With the holidays upon us, it’s time to stock up on your favorite wines. It’s a good time to try some new bottles as well, and impress your family and friends with your ability to find good values and different producers from around the world. We recently spent an hour or two strolling through 50+ wines at a local Wines & More shop to see what they were pouring, and promoting, for the holidays. We came away with several you should consider pouring at your house. Both white and red, these are all excellent for the holidays, and every day. Here they are:
2015 Saint Bris Sauvignon Banc – this is an unusual wine, not because it is Sauvignon Blanc and from France, but because it is Sauvignon Blanc and from Burgundy. Saint Bris is the only appellation in Burgundy to make wine from this grape, and is located about 20 miles from Chablis. So this is not the heart of Burgundy, where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are everything. Clay and chalky soils in Saint Bris are a bit different than elsewhere in Burgundy, although not too different than the famed Kimmeridgian clay at the heart of nearby Chablis. This gives the wine a great minerality. There is some grapefruit on the nose and on the palate, but it is restrained. You also get a clear lemon note. The wine has some structure and body, a result of 8 months of aging on the lees in tank. The most remarkable quality for me was the finish, which was incredibly long. This is excellent, and will pair well with any seafood, as well as Asian inspired dishes. About $17.
Proemio Petit Verdot – A dark, deep, red colored wine here, with dark fruit as well. There is some caramel on the nose and very focused fruit on the palate. Long and full bodied, this is both delicious and a great value. It will stand up to your holiday roast, or a beef bourguignon. The Proemio wines are made in Mendoza, Argentine. 100% Petit Verdot.
2016 King Estate Pinot Gris – this wine comes from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, know for it’s terroir 
focused Pinot Noir, but also a source of excellent Pinot Gris. This wine has bright fruit, but also some texture and body. It is beautifully balanced, complex and excellent value at around $17.
2017 Coppo Moncalvina Moscato d’Asti – there are Moscatos, and then there are Moscatos. This is a very good one, and while you expect a bright, clean wine, what you don’t expect is the combination of fruit, an ethereal texture that only the best Moscato’s have, and less bubbles than average. This is smooth as silk and flat out delicious. Your guests will go through this very quickly, so buy some extra. $15 and a crowd pleaser.
2016 Barnard Griffin Columbia Valley Syrah – perhaps the best value of the tasting, this is a deep, rich
Syrah with great ruby color and a nose of plums and other dark fruits. It is full bodied, a bit luscious and very long. It stays rich and focused throughout. We think this is an insane value at $16. Another great choice to pair with your roast beef, or for sipping in front of the fire.
2014 El Enemigo Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Franc as a stand alone varietal is very underappreciated. This is a example why. From the Catena Family, the El Enemigo is a rich and complex wine. It is also balanced, with good acid. It is a beautifully made wine, which screams quality. The finish is very long. An excellent value at $28, this might be our favorite overall wine from the tasting event.
Any of these will serve you well over the holidays, of at any other time. There are thousands of choices out there, but if you see these you can feel confident you’re getting an excellent bottle of wine at a great price.
A votre santé!
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