More Wine Holidays

Filed in archive Wine Tasting on November 26, 2006

Thanksgiving is over but we still have more holidays on the horizon. That means lots of great food, and for most people, enjoying friends and family with a bottle of wine or maybe two bottles.

Our traditional Christmas dinner is very similar to our Thanksgiving meal, so we have some of the same considerations.

Luckily, there are all kinds of wine suggestions out there, like these from Heather McPherson:

Nonvintage Domaine Chandon Etoile Brut. Celebratory meals deserve celebratory wines. This creamy sparkler has nice undertones of nectarines and honey. Serve it to toast the gathering before the turkey makes an appearance. About $30.

2004 Mendocino County Zig Zag Zin Zinfandel. I zigged my first zag in the spring at the ZAP Grand Tasting at The ballroom at Church Street. (By the way, ZAP stands for Zinfandel Advocates and Producers. If the tour makes another trip this way, don't miss it.) This wine has lots of fresh fruit and a nice bite that meld for a smooth finish. About $20.

2002 Moss Creek Sauvignon Blanc. This might be hard to find on a day's notice as there were only 637 cases produced. But if you can land a bottle, expect a supple wine with plenty of crisp fruit and a little nutmeg spice. About $25. This Napa winery is one to explore.

Nonvintage Mark Davidson Shiraz. Berries commingle with peppery clove in this affordable Aussie offering. The combination of pepper, clove, raspberry and earthy aromas has a nice oak finish. About $13.

2004 Basa Sauvignon Blanc. This is an amazing value from Spain. In a blind tasting, you would swear this clear, crisp wine was from New Zealand. With a case discount, it's a great buy for holiday parties. About $12.

2006 George DuBouef Beaujolais Nouveau. This light, fruity wine is a Thanksgiving favorite. Don't let the unnecessary hype about its annual arrival on the third Thursday of each November make you think you are getting something tres swell; it's serviceable but not superb. The acidity allows it to go with a variety of foods.

And compared with other beaujolais nouveaus, George DuBouef is as good as it gets. About $12.

I totally agree with her when it comes to George DuBouef. You really can't go wrong with one of his beaujolais.