Great Wines for Winter Festivities
As the crooners tell it, the holiday season ’tis the most wonderful time of the year. Here at GAYOT, we believe this abundance of joy to be at least partially attributable to the fruit of the vine. From vibrant whites and reds for holiday feasts to vivacious bubbly for ringing in a new year, our Best Holiday Wines list is filled with selections that are sure to make your holiday season sing.
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• BUBBLES •
1. Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé | France
Video © Champagne Billecart-Salmon
La Maison de Champagne Billecart-Salmon is older than the Olympic Games. The first Summer Games were held in Athens in 1896, while the bubbly history started in 1818 when Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon were married, marking the creation of their Champagne House. Now, over seven generations, the family’s motto continues: “Give priority to quality, strive for excellence.”
The majority of the grapes used for vinification by Champagne Billecart-Salmon come from a radius of 20 kilometers around Épernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the ethereal vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.
The Wine
Origin: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, France
Varietals: 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier (with 40% reserve wines)
Price: $94.99
ABV: 12%
A beautiful pale pink color shows as background for the very fine, energetic bubbles. The nose is very subtle and fine, displaying red berries, citrus zest and creamy apple. The palate is round, boasting fresh acidity and ripe wild strawberries finishing with pinpoint precision and elegance.
> For more information, visit the Champagne Billecart-Salmon official website.
RELATED: GAYOT’s exclusive interview Mathieu Roland-Billecart, president Champagne Billecart-Salmon
2. Castello Bonomi, Franciacorta, Satèn 2019 | Italy
Origin: Lombardy, Italy
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Price: $33.00
ABV: 12.5%
Castello Bonomi is a prestigious winery located in the Franciacorta region of Lombardy, Italy. This area is renowned for producing some of Italy’s finest sparkling wines, often compared to Champagne.
Satèn, derived from the word “satin” in homage to the soft, silky texture of the fine bubbles on the palate, is unique to the Franciacorta region, and unlike other sparkling wines. The wine is made with 1 atmospheric pressure lower than traditional sparkling wine, 5 instead of 6, which gives it this unique charm, and is always made from 100% Chardonnay.
This pale-yellow Franciacorta displays fine effervescence. The nose opens with green apples, followed by white flowers, pie crust and a hint of roasted almonds. The palate shows a creamy texture, flavors of stone fruit and apple. The finish is long and refined.
> For more information, visit Castello Bonomi official website.
• WHITES •
3. Romeo, Reserve Chardonnay 2021 | Napa Valley, California
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Price: $34.00
ABV: 14.5%
Romeo Vineyards is a family-owned winery located in Napa Valley, California. The Romeo Family is known for their dedication to producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of their estate. The wines are crafted by Alison Green Doran, the fourth female winemaker ever. Having worked alongside trailblazer Mary Ann Graff and under the tutelage of André Tchelistcheff, a legendary figure in 20th century California wine, Doran approaches site-specific winemaking with exuberance and intensity.
This golden colored Chardonnay is perfumed with apple, pear, pineapple. The creamy palate reveals layers of pineapple, butterscotch and a hint of minerality. The finish is round, with good acidity and balanced oak with a touch of vanilla and ginger spice.
> For more information, visit Romeo Vineyards official website.
READ MORE: The Best Chardonnay Wines
4. Crémant de Limoux Brut NV, Côté Mas | France
Origin: Languedoc, Occitanie
Appellation: Crémant de Limoux AOC
Varietal: 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir, 10% Mauzac
Price: $20.99
ABV: 12%
Vines are planted on clay and limestone soils at an elevation of 820 to 920 feet. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats. After primary fermentation, the “Liqueur de Tirage,” a blend of sugar and yeast, is added to the juice a few hours before bottling. After one year of aging, the lees are expelled, and the “Liqueur de Dosage” is added and aged an additional twelve months.
First on the nose: honey, acacia and crystallized lemon. Then on the palate: citrus fruits and balanced acidity.
Food pairings: An excellent apéritif, but also pairs well with all styles of cuisine.
> For more information, click here.
5. Gewürztraminer 2019, Maison Trimbach | France
Maison Trimbach’s history began in 1626! Now, the thirteenth generation is carrying on the family legacy. In 1898, Maison Trimbach won the “Diplôme d’Honneur” at the Brussels International Fair, establishing its international reputation. In 1920, the headquarters were moved to Ribeauvillé where they are still located today. The Trimbach family is a reference point for fine Alsace wine. They are also one of the largest owners of Grand Cru vineyards in the region, which account for a third of their total production. At every level, their wines embody the celebrated Trimbach style: structured, long-lived, fruit-driven, dry, elegant, and above all balanced.
The vineyards are in a semi-continental climate, which means cold winters, hot and dry summers, sometimes stormy, and beautiful and dry autumns. The sunshine is optimal, and the rainfall is very low because it is protected from oceanic influences by the Vosges mountains. The vines are, on average, 45 years old. At this stage the root network is fully established in its soil and reveals all its facets and specificities.
The Wine
Origin: Alsace
Appellation: Alsace AOC
Varietal: 100% Gewürztraminer
Price: $33.99
ABV: 14.5%
Fresh and fragrant, this Gewürztraminer is dry, spicy, rich and distinctively aromatic, with notes of roses, lychee, and citrus fruit.
Food Pairings: fish, white meat, foie gras, spicy dishes or on its own.
> For more information, visit Trimbach official website.
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• REDS •
6. Larkmead, 2021 Firebelle | California
Origin: Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 62% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc
Price: $100.00
ABV: 14.7%
Larkmead is a truly historic vineyard, dating back to 1895. One of the very finest vineyards in Napa Valley, Larkmead has been in the same family hands since 1948. This steadiness has allowed for the type of careful study that is necessary to truly unlock a vineyard’s potential. Since the beginning of their modern winemaking history in 1997, they have been relentlessly fine-tuning their viticultural and cellar techniques to most accurately express the vineyard’s voice.
Historically, their Firebelle Estate Red Blend has been a marriage of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. For this vintage, Cabernet Franc has been included, which brings the varietal’s signature vibrant ruby color, bramble berry notes, and herbal freshness to the blend.
This dark ruby red wine offers a nose of black berries, spices and cigar box. The full-bodied flavor profile is marked by ripe red berries, dried herbs, refined tannins and vivid acidity leading to a generous, complex aftertaste expressing the three grape varietals.
> For more information, visit Larkmead official website.
7. C.L. Butaud, 2021 Desert Willow Mourvèdre | Texas
Origin: Seminole, Texas
Varietal: 100% Mourvèdre
Price: $48.00
ABV: 14.5%
C.L. Butaud winemaker/co-owner Randy Hester worked for over a decade in the Napa Valley for top wineries such as Colgin, Caldwell, Realm, and Cakebread, before returning to his native Texas where he and his wife, Brooke, who used to work for Patz & Hall, started C.L. Butaud in 2014. He brought an innovative approach to winemaking in Texas. He is doing some things a little differently from most other wineries, such as a carbonic Counoise, Blanc de Noirs still wine, a skin contact Rosato, and even an orange wine. Although there are no organic vineyards in Texas, Randy focuses on growers who farm sustainably, with care for the land and environment.
This dark ruby red wine has a bouquet marked by ripe red fruit, spices, chocolate and a touch of oak. Big, bold flavors develop in the mouth, unfolding red berries, playful acidity, present but elegant tannins and a touch of salty minerality.
> For more information, visit C.L. Butaud official website.
