Holiday Wines Worth Remembering

The best word to describe my family gatherings during the recent holiday season is “bedlam.” With 40 or so people for dinner on two consecutive nights we went through a good deal of food—and gallons of wine.

With so many different palates to please my holiday wine buying strategy was not aimed at food pairing. It was about trying as many different bottles as possible without going broke. Here are a few of the bottles we tried. There are some new finds and some old favorites that are worth seeking out.

Peñalolen Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Maipo Valley, Chile), $16.99: A new find that makes me want to take a long, overdue look at what’s happening in Chile these days. This wine delivers lush wild berry fruit and a smooth body with hints of eucalyptus adding depth and interest.

Lafond Cotes du Rhone 2007 (Rhone Valley, France), $13.99: This is one of my go-to wines for large gatherings because it delivers a mouthful of black cherry fruit, roasted meats, herbs, spice, and just a whiff of earth in a body that is not too heavy to overshadow the meal.

Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Reserva 2003 (Rioja, Spain), $19.99: This Rioja went perfectly with the smoked ham but would also pair well with roasted red meats. It’s loaded with ripe plum and stewed fruits, leather, vanilla, coffee, and toasty, smoky notes.

Molettieri Irpinia Aglianico “Cinque Querce” 2006 (Campania, Italy), $24.99: Pricewise this one is just about at the limit of my per-bottle holiday wine budget but it delivers added complexity and layers without breaking the bank. It’s full-bodied with black and earthy cherry fruit, crushed stones, and herbs all wrapped up in an elegant finish.

Riondo Prosecco NV (Veneto, Italy), $11.99: This light, crisp, sparkler is a versatile wine to have around for pre-dinner sipping, late night conversations, and, as I found out, it’s a natural with orange scented olive oil cake.

Huia Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Marlborough, New Zealand), $17.99: This wine has all the herbaceous notes, gooseberry, and ripe citrus flavors that one expects in a Sauvignon Blanc along with some tropical fruit and the usual dose of lip-smacking acidity.

Cantina del Taburno Greco 2008 (Campania, Italy), $16.99: One of these days I want to sip a Greco on the Amalfi Coast but this past holiday I was just as happy sipping this almond, lemon zest, and nectarine-infused white while watching the snow falling on my lawn in Montclair.

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