Acrobat Oregon Pinot Noir 2023 (Vivino)
By Tom Marquardt And Patrick Darr
Holiday party season is upon us, and with it comes the eternal question: “What can I bring?” When your host assigns you a dish or says, “just yourself,” the path is clear. But beware the occasional outlier—like the woman who wrote to Miss Manners after being asked to provide six bottles of wine and multiple containers of ice cream, only to discover at the party that other guests had contributed mere cookies or coleslaw. Her $150 contribution surely left a bitter taste.
While potlucks create a wonderful communal experience, we typically suggest guests bring appetizers or desserts to maintain menu coherence.
Wine gifts require strategic thinking. Is your bottle meant for immediate pouring or future enjoyment? After numerous misunderstandings, we’ve adopted a two-bottle approach: an affordable option for the gathering and a nicer selection, gift-wrapped, for the host alone. Too often, we’ve watched fine vintages poured for guests who see “alcohol” rather than artistry.
When selecting wine for a gathering, balance quality and price. Skip both the bargain-bin jugs and the premium Bordeaux that few will appreciate. Fortunately, the sweet spot between $15 and $20 offers abundant options. Consider versatile Beaujolais, which pairs with most foods and works beautifully as a pre-dinner drink. Southern French rosés provide broad appeal at reasonable prices. Prosecco remains inexpensive, though personally, we’d look elsewhere.
Three producers that produce consistently good values are J. Lohr, Bogle and Wente. If you’re looking for something special that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg, look for a garnacha from Spain, carmenere from Chile, picpoul de pinet from France, a Cotes du Rhone from France’s Rhone Valley, or a chardonnay from the Maconnais region of France. These wines have a foreign appeal without a stuffy price.
And, if you are a hostess, consider having non-alcohol wines available for those who want to participate in the festivities but avoid alcohol. These wines are becoming more popular, and hostesses should be prepared.
Here are some other bargains we recently discovered:
Imagery Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($20). Simple yet bountiful in cherry flavors and a dash of vanilla.
Trapiche Medalla Malbec Mendoza 2021 ($20). Always a good value, this can be paired with meat dishes because of its tannins.
Benziger Pinot Noir 2021 ($20). It’s hard to find a decent pinot noir under $50, but this one has silky strawberry flavors in a medium body. Good for sipping.
Acrobat Oregon Pinot Noir 2023 ($24). This from the Willamette Valley has oodles of red fruit and a hint of spice.
Greenwing Columba Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 ($22). We taste this wine each vintage and are impressed with its consistent quality. Good red fruit flavors with a hint of spice and vanilla.
Tenuta Nadir Sicilia Syrah 2022 ($20). Effusive ripe fruit and spice aromas with forward red and dark berry flavors. A good value.
Domaine de Leos Rose 2024 ($19). Grenache, rolle and bourboulenc go into this delightful French wine. Good acidity and fresh fruit character make it a great sipper.
Biking for wine
CBS News recently reported that a cyclist survived on the wine he had just bought before falling 130 feet down a ravine in a mountainous area of France.
The 77-year-old has biked from his home in the Cevennes region to pick up several bottles of wine, never thinking it would sustain him for three days in a riverbed.
Apparently, motorists passing by heard his cries for help. Eventually, some workers in the area heard him yelling—maybe for more wine?
Other than a mild case of hypothermia, he was fine. Next time, he’ll probably pick up some cheese and a baguette.
Wine picks
Post & Beam Carneros Chardonnay 2023 ($40). Nestled in the Far Niente collection is this delightful and tasty chardonnay. It has bright melon and pear flavors with hints of citrus and honeysuckle on the nose. Good acidity, light oak.
EnRoute Russian River Valley “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir 2023 (Vivino)
EnRoute Russian River Valley “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir 2023 ($60). Black cherry flavors and silky tannins highlight this enjoyable pinot noir. Nice spice notes too.
Troon Vineyard Druid’s Pink Applegate Valley 2024 ($30). This is a delightful and spirited rose that combines grenache, counoise and cinsault grapes. Good texture and acidity with extracted red fruit notes.
Chamisal Vineyards Malene Rosé California 2023 ($22). A thirst-quenching rosé made from mostly grenache grapes. Very pale but generous fruit notes of berries and cherry.
Bella Union Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($80). Now in the Far Niente portfolio, this beautifully textured wine is mostly cabernet sauvignon but with a bit of merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot to give it a nice lift. Black cherry and cassis notes with a touch of vanilla and fine tannins.
WillaKenzie Tourdion Estate Cuvee Blanc 2022 ($45). This spirited and eclectic blend from the Yamhill-Carlton appellation in the Willamette Valley consists of pinot noir, pinot gris, pinot blanc, and pinot meunier. Wow. Lots of fresh and citrusy fruit with a dab of ginger and stone fruit. Good acidity makes it a great wine to pair with appetizers.
Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr, MoreAboutWine, posted on SouthFloridaReporter.com Republished with permission Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr have been writing a weekly wine column for more than 30 years. Additional Wine reviews on MoreAboutWine All photos are randomly selected and do not indicate any preferred wine. Listed prices are subject to change and do not include tax or shipping. You can send questions to Tom Marquardt marq1948@gmail.com Always drink responsibly!
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