The elves have been hard at work helping me draw up a list of great wines for the holidays. These are all wines that you can give as gifts or proudly serve and savour with a holiday meal. Wine makes a very versatile gift, because you can share it with friends and family, or cellar it or maybe even re-gift it. The elves have carefully curated a list with suggestions for every budget.
First, I want to introduce you to a couple of Premier Cru Chablis that I recently tasted. Did you know? Il était une fois… about 150 million years ago… the Chablis region was submerged beneath the sea… Consequently, the terroir of this region has unique characteristics which result from the influence of the former sea and erosion over time. Fossilized oyster shells have combined with clay and limestone to form a fertile soil with geological echoes of its maritime past.
The Chablis region is divided into four appellations: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru. The last two consist of parcels of land known as precisely defined ‘Climats’. These ‘Chablis Climats’ were identified as far back as 1537, and are the result of winemaking expertise that has been passed down through many generations.
The complex aromas of these wines are a perfect match for delicate dishes and the mineral nuances pair wonderfully with oysters and scallops, while the fresh flavours balance the creamy texture of soft cheeses, creamy mushroom soup, risotto, and rich fish such as salmon. A gift of Chablis Grand Cru or Chablis Premier Cru will make a wine lover very happy indeed.
This classic Premier Cru Chablis, crafted in an unoaked style, shows characteristic delicate flavours, silky smooth texture and subtle saline minerality. There are lovely white floral aromas (lily) with peach, apricot, guava and citrus notes. The acidity is excellent, all the elements are in harmonious balance, and the lingering apricot note on the finish is a beautiful echo of the palate. Pair it with grilled scallops, a plate of oysters or salmon.
Extra Dry • 12.4% • VINTAGES# 524959 • $34.80
This is a very rich and sensuous Chablis. The nose is so delicate, it’s like walking through an orchard on a spring morning. Breathe deeply and find notes of guava, ripe pineapple, tangerine zest, white florals, honey and nuts. The mouthfeel is creamy, with an unctuous texture and finely balanced acidity, and the lingering finish is rich and honeyed. You can cellar this one from 2024-2030. Pair it with smoked trout, a clear seafood stew or a plate of oysters.
Extra Dry • 13% • VINTAGES# 701219 • 750 ml • $60.90
Also available in 375 ml • VINTAGES# 39140 • $32.10 – Perfect for gifting!
An exceptionally fine Riesling with a gorgeous nose giving white florals, grapefruit and pear aromas. The body has good weight but shows freshness, too, with lovely flavours of pears, yellow plums, citrus, honey, crushed stone and saline minerality. It has excellent balance with mouthwatering acidity and a lush finish showing yellow fruit and minerality. Pair this with grilled octopus, turkey, mushroom risotto or Coq au Vin.
Dry • 13% • LCBO VINTAGES# 37139 • $31.90
Gewurtztraminer is called the ambassador of Alsace wines. Ninety-five percent of the world’s Gewurtztraminer vines are located in Alsace, where they thrive in the climate. The warm, dry summers and cool nights facilitate full maturity in the grapes, allowing them to express their exquisite aromas. The diverse soils of the region also enhance the development of the grapes and allow the winemakers to produce a range of Gewurtztraminer styles, from dry to late-harvest and off-dry wines. Riesling and Gewurtztraminer from Alsace set the gold standard for these two grape varietals.
Gewurtztraminer is unique for its combination of floral, fruit and spicy flavours. The medium-sweet style of this Domaine Allimant-Laugner Gewurtztraminer offers rose petal, pineapple, mango and characteristic lychee notes on the nose and luscious palate, along with hints of cloves and citrus zest. The mouthfeel is exquisitely satiny with acidity that balances the fruit flavours. The fragrant finish lingers as you look forward to the next sip. It’s a truly beautiful and memorable wine. It will make a terrific pairing for either aperitifs and charcuterie or with desserts such as shortbread or gingerbread cookies. It works extremely well with spicy curries, sushi, blue cheese and Tarte Tatin, too.
