The expert
Michael Teer, owner of Pike And Western and Soul Wine.

The Cred
Michael Teer? Come on, man. The advice he doles out at Pike and Western, his den of potable treasures in Pike Place Market, has been saving Seattle dinner parties for the past 35 years. Seven months ago, Teer opened Soul Wine, his second shop, in the retail space below Serious Pie. If you see him, say hello. Then ask for a recommendation—Teer is every bit the unpretentious wine expert.

So what’s this week’s theme, Expert?
“Wines that will make your friends think you spent more than you did.”

Ooh, tricky. Why did you pick that theme?
“A frequent request from customers goes like this: ‘I am going to a friend’s house for dinner and want to bring a nice bottle of wine. I don’t want to spend a lot but I want something that is delicious and distinctive.’ I take great pleasure in finding wines under $20 that outperform their price point. Each of these is an estate-bottled wine, which means it is made where the grapes are grown, by the people that own the vineyard.”

Let’s do this thing.

The Red
2009 L’Ecuyer de Couronneau Bordeaux Superieur, France ($15) “Two thousand and nine was a great Bordeaux vintage, and it is through wines from small properties that most of us will be able to experience it. This 100-percent merlot (don’t even tell me you don’t like merlot until you taste it) is certified organic—unusual in Bordeaux—and it’s full of ripe but balanced fruit with a bit of structure to add character.”

The White
2009 Château de La Greffiere Macon La Roche Vineuse “Sous Le Bois’’ ($18) "White Burgundy is a favorite of mine, but it is not cheap…usually. This wine shows the richness and minerality of more prestigious appellations, and a surprising level of complexity for the price.”

The Rose
2010 Château du Rouët, Côtes de Provence, France ($15) “Provence makes some of the world’s best and most sought-after roses. This one is dry, with hints of dried fruit, spice, and minerals, and it’s beautifully balanced. When you drink it the sun will come out…somewhere.”

The Sparkler
2007 Domaine du Vieux Pressoir Saumur Rosé ($18) “Little is more festive than a glass of rose with bubbles. This sparkler from the Saumur region of the Loire Valley fills the bill quite nicely at only $18. It is 100-percent cabernet franc—full of snappy red fruits but also a surprising depth of flavor.”

Sounds delicious. Thanks for the recs, Michael. So how’d you end up with a life in wine?
“By the time I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in editorial journalism, I had already started in the wine business. Neither the New York Times or the Seattle Times came calling, so my hobby became my vocation. I’ve never looked back.”