This time of year is often when we gravitate to special wines and what I refer to as “winter warmers.” These are hearty, full-bodied wines that pair with the season’s richer-style foods. Wine is a highly sought-after gift during the holidays. It’s helpful to have guidance on selecting these gifts. Here are my special winter warmers, partnering well with dinners, celebrations, family and good friends.
2021 The Atom Cabernet Sauvignon, California. Cabernet sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine that most people know, regardless of their level of wine knowledge. Mostly from California or France, cabernet sauvignon is often a go-to for larger gatherings. The Atom cabernet displays a round, smooth mouthfeel with black cherry, raspberry and some vanilla bean notes. Rich and velvety, it is a great partner for hearty meat dishes, creamy cheeses, such as blue cheese, or lamb chops. Its price point is at less than $12.
2019 L’or de Line Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is one of my favorite full-bodied red wines for gifting. The 2019 L’or de Line has four years of age on it and is ready to enjoy after opening. You can also aerate for about 15-30 minutes before enjoying. From organic farming and a small family, the wine is comprised of the grapes grenache, syrah and mourvedre. It was produced and aged in concrete tanks and then oak barrels before release. It shows notes of black pepper, mocha and bing cherries. It is a nice partner for beef stews with a tomato base, grilled duck breast and creamy French cheeses. L’or de Line is great value at less than $50.
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GIVING MOOD? ’Tis the season for gifts and here are three wines that would be worthy presents.
COURTESY JESSICA NORRIS GRANATIERO[/caption]
Tre Monti “Doppio” Barbera Frizzante, Italy. Tre Monti is a small, family-owned winery that I have visited, and they produce this unique wine, a sparkling red made from the barbera grape, one of the main grapes grown in northern Italy. The Tre Monti Doppio barbera has a slight effervescence to it. With medium-sized bubbles, it’s frothy in the mouth, giving off notes of mulberries and morello cherries. It’s fresh, lively and ends with a sensation of crispness. It’s great on its own or after a meal with dark chocolate. It also presents beautifully in the glass. Less than $20.
2020 Terredora di Paolo Aglianico, Italy. Aglianico is a grape that comes from Italy’s Campania region and is known for its abundant earthy and tannic nature, often not being ready to enjoy for five or more years after its release. Since this grape is often unknown to many wine connoisseurs, I like to surprise someone with aglianico as a gift. The 2020 Terredora di Paolo has a nice balance of earthiness, tannins and dark berry fruits. It’s quite approachable. Naturally, its style lends itself to meat dishes and vegetarian dishes with tomato sauces. Avoid anything overly spicy, which would accentuate the tannins. Less than $20.
2015 Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani Amarone, Italy. This is one of the most beautiful estates in the Veneto region of Italy. This winery has been family-run since the 1700s, and it produces amarone, a renowned style of wine that is made through a natural drying process of grapes indigenous to the area – corvina, rondinella and corvinone. All grapes are harvested by hand, and then the wine ages for five years in oak barrels. The result is a luxurious wine with a silky mouthfeel that’s accompanied by plum, blackberry and mocha notes. This is a real treat at more than $100.
Jessica Norris Granatiero is the founder of The Savory Grape, a wine, beer and spirits shop in East Greenwich. She can be reached through her website, www.jessicagranatiero.com or by email at jessica@thesavorygrape.com.