Medium-Sweet • 12.5% • LCBO# 30350 • $34.80
Bread & Butter wines were some of my favourite discoveries this past year. Their Cabernet Sauvignon shows wonderful fragrant notes of cassis and ripe red berries, mint, pepper, vanilla and a delicious mocha aspect, which are repeated on the palate. Smooth tannins reflect the excellent balance and the finish highlights the rich vanilla. Enjoy this with your next prime rib or roast lamb. I can guarantee you will buy it more than once!
Heads up: their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are just as good as their Cab Sauv!
Dry • 13.5% • LCBO# 647644 • $17.90 – on sale for $15.90 til Jan. 5
A leisurely glass of Port is a luxurious way to end a holiday dinner. Late Bottled Vintage, or LBV, is the most popular premium Port style in Canada. This is a full-bodied Port, aged in wood for 4-6 years, with flavours of plums, blackberries, raspberry jam, dried herbs and mocha. It has a velvety texture, soft tannins and finely balanced acidity. Enjoy it after a special meal, with your feet up and a few dishes of blue cheese, nuts or dark chocolate as you sit by the fireplace and count your blessings. A bottle of LBV Port makes a great gift or an affordable luxury for yourself.
Sweet • 19.5% • LCBO# 46946 • $18.20 – on sale for $15.70 until Jan.5
The holiday season is the perfect time to splurge on fine Champagne. Whether you are toasting the New Year or kicking off a party, nothing says celebration like Champagne, and when guests come to the house, offering them a glass of Champagne is a great way to set a festive mood.
Champagne Collet is an independent winegrowers’ house, created in 1921 and located in Aÿ, a Grand Cru village and the birthplace of Champagne. Highly esteemed for the richness and elegance of their Champagnes, they are committed to ethically produced wines that celebrate the exceptional terroir of the region.
This fall, I happily attended a tasting of Collet Champagnes, hosted at Chef’s Paradise. Collet’s North American Wine Ambassador, Pascal Boyé led the very informative class. We tasted several styles from the Collet range, all exquisite, which were paired with small plates expertly prepared by Chef Kyle Wilson of Beckta.
There’s a lot to love in this Champagne! The nose offers white flowers, citrus, apples, pear, pineapple and quince, with hints of smoke, anise and lavender. The layered, rich palate is creamy with flavours of citrus, pineapple, slight smoke, sea salt and lingering honey. It was aged for a minimum of four years. With it, we enjoyed smoked salmon and goat cheese chive dressing with buttermilk croutons and toasted almonds. I was in my happy place!
$74.99
The Rosé Brut is equally lovely, starting with its eye-catching peach-pink colour. The enchanting nose offers floral, citrus orange and mandarin, peach and red berries, with a delicate touch of brown sugar. The rich palate shows blackcurrant and peach flavours with a cocoa note, in a very silky and supple mouthfeel. A mouthwatering plate of garlic butter poached prawns and risotto with fresh herbs and Parmesan tuile accompanied this glass of Rosé Brut perfectly.
$94.99
The Blanc de Noir was simply fabulous! It has a remarkable nose that includes apple, peach, tropical mango and fragrant passion fruit, then evolves after a few minutes towards kiwi, rhubarb, cassis, strawberry, brioche and marzipan. The palate is creamy and fresh, with an exciting acidity and a long white fruit finish. A very impressive Champagne. To accompany it, we enjoyed mushroom toast garnished with black mullet caviar.
$99
It would be hard to pick a favourite, because they were all superb. Several of us favoured the Art Deco and the Rosé Brut was a big hit, too. If asked to choose, I could easily put on a blindfold and simply point; any of them would make me very happy.
Collet Champagnes are available by consignment from The Vine Agency in Ottawa: lauren@thevineagency.ca or at La Bottega Nicastro.
Wine trivia– how many bubbles in a glass of Collet Champagne? Answer: around 1,000,000. We learned that the bubbles are not an indicator of quality; it’s just physics!
Season’s Greetings and Happy Sipping!
Please drink responsibly.
For more wine and food discovery from Jane Staples, visit www.bellovinoj.com
Header image: ASIFE, iStock
