Holiday Wine Picks

*This wine was recently selected as one of Wine Spectators Top 100 List! http://www.winespectator.com/display/show?id=top100-2010

Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône 2009

This wine is a complex and an exciting peek into what’s to come from 2009 Côtes-du-Rhône!  It has all the delicious blackberry and raspberry flavors of a young wine but also shows meatiness and earth of a dynamic Syrah.  The Saint Cosme CDR displays such balance and harmony of flavors, each sip will make you long for the next.  Not only is this wine drinking beautifully right now but will be interesting and expressive through 2011.  Rhône wines are a favorite of mine to match with foods because the earthiness pairs so well with meat-based dishes.  The perfect way to compliment hearty winter food is comforting red wine!

Bishop’s Peak Chardonnay 2008

In the interest of making your holiday season less stressful, Bishop’s Peak Chardonnay is an ideal wine to pair with all of your festivities.  This wine is a full-bodied white and because of its rich, creamy mouth feel it is excellent with a variety of foods. Unlike many other California Chardonnays, Bishop’s Peak ages theirs in mostly stainless steel, which lets all of the clean tropical and citrus fruit flavors to come out rather than being covered with oak.  The wine displays buttery richness and vanilla making it irresistible for a dinner of honey glazed ham and cheesy potatoes with the family.  Mostly, I love this wine because it pairs with food so beautifully, it takes one thing off my list.  Cheers to simplicity and cheesy potatoes!

Fall Wine Sale Catalog Recommendations

Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet 2009

In Southern France, along the coast of the Mediterranean, is the wine region of Languedoc. Historically overshadowed by the acclaimed regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Loire, this up-and-coming area is producing some little known, yet delicious, wines such as Picpoul de Pinet. The Picpoul grape is known for its refreshing acidity and literally means “lip-stinger” but when supported by great fruit flavors, can be an excellent wine! The Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet 2009 has delicious aromas of apple, pear, and minerality. On the palate this Picpoul is dry and true to its name as refreshingly acidic and has dynamic flavors of lemon and fresh herbs. Seafood is a classic pairing for this wine but I prefer a nice creamy cheese to compliment the wine’s bright flavors. Try this wine as a pairing for your cheese plate with one of my favorites, Bent River Camembert from Mankato. As a lesser know region, this wine provides a great value and as we come into fall and away from the summery Sauvignon Blancs, Picpoul is a refreshing change! Enjoy!

Château Bellevue Peycharneau 2006

This delicious full-bodied Bordeaux red wine is one of my favorites and a great value for this region. Château Bellevue Peycharneau has consistently been an award winning winery and year after year they produce exceptional wines. A blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, this wine has great tannic structure to support its array of complex flavors. Many Bordeaux wines have bold fruit in the aroma and palate and this wine is no different, with flavors of cherries and blackberries. Beyond the fruit, my favorite element is the comforting spiciness of cloves, anise and nutmeg. As I am a long-time enthusiast of bold, spicy wines, this is a natural wine to love! It is also a great food paring wine and begs for a lamb dish with cherry glaze. A great addition to any cellar collection, I would lay this down for 8-10 years or give it a good couple hours of decanting before drinking. I’d love to have a bottle every year to see how this beautiful wine develops! Enjoy!

Refreshing Summer White: Giesen SB 2009

We love Sauvignon Blancs, especially in the summertime. The bright, refreshing flavors are perfect for drinking on the patio on a nice day. A classic example of a New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc is Giesen SB 2009 from Marlborough. It has notes of citrus (primarily grapefruit but also lemon and lime) and is fairly dry. There seems to be a divide in opinion about the level of grassiness in this wine, I enjoy the fresh, herbaceous quality but Isaac is a bit overwhelmed. Because of the intense citrus flavor, this wine may be difficult to pair with food but there is really no need as it should be drunk alone...in the warm sun.