More recommendations
As promised, here are the rest of our recommendations for great wine to enjoy with the fall and winter holidays. While last week, we focused on those from the re-emerging markets of Eastern Europe, these come from a worldwide array of appellations. All have garnered attention from customers, so in addition to what we think of this selection, you, our readers, have liked them, as well.
What would the holidays be without sparkling? The Cremant de Bourgogne from Cave de Bisey $24, wine club price $21.60 is currently one of our wine club selections. It is a delightful bubbly with fine tight bubbles, lovely biscuit and citrus flavors and a clean dry palate. Our wine club members have been so pleased with the quality of the wine for this price, it rivals some of the best from Champagne!
The 2016 La Tremenda white $15, wine club price $13.50 is a blend of Chardonnay and Merseguera from the Alicante region of Spain. The wine is unoaked but shows amazing texture given the concrete and stainless-steel fermentation and ageing. The palate flavors show ripe Bartlet pear and apple with a clean crisp finish. The wine will be great as an aperitif on its own or with shellfish.
We just recently picked up the 2014 The Walls The Ramparts red $50, wine club price $45 from Walla Walla. The blend on the wine is Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Counoise and while spendy by any measure it will be wonderful with your Thanksgiving turkey assuming you are not expecting too big of a crowd. The wine is rich with cherry flavors shows mild earthiness in the aromatics and a perfect balance of tannin and oak.
I recently had the chance to taste with the regional winery representative from Rodney Strong Winery in Sonoma. While many of us are familiar with Rodney Strong from their widely distributed lower end grocery store labels, their reserve wines are not only harder to come by but spectacular as well. The 2013 Alexander’s Crown Cabernet $80, wine club price $72 is just fabulous California Cabernet. The wine is big and rich offering up all the best from Northern California and the varietal that does better there than any. It is another super premium wine in both price and quality, combined with the beautiful packaging it is the perfect gift for the wine enthusiast on your holiday list.
When we tasted through the portfolio from Prestige Wine Imports last month, we were blown away at the caliber of the wines for what can only be said are amazing prices. The 2016 Anterra Merlot $12, wine club price $10.80 from Prestige over delivers at every level. Juicy ripe and rich fruit on the palate paired with aromatics that highlight a bit of mocha to go along with stone fruit aromas and a dry finish make this the perfect crowd-pleasing wine for your large gatherings over the holidays.
The 2013 Stemmari Nero d’Avola $15, wine club price $13.50 also from the Prestige portfolio is another well priced wine that should not be missed. Nero d’Avola is an indigenous varietal from Sicily that shows a rusticity to it that is charming. Mild earthiness and dark fruit flavors highlight the Stemmari and is the perfect pairing for everything from your hearty pasta dishes to your favorite cheese burger.
We have long known of the wines from Justin Wiley and Va Piano out of Walla Walla. Justin will be joining us for a winemaker dinner and tasting in March, that should not be missed. While we wait for those events though Justin’s 2013 Columbia Valley Syrah $40, wine club price $36 will not only give you a chance to try his wine but will convince you to join us in March. The wine is dark, dense, rich and extracted, loaded with cherry and other stone fruit flavors and ideal tannins to balance all of the fruit. A perfect choice to go with your Christmas prime rib or New Year’s filet Mignon.
We simply can’t complete a list of recommendations for the holidays without a Pinot Noir, it after all goes better with turkey than just about any varietal. The 2016 Schug Carneros Pinot Noir $35, wine club price $31.50 was the best seller at our recent events with Schug by a factor. A testament to the caliber of this wine it is the first time Pinot Noir has ever been the best seller let alone by such a wide margin! The wine is nothing short of spectacular with ripe Bing cherry flavors mild earthiness and just a hint of spice, it is the perfect poultry pairing.
Stop by the shop and we will help find a wine to go with all of your holiday events that will fit your budget and your tastes. We will see you here soon.
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George Balling is co-owner with his wife, Mary Lancaster, of the dinner party, a wine and gift shop in Coeur d’Alene by Costco. The dinner party has won the award for best wine shop in North Idaho twice, including for 2018. George is also published in several other publications around the country. After working in wineries in California and judging many wine competitions, he moved to Coeur d’Alene with Mary more than 10 years ago to open the shop. You can also follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.