As readers of my reviews have surely realized by now, I prefer to tell stories in my reviews, rather than just create a list of obscure, often inedible things that I think a wine smells and tastes like. (I do that part too, I just like to tell a story first.) So here’s a story: One time my wife filled a thermos with this wine, took it on a rafting trip with us, and drank the entire bottle through a straw. You can figure out the rest.

This is one of those wines that I just feel like everybody should know about. Sonja introduced it to me years ago, and you can get it at Trader Joe’s for $3.99. No kidding. It’s light golden in hue, and very light and acidic on the palate, with crisp notes of citrus and pleasant minerality, leading into a long dry finish.

Ridiculously consistent from year to year, it’s not the best PG I’ve ever had by a long shot, but it’s the best value I’ve had bar none. 90 points on my scale, and highly recommended as a heck of a deal.