To help you find some tasty quality wines I’ve prepared a short list for your Holiday celebrations. A tad more expensine than usual, these wines still offer a great quality/pleasure/price ratio. Included are a really unexpenive Spanish sparkler, an all purpuse white, three perfect reds for turkey and a more structured red for meats and game. This selection should satisfy demanding palates sekeing wines bursting with character.
These quality selections should marry well with flavourful Holiday dishes. Hope they also contribute to many enjoyable momets with friends and family.
A sparkler for starters and hors-d’oeuvres :
Elyssia Cava, Freixenet, Espagne 18,60 $ 11912494
A very affordable Champagne methode Cuvée made from a lovely blend of Chardonnay (40 %), Macabeo (30%), Parellada (20%) and Pinot Noir (10%). Typical Spanish Cava nose displaying toasted bread, apples and petroleum scents. Creamy froth, fine bubbles, great balance and remarkable freshness. Excellent ! Note : 88/100
An excellent white for fish and seafood dishes :
L’arpent des Vaudons 2016 Sauvignon de Touraine, Jean-Francois Mérieau, France 20,95 $ 12564233
A lovely Sauvignon bursting with citrus scents and typical vegetal overtones. Medium bodied with lasting flavors, this well balanced Loire white is quite fresh and flavorful. Great value versatile white! Note : 88/100
Three reds for the Christmas/New Year’s turkey :
Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes 2015 Franche Comté, Vignoble Guillaume, France 25,75 $ 13471549
A surprising Vin de Pays (Pinot) from Franche Comté (just east of Burgundy). A superb pinot from the excellent 2015 vintage : typical fruity and floral scents. Soft but refreshing acidity, supple tannins, medium bodied and surprising length. Guaranteed perfect match with the Xmas or New Year turkey dinner. Note : 88+/100
Chorey Les Beaune 2014 Francois Gay & Fils, France 36,75 $ 00917138
Burgundy remains the reference when it comes to quality Pinot. Here is a lovely example from the fresh and balanced 2014 vintage. This Chorey displays ripe red fruits (raspberry and cherry) with smoky and floral hints. A typically elegant red Burgundy with supple tannins. Should satisfy the fan of light, fresh but flavourful Bourgogne! Note : 89/100
Chiroubles Les Bruyères 2016 Christophe Pacalet, France 28,35 $ 12847831
Following the rich and ripe 2015 Beaujolais harvest, 2016 offers fresher more elegant Gamays. In 2016 Chiroubles suffered record breaking hail storms. Regardless, Pacalet with his Cuvée «Les Bruyères» produced an impressive Chiroubles. Quite young, its fruity nose is slightly masked by volatile animal scents. It should be decanted an hour before service to enhance its fruity character and charming flavors. Typically light and fresh, this characterful Gamay remains true to the appellation. Note : 88+/100
For red meats and game :
Saint-Joseph 2015 Vins de Vienne, France 31,50 $ 10783310
Still in the shadows of its reputed neighbors (Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie), the Saint-Joseph appellation remains a well kept secret. The Vin de Vienne S-J exemplifies this quite well. Youthful, its nose displays animal hints with dark berry and smoky scents. Its rather ripe and structured style confirms its from the hot 2015 Northern Rhône vintage. Good extract with some potentiel (3 to 5 years). Note : 89/100
NICK HAMILTON
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