From now through the end of the year, most lives are filled with gift exchanges, holiday parties, and large family meals. Whether you’re a host or a guest, everyone’s just a bit happier to see you with sparkling wine in hand. Here’s a bottle of affordable, versatile bubbles that fits as well in a secret Santa or New Year’s Eve party as on your family’s holiday table.
Weather plays an important role in shaping a vintage. Warmer years produce richer wines; years with rain usually drive down yield. And then there are years where nearly everything goes just right. 2015 was such a year, though most of its wines have yet to be bottled. But while we wait, we continue to enjoy the fruits of the last banner year in Burgundy: 2009.
Grape varietals often get their names from a visible aspect of their fruit. The name Sauvignon blanc comes from sauvage (“wild”) because its leaves resemble those of wild grape vines. Pinot Gris refers to the blue-gray (gris) color of its grapes. But our favorite varietal (etymologically speaking) has to be Sangiovese — a wine so inky and black that it is named for the “blood of Jove.”
In a region as small and well trodden as Burgundy, it’s amazing there are any surprises left at all. But today’s wine might be the single most exciting Burgundy of either color we’ve found in the last few years. Hailing from tiny and oft-forgotten town of Ladoix, it’s a wine of extraordinary complexity and depth.
Most wines benefit from a bit of air after the bottle is opened — but some require it. Given an hour or so in a decanter, a wine that seems hard and uninteresting can transform into a complex and delicious bottle. The decanter doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive — in fact we’ve found if it’s not, you’re more likely to use it — just a method to increase exposure to air.
Côtes-du-Rhônes are a dime a dozen these days. From bistro chalkboards in Paris, to Costco’s “Kirkland Signature” labels, it’s one of the most recognizable brands in the wine world. And as you might expect, the quality varies as much as the colorful labels. Among our very favorites is the Domaine Malmont’s version in Séguret.
Chablis remains one of the best bargains in the wine world. Forever playing second fiddle to the rest of Burgundy, the brand suffered damage from the jug-wine “California Chablis,” and has yet to recover fully. The wines themselves, however, have never been better.
No town in France is more celebrated for its wines than Vosne-Romanée. Responsible for the some of the world’s finest and most sought-after bottles, Vosne is undoubtedly the most famous Pinot Noir village on earth. Michel Gros is a lifelong resident of Vosne. His family has made wine there for centuries, and his mother was once the mayor.
Some of the finest wines in our cellar are White Burgundy. Grown in a small collection of vineyards where Chardonnay reaches its highest expression, White Burgundy can be as profound as any red wine. Burgundy is where Chardonnay strikes its most elegant balance between soft, mouthfilling fruit, and crisp, refreshing acidity.
Ansonia Wines is based on relationships with masters of their craft. The vignerons of France are some of the finest craftsmen in the world, and we’re always excited to discover and share the fruits of their talent. But there’s plenty of talent to be found back home as well.
Wine is only one expression of France’s terroir. In our travels around the country we always enjoy sampling the others — from Belon oysters and real Epoisses to pâtés de campagne and fleur de sel. One of our favorite such products is crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur originally from Burgundy.
We like to see Holidays as an opportunity to open special bottles. As family and friends pass through our doors and another year passes into the books, we often mark the occasion with the bottles we’ve been saving — wines too festive and special for a Tuesday in August. Our most recent addition to our end of year lineup is Grower Champagne.
We’ve divided our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide into two sections: GIFT IDEAS: mixed cases, kir kits, and special bottles. SUPPLY CASES: crowd-pleasing ideas for a large holiday gathering.
A dusting of snow this morning reminds us that winter is not far off. In the colder months our palates turn towards richer wines, particularly those from the Southern Rhône valley, where the warm summer sun is baked into every grape. And the undisputed king of the Southern Rhône Valley is Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest appellation of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. And because of its clay rich soils, its wines are similarly grand. Known for power and longevity, Gevrey-Chambertin shows dark, intense fruit and a sturdy tannic structure.