Sunday, December 21, 2014

Wine as a last-minute Christmas gift





"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!"
New Hampshire has a State run liquor sales system, however wine boutiques and super markets do carry wine, but it is getting late for that last minute gift of wine; what to do: How much to spend? What kind of wine (white or red, bubbly or fortified)? What brand and where to buy?
 
Out of the maze my quick picks from 2014 are these.
 
Market Basket supermarkets:
About $10
Red wine:
ChiLENSiS Colchagua Valley Chile 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, $9.99, 89+ points
White wines:
Château SUAU Cadillac 2013 Bordeaux Blanc Sec, $11.99, 89
 
Hannaford's Super market:
About $10
Red wine:
ESO Central Coast 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $11.70-$13.00, 88 points
Under $20
White wine (Asian Cuisine for the Holidays?):
Willm 2012 Alsace Riesling Réserve, $17.00, 91 points
 
NHLS:
Super value:
About $5
Red wine:
Campo Viejo Rioja 2012 Garnacha, $4.94-$10.99, 87 points
EOS Estate Winery Paso Robles 2009 Petite Sirah, $6.79-$14.99, 90 points
Quickfire Dry Creek Valley 2008 Zinfandel, $7.64-$18.99, 90 points
 
About $10
White wine:
Sileni Marlborough 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $10.99-$12.99, 91 points
Kungfu Girl Washington State 2012 Riesling, $11.89-$13.99, 90 points
 
About $10
Red wines:
David Girard El Dorado 2009 Syrah, $10.19-$26.99, 91 points
Truchard Carneros Napa Valley 2011 Zinfandel, $11.99-$27.99, 91 points
 
Under $20
White wines:
Eroica (Chateau Ste Michelle-Dr. Loosen) 2012 Columbia Valley Riesling, $14.44-$20.99, 93 points (Asian Cuisine for the Holidays?)
Merriam Vineyards Russian River Danielle's Estate 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.99, 93 points
Honig Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.99-$16.99, 92 points
 
Under $20
Red wines:
Waterstone Napa Valley 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, $16.99-$22.99, 92 points
Tenuta di Nozzole D.O.C.G. 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva, $13.59-$18.99, 91+ points
Fattoria di Magliano Heba Morellino di Scansano DOCG 2010 Sangiovese Red Wine, $14.44-$19.99, 91 points
Forma DE Arte Do Tejo DOC Reserva (Portugal), $14.99-$16.99, 91+ points
Château de Bellevue Lussac St. Émilion 2010 Bordeaux, $19.79-$27.99, 92+ points
 
Price is no object Red wines:
Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, $75.99-$94.99, 97 points,
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley 2007 Insignia Red Wine, $144.99-$225.99, 97 points
Château Angelus Premier Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine, $292.49-$453.99, 97 points
 
Price is no object White wine:
Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley 2011 Chardonnay, $40.69-$49.99 (NHLS gift card applied), 93 points (Think winner of the 1976 Paris wine tasting)

Index-of-reviewed-wines

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6 comments:

  1. No time to say hello, goodbye................

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  2. Thank you for suggesting the Grgich Hills Estate 2011 Chardonnay. It makes a great holiday gift.
    Cheers!

    Ken Morris
    Grgich Hills Estate

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ken: Grgich wines speak for themselves (always a great wine) I just pointed my index finger! Merry Christmas to all the great people at Grgich!

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  3. Looks like my recycle bin.
    Grgich 2011 Zin...best I've had in a long time. And you can quote me on that :)

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    Replies
    1. VG: Says that the "Grgich 2011 Zin...best I've had in a long time. . . "
      In less than two weeks I hope to have at least one bottle! :-)
      Oh, your recycle bin has chocolate in it? ;-)
      Merry Christmas to you and yours. Give Vino dog #2 a hug for me!

      Delete