As the holiday season reaches its peak, I’m back with more premium gift suggestions for the wine lovers in your life.
WINTER WHITES: Bouchaine Vineyards is a highly celebrated producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. Its 2023 Reserve Chardonnay ($70) is a barrel selection crafted to highlight a lush, concentrated expression of Chardonnay from the estate; it balances that with precision and uplift. Another fine Careneros Chardonnay is the 2023 Cuvaison “Coeurtina” ($80). A special selection of grapes from the coolest blocks of the winery’s Tai Vineyard, it reveals the refreshing results from slow ripening: citrus, apricot, honeyed richness.
Sauvignon Blanc is having a moment. While there are many fine examples from its traditional regions, the holidays are an ideal time to gift bottles from lesser-known regions. In this case, the 2022 Appassionata Über Sauvignon ($40) from Willamette Valley. Very little Sauvignon Blanc is grown there but this one is amazing. Fermentation and aging in large acacia barrels add textural elements to its fresh herbs, crisp refreshing lime and grapefruit.
ITALIAN CREATIVITY: Pasqua “Hey French, You Could Have Made This But You Didn’t”, 4th ed. ($45) despite the playful name, this is a serious wine; creative blend and a rare multi-vintage Italian wine; mostly the native garganega with tiny doses of pinot blanc and sauvignon blanc; fresh citrus, hint of almonds and minerals, rich texture.
PIONEERING ARGENTINE WINERY: The owner of Revana Napa Valley Estate and Alexana Willamette Valley Estate, with Corazón del Sol not only advances Argentine Malbec but is pioneering Rhône-style wines there. The 2021 “Gran Reserva” Estate Malbec ($100) is a selection of the best barrels from each estate vineyard, brilliantly ripe fruit, impressive complexity and depth, close-grained tannins. The 2022 “Luminoso Block 13” Estate GSM ($70) grenache, syrah, and mouvédre; beautifully shows wild berry, sleek tannins. The 2021 Estate Grenache Block 13 ($70) offers beautiful pure, bright red fruit, herbs, silky tannins.
FIRST WINE OF THE NEW VINTAGE: This is the time of year when the new vintage is celebrated and one of the best-known celebrations is that of Beaujolais Nouveau. Georges Duboeuf, one of the iconic proponents of Beaujolais also is credited with bringing Nouveau to the world. The 2025 ($16) is ideal for holiday meals and social events. It is fresh, lively, and fruit-driven with juicy dark berries.