Zaro/Black Lamb "Easy Refosk" 2021

This fun and versatile red is 100% Refošk, a deeply colored black variety that’s rarely found outside Slovenia, northeastern Italy, and Croatia. A collaboration between the importer Black Lamb and Zaro Wines — an organic estate on the Slovenian Istria— the “Eazy” was born from surplus grapes grown during the pandemic, when traffic to Zaro’s wine bar suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Black Lamb stepped in and bottled the pressing, bringing us this full-bodied red at a great price. With notes of smoke and game on the nose alongside black pepper, blackberries, and plum, this is the perfect bottle to grab ahead of a backyard barbecue or steak dinner at home. Zaro’s vineyards have views of the Adriatic, and you can sense the Mediterranean influence on the wine’s ripe tannins and still-high acidic profile.-Kate Masters