By Chris Cree, MW
As the holidays approach, my mind starts to wander to all the great celebrations ahead. Each holiday has its traditions and, of course, great food and celebratory feasts! This is precisely when my tastes start to lean towards classic grapes and regions. Here are some of my favorite “best buys” for the season-delicious, affordable wines that won’t break the bank. Cheers!
Champagne – You can’t go wrong with Champagne. No other beverage makes any occasion more special than popping a bottle. True Champagne can only come from an area of delimited vineyards just north and east of Paris, but they can be pricey. Marie Weiss Brut Champagne, $40, is my “go-to” everyday Champagne for the holidays. It’s a delicious, complex Champagne that drinks way above its modest price tag. Dry and focused, with lovely brioche and green apple notes, minerality, and a fine mousse. It is everything you could ask for in a bubbly twice its price!
Burgundy – Located in central eastern France, the Burgundy region produces some of the finest expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the world. The moderate continental climate, ancient marine soils, and long history of winemaking all combine to create the perfect environment for these two grapes. While the best Burgundy can be very expensive (into the tens of thousands of dollars per bottle for top wines like Domaine de la Romanee Conti), there are also great values to be found.
You can’t go wrong with Bourcier Martinot’s Macon Blanc 2022, $22. It gives many a Chardonnay from the more prestigious Cote d’or or the Sonoma Coast a run for their money, at a fraction of the price. Beautiful yellow fruits and pear and apple notes are joined by zippy minerality, and a fresh, long finish. This wine offers classic Burgundian character at a minimal price.
Domaine Arlaud Bourgogne Rouge Roncevie $49.99 – Domain Arlaud is located in one of the finest terroirs in the world for the Pinot Noir grape. This overachiever comes from grapes grown just a stone’s throw from a Grand Cru Vineyard in Gevrey Chambertin. It’s as good as many a Gevrey that sells at twice the price. Simply an outstanding wine, you can drink it now with decanting or cellar it for a decade or more.
Cabernet Sauvignon – Bedrock’s Sonoma County 2022 -This world-class red wine grape makes some of the finest wines in the world, with Bordeaux and California being at the forefront of quality. With many Napa Cab prices in the stratosphere, I am looking elsewhere for value. Bedrock’s Sonoma County 2022 offers great Cabernet fruit, depth, and power at a terrific price! Crafted by Morgan Peterson, son of famed Ravenswood founder Joel Peterson, this wine is simply a joy to drink. Loaded with deep, plush plum and cassis fruit, moderate tannins, and just a hint of oak, it will be perfect with anything from Turkey to a roasted Prime Rib of beef. At $50, it’s a pretty good deal too!
After dinner is the time to sit back by the fire, binge on holiday sweets, and enjoy a soul-warming dram. You can’t go wrong with Port, especially Kopke’s 10-Year Tawny, $33, from the oldest Port house in the world. Founded in 1638, they are the pros when it comes to aged, ready-to-drink Tawny Ports. The 10-year is ruby brick in color, with aromas of kirchy dried cherry, spices, caramel, and dried fruits. Best of all, it is sweet and delicious on the palate. You can open it, enjoy a glass, and put the stopper back in. It will last for weeks or longer.
About Cree Wine Company
Cree Wine Company was founded by Chris Cree, New Jersey’s only Master of Wine, and one of only 56 MWs in the country. We offer a Wine Spectator Award-Winning wine list with hundreds of wines and spirits by the flight, glass, and bottle. Visit our Wine Bar & Kitchen, and you can stop in and try before you buy! It’s also a great place for private events of all kinds – birthdays, anniversaries, baby and bridal showers, and corporate dinners, and we offer a wide range of wine and spirits classes, tastings, and dinners. All our wines and spirits are available online too, and we deliver and ship!
176 Perryville Road, Hampton, NJ
908-200-7772 ♦ CreeWine.Com
