Wine Talk by Art of the Table
December 22 , 2010
|
|
|
|
Last week we chatted about the giving of wine as a gift. This week we'd like to focus a bit more on what to pour at your table for the holidays. If you are entertaining or having the family over to your house this year, impressing them with great wines will certainly make for a memorable holiday season.
|
Whites for the Table
| |
Domaine de Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne Blanc ~ France
A blend of 5 different grapes of which the percentages differ depending on the vintage. Floral and slightly tropical fruits come off the powerful nose, and the palate changes gears to acidic fruits and citrus with a tropical fruit undertone. The body is medium in weight, and the wine is very lovely without being overly dry. We've carried this and enjoyed it consistently for years.
Always a great value and impressive for everyone
from Aunt Millie to Uncle "I know my wine."
$9.50
Undone Dry Riesling ~ Germany
A wonderful example of a Riesling fermented completely dry...wine from Germany at this price is unheard of! Very crisp with aromas and flavors of green apple and grapefruit. The acidity is strong and prevalent, but the herbal tones of the wine are very balancing in a pleasing way. I think this is really cool wine. I can't wait to drink it with grilled shrimp skewers over
pasta with olive oil and red pepper flakes.
$11
Cepage Viognier ~ France
A somewhat crisp styled Viognier that maintains lush notes and floral aromas. Peach and pear push the palate with a lemon acidity as well. All in all, a very well rounded wine. With it's plush flavors and mouth feel, this little guy can stand up in a big pairing fight. I'm thinking thin sliced swordfish
with Cajun bleu cheese cream sauce.
$11.25
|
|
|
Reds for the Table
| Domaine de Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne Rouge ~ France
A great wine all around. Blended from Merlot and Tannat, the roundness of the Merlot is backed up by the structure from the Tannat. What I really like about this wine is its forgiveness on the palate. The nose is pleasant with black jam and blackberry with toasty spice notes. The wine in the mouth is similar, but far less brooding than one would expect from the nose. It is incredibly elegant and balanced. That's what happens when honest people make wine they care a lot about for a reasonable price.
$9.50
Dubost Tracot Morgon "la Ballofiere" ~ Beaujolais, France
Beaujolais with strength, character, yet finesse. Produced from Gamay in volcanic rock driven soil, this wine is expressive to say the least. Plum and pear pulp peak at the beginning of the palate, and refine into a black cherry finish with moderate acidity. Many people think of Beaujolais only during Thanksgiving because of the release of Beaujolais Noveau, but that shouldn't be the case. This wine is outstanding year round and makes for an incredible food wine. Traditional prime rib roast? Yes please.
$19.25
Eric Texier 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape ~ France
So, every year I bring an outrageous bottle that I spend too much money on. Yes, it's awesome, yes it's worth it. But this year, I'm bringing Eric Texier's Chateauneauf du Pape from 2007. Holy cow is this wine awesome. It's not cheap, but it's not a hundred bucks either. The fruit is still really fresh, so I recommend opening it a few hours in advance to let it burn off. Once you get down to the guts of the wine, it's like nothing else. Classic CdP funk with mushroom, charred meat, elegant black and red fruit with big tannins and a lingering finish. Oak is obviously present, but takes a backseat to the superb wine. Friends, I'm excited about this one.
$54.75
|
Port and Bubbles
| | Quinta de Roriz 2003 Vintage Port
Vintage port isn't anything like a regular ruby or tawny port. It isn't nearly as sweet and it's character is almost liqueur like. Certain vintages in Portugal, like any wine region, are considered exceptional and many producers bottle a single vintage bottling. While the wine is still fortified, it takes on much more "wine" like characters. It's not as big in the mouth, but it still is huge and carries over those raisin-like flavors. Quinta de Roriz is a wonderful bottling that I can't pass up on during the holidays. To me, it's the perfect thing to have at the finish of a meal. A settling digestif that tastes wonderful.
$62
De Bortoli Willowglen NV Old Tawny Port ~ Australia
Every year for Christmas my sister makes an awesome cheesecake. I tend to like a port reduction sauce on my cheesecake and there is no way I'm using a vintage port. The good news is, this stuff tastes really good too. Warmed honey and vanilla fill the nose and mouth, with caramel and cooking spices. The spicier characters of this port lend to pairing with really rich and creamy desserts. It's way out in left field as far as Port goes, but I love it.
Really fun bottling for a great price.
$11
Montaudon Champagne ~ France
This is really cool guys...we have a Magnum (1.5 liters/2 bottles) and a Jeroboam (3 liters/4 bottles) of REAL Champagne in stock! These make for incredible centerpieces for a party, or a great way to pour Champagne for Christmas/New Years without a ton of bottles lying around. Montaudon is a greatly respected Champagne house in Reims with over 4 generations of history and know how. The Champagne is vibrant and limestone driven with hues of yeast and floral acidity on the nose and palate. A large format is a great way to impress your guests visually and be able to put something delicious in their glass.
Magnum ~ $100.00
Jeroboam ~ $200.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
