Hey Fellow Wino's
I've got some great picks for you coming out tomorrow, Saturday August 18th.
I really dislike “premium”, “reserve” or “small lot” terms used on bottles as they are normally used to deceive the consumer that the quality is higher than it actually is. In this case, however, they could have used the term “Super Duper Fancy Pants Sparkling Rose” and I wouldn’t have disagreed. Tart fresh red fruit like crunchy raspberries and strawberries with some classic brioche, toasted almonds, yogurt notes typically found in aged champagne.
I would pair with a fabulous brunch of smoked salmon bagels and a fresh berry fruit salad. Heck, I’m DOWN to get UNDER this bottle. Pleasure in a glass!
Why drink a $100 Blanc de Blanc from Champagne when you can drink one from Burgundy for only $20. I mean sure, it will be inferior, but 5 times inferior, hardly! Burgundy is just south of Champagne anyways.
Blanc de Blanc meaning a white wine made from white grapes, this 100% Chardonnay will offer up ripe apples and grapefruit with some of that brioche, almond, yogurt notes. This may be better suited to oysters or fresh seafood. In France and Germany, it’s not uncommon to start the evening off with a glass of Sparkling wine, like we do with a cocktail in North America. Ditch the Tanqueray and toast to the beauty of life, with bubbles.
Will this be the best Malbec you have ever had, I think not? Would it be a Malbec I would recommend to friends and family, absolutely! Vina Cobos makes some serious wine and while this is more of their entry level stuff, it will still impress. Ripe red, black and maybe even some blue fruit, this wine should be rather elegant and satisfy those who like their reds to have a bit of weight to them. Nice prime rib on the grill, decant and serve.
I’ve had a really special place in my heart for Closson Chase. My first barrel sample was with Keith Tyers, the winemaker at Closson Chase. It was a special moment for which I’ll always cherish. PEC in location, Burgundian in style, this meshes the gap between local talent and old-world tradition. Decant and serve this elegant earthy Pinot Noir with perhaps a mushroom risotto or braised pork loin in a raspberry jus. Be gentle, no steak spice with this heavenly angel.
This lovely Chardonnay has seen only 18.5% new oak, meaning you’ll only have a gentle elegant aroma of richer style chardonnay. Instead, the primary fruit will shine through with grapefruit, white peach and nectarines. Think of oak use like a tea bag, only use ¼ of the tea bag and you will have a very gentle tea, not a vanilla and butter bomb. I would sip this with some grilled chicken with provincial herbs with perhaps a side potato salad.
I love Rustenberg for all of the wine they produce. Like Vina Cobos, when I see it, I buy it! Excellent value, rich chardonnay here, perfect for rich chicken dishes and gravy. Yellow apple, lemon curd, this rich wine will surely entice. While oaked, it’s balanced, not a vanilla bomb to unload on your guests. Let’s not beat around the bush though, this is an elegantly oaked Chardonnay.
So if you’ve got a wine friend you want to impress, this one will tickle any wine nerds funny bone. Normally Sancerre in the Loire Valley produces Sauvignon Blanc, but a very small portion of it makes a Pinot Noir, and this is it. This 100% Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley will surely bring it’s tart red raspberry fruit but more importantly, it’s minerality. This is an example of what elegant Pinot Noir can taste like. Some new world Pinot Noir from warmer climates can taste like raspberry jam or nibs, with this wine you won’t have that problem. Like the Closson Chase Pinot Noir, be gentle with this one and pair it with an earthy medium dish of roast chicken or pork with grilled root vegetables.
Ditch the “19 Crimes” or “Goats Do Roam” and try and up your wine game. I’ve done a lot of the legwork for you, now you just have to make it to the store to pick them up or have them delivered right to your door.
Live life, be adventurous, be bold and explore new wines!
Happy Sipping,
Ryan Sullivan
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