When I look back on the wines that I’ve enjoyed during the last year - dutifully memorized by the external brain pack I call an iPhone - it always makes me pause. The breadth of amazing wines that I have access to is quite stunning. I drink more amazing wines in a year than most wine drinkers do in the lifetime. It is exciting and humbling at the same time.

Today, I recap the 8 most memorable wines that I enjoyed in 2019. This isn’t a list of the very best wines, but the most memorable.

What makes a wine memorable? Surprise. Originality. Unique character. A perfect blending of wine and food pairing. And, of course, the pure, exceptional quality of the wine itself.

Note: At the time of this writing, I work for a wholesale distributor that represents some of these wines in Ohio and Kentucky. Neither my representation of these wines or lack thereof, affects this list in any way.