Holiday Wines

The Christmas season is often a preferred time to indulge in fine food and fine wine – our home included. Three considerations shaped my wine choices during the holidays.

An old wine friend of mine once presented me with a home-crafted sign which currently hangs over my fine wine cellar. It reads “Avant Partir” which is from a quotation I haven’t lately been able to trace. The original meaning was to “drink your good wine before you die”. Since departing any time soon is not in my plans, the meaning has morphed a little to “drink your good wine while it is good”.

I love old wines and appreciate the tertiary characteristics taken on by an age-worthy wine that has been properly cellared. There is a tendency, however, to put off drinking those special wines until the “right” occasion. Years go by, and many suitable occasions come and go, but the reluctance to pull the corks can mean you have missed the best drinking years of some very good (and probably expensive) wine. After my last inventory we resolved to pull good bottles on a regular basis, and with the holidays upon us, that intention was reinforced.

I find it much more interesting to share a bottle of fine wine with some friends than to drink it by myself and talk about it later. This sharing trait seems to be common among wine-lovers, at least all the ones I know! So during the holidays, whether it was the two of us, or a larger gathering, my intention was to share some fine wine.

The twelve-day challenge is an activity pursued by some of our running club’s members, and consists of daily runs during the twelve days of Christmas. With that thought in mind, my intention was to have a twelve-day wine challenge during the holidays. We would drink fine wines every day of the twelve days of Christmas! Here are some of our holiday wine experiences (not all wines from our cellar though!).

White Wines

We enjoy white wine in this house, a few of which are shown here. The Château Pique-Sèque Montravel 2015 is an Opimian selection from Bergerac, near Bordeaux, and always delivers with crisp citrus fruit flavours. The sauvignon blanc heritage is echoed in the Australian High Eden Sauvignon Blanc 2016 from Berton Vineyards, also an Opimian supplier – full of juicy fruit supported by tingly acidity.

Not shown here is the 2008 José Pinheiro Douro Abastado Grande Reserva Branco from Portugal. Although it was reasonably enjoyable, it was showing clear signs of oxidation – proving the point that we needed to get these wines consumed!

Another wine of a similar age, the 2009 Finca la Colina Verdejo from Rueda, Spain showed no signs of age at all – still lots of acidity and beginning to show some tertiary flavours of dried fruit – absolutely delicious!

Red Wines

Yes, we like white wine, but this time of the year red wines seems to match our food and mood better!

France was well represented with some brilliant Burgundies: a grand cru Bouchard Pere et Fils Le Corton 1993 (just beginning to show its age) and a premier cru from Beaune. Clos Floridene 2007, Graves was a fine representative for Bordeaux. From the south, Minervois, we enjoyed the Château Canet Les Evangiles 2009 – packed with fruit in a well-structured envelope.

From Toro in Spain was the Farina Gran Colegiata Campus 2003 – dense with fruit and flavours, with just enough age to mellow the impact and make for a wonderful dinner wine.

New world wines included Desert Hills Merlot 2014 from the Okanagan (an amazing package of plummy fruit balanced with smooth tannins), Intertwined Pinot Noir 2016 from the Willamette Valley in Oregon (a vibrant example of the Oregon style), Murrieta’s Well Cabernet-Merlot 2011 (just settling into those big Cal Cab developed flavours), and Berton Vineyards Durif 2017 (loaded with fruit and will develop).

Wine Pot-Luck

The highlight of our holiday wine drinking was the occasion of a pot-luck dinner where guests brought food and wine. The whole selection is at the top of the page, with the oldest selections shown just above: Château Ausone 1983, Château Palmer 1959, Château Giscours 1979, and Justerini & Brooks 1977 vintage port – all were in perfect condition and drinking beautifully. Some folks were digging deep into their cellars, and more than willing to share with friends – two parts of our holiday challenge!