The Holiday Issue
Unfortunately the lovely bottle of Condrieu I am holding here is now sold out. Condrieu is an appellation in France’s Northern Rhône and is made from a white wine grape called Viognier. Done well, Condrieu is rich and weighty with notes of stewed peach, apricot, and even honey. Condrieu pairs beautifully with seared scallops.
In place of the bottle of Roland Grangier Les Terrassed, 2018, I intended to review, I encourage you to consider this bottle, Remi Niero Les Ravines Condrieu, Vintage 2017
Dearest subscribers,
Like all things 2020, the holiday season is sure to be a little different this year. But that doesn't mean it has to be any less merry or bright!
With fewer get-togethers and smaller gatherings, we’ll all have a little more time to focus on those who are closest to us and enjoy the magic of the season.
For this issue I’ve compiled a list of wines to pair with all manner of festive occasions. Whether you’re looking for a little something to sip while trimming the tree, have family or friends popping by for a socially distant holiday visit, or, if you’re curling up on your own to watch a holiday movie, I’ve got just the wine for you.
Origin: Southwest, France
Classification: Fronton AOC
Vintage: 2018
Grape(s): Négrette, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Style: Dry, full-bodied, firm
Price: $14.95
Alc./vol: 14.5%
Pair with: Charcuterie
Serve when: You’re curled up on the couch watching holiday movies
Estate bottled from the largest privately owned winery in the Southwest region of France, this wine is comprised, primarily, of Négrette, which is the most widely planted grape variety of Fronton.
Dry, full-bodied, and firm with soft tannins, this wine manages to be at once, heavy and approachable and totally quaffable.
Top notes of plum, blackcurrant and cherry move through to woodsmoke, anise and a touch of violet as the wine continues to evolve in the glass.
Effortless and incredibly drinkable, this is a holly-jolly perfect wine to have on hand during the holidays. Serve ever-so-slightly chilled.
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Vintage: 2018
Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc
Style: Dry, aromatic, zesty
Price: $22.95
Alc./vol: 13.5%
Pair with: Hors d'oeuvres like freshly shucked oysters, deviled eggs, or Prosciutto-wrapped asparagus
Serve when: Friends stop by for a socially-distant holiday visit
When you see the term ‘single vineyard’ on a bottle of wine or wine list it means that all the wine in that bottle is made from grapes grown and harvested - you guessed it - from a single vineyard. Wineries are made up of several vineyard sites that are often uniquely named. In this case, the vineyard from which this wine came is called Rarangi. The idea is that single vineyard bottlings are a perfect expression of their terroir.
This is a very typical style of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, forward, pungent, and wonderfully lively in the glass. This bottle is particularly mineral driven, the winemakers say, owing to the vineyard’s proximity to the sea. If you like dry, crisp white wines with lip-smacking acidity this wine is sure to jingle your bells!
Origin: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Classification: VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake
Vintage: 2017
Grape(s): Cabernet Franc
Style: Dry, full-bodied, smooth
Price: $39.00
Alc./vol: 14.3%
Pair with: A hearty wintertime beef stew, baked brie with cranberries and walnuts
Serve when: You need the perfect gift for the host of your socially distant get-together
This holiday season many of us are choosing to shop local in an effort to support our communities and small businesses. Stratus is an Ontario-based winery located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, or, NOTL. Through their online shop you can purchase a larger assortment of their wines than what’s available at the LCBO, and they have a few great looking gift packs as well.
The 2017 Cabernet Franc is full-bodied and powerful with notes of cherry, raspberry, cedar and rose petal. This is an elegant but firm wine that’s suitable to drink now or cellar a few years. This one makes an excellent holiday gift.
Origin: Central Otago, New Zealand
Vintage: 2018
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
Style: Dry, grippy, earthy
Price: $34.95
Alc./vol: 13.5%
Pair with: Stuffed mushrooms
Serve when: You’re entertaining family at a social distance
This lovely Central Otago Pinot Noir from Loveblock Winery is refined yet bold. It’s a clear, bright, gorgeous ruby red with beautiful burnt orange highlights. The nose is distinctly earthy with notes of damp turned earth and wild mushroom. The wine’s obvious oak treatment imparts heady aromas of cedar and woodsmoke. The fruit profile is abundant with notes of cherry, wild blueberries and red currant.
For lovers of earthy Pinot Noir this is a must try.
Origin: Loire Valley, France
Classification: Vouvray AOC
Vintage: 2017
Grape(s): Chenin Blanc
Style: Off-dry, fresh, fruity
Price: $16.95
Alc./vol: 11.5%
Pair with: Prosciutto-wrapped melon
Serve when: You’re preparing your big holiday meal
Fresh, fruity, clean and mineral with lighter alcohol this is the perfect sipping wine before a big meal.
Over-ripe pear, white peach, nectarine, this wine burts with fruit flavour. Off-dry but not sweet, this wine is heavenly when contrasted with the salty flavour of Prosciutto.
This is also an excellent cooking wine for all manner of sauces and broths.
Serve well chilled for best results.
Origin: Rioja, Spain
Classification: Rioja DOC
Vintage: 2018
Grape(s): Tempranillo
Style: Dry, full-bodied, aromatic
Price: $14.95
Alc./vol: 13.5%
Pair with: Manchego and Spanish olives
Serve when: You’re trimming the tree
One of my favourite go-to wines for it's crowd-pleasing approachability and all around flavour. Made from the Tempranillo grape variety, this is a full-bodied and highly aromatic wine with a great intensity of flavour. Plum and raspberry move through to notes of vanilla, leather and baking spice on the nose.
Full-bodied and firm, this wine would also do well as an accompaniment to heartier main dishes like beef lasagna of chili con carne.
Origin: Oregon, USA
Vintage: 2018
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
Style: Dry, medium-bodied, juicy
Price: $22.95
Alc./vol: 13%
Pair with: Spiced mixed nuts
Serve when: You’re setting out milk and cookies for Santa
A little something for him; a little something for you, am I right?
Certainly a more boisterous style of Pinot Noir when compared to the Loveblock, this wine boasts cigarbox, woodsmoke, wild strawberry and vanilla in addition to the common elements of Pinot Noir -cherry and turned earth.
If you love bold red wines like California Cabernets I encourage you to give this one a try.
Origin: Bordeaux, France
Classification: Sauternes Grand Cru Classé
Vintage: 2009
Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Style: Sweet, luscious, long
Price: $47
Alc./vol: 13.8%
Pair with: A plate of Roquefort, walnuts and honey or, alternatively crème brûlée
Serve when: You’re plating dessert after your big holiday meal
Rich, complex, and opulent, Sauternes might just be the height of elegance in the dessert wine category. Made from grapes affected by botrytis, or what’s more commonly referred to as noble rot, these wines which were at first an unhappy accident of nature are now lusted after and lauded as some of the world’s most precious wines.
Château d'Arche received the rating of Second Growth in the 1855 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac, (the category of sweet white wines). The red wines of the Medoc by contrast are classed in five levels, or Growths. The ranking of wines in the 1855 Classifications of Bordeaux were based on both the reputation of the Château and the selling price of the wine at that time.
Chamomile, dandelion, beeswax and honey, this wine just oozes with flavour and aroma. The complexity and depth of this wine make it a pleasure to drink now, but should you prefer, the acidity of this wine will allow it to age for decades.
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
With love & gratitude, your faithful somm,
Ashley
