has in store. Let us know your favorite bottle of the month if you have one.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend. Thanks so much for reading, and as always, drink responsibly! 🎆 🥂