When it comes to a gift of wine during the holiday season, I try to give each person on my list something special and unique — something they’d never buy for themselves.
Here are suggestions for when an indulgence is in order. Honolulu has several distinguished wine shops that can help you locate a bottle.
>> Chartogne-Taillet Brut Cuvee “Sainte Anne” (roughly $58): Bubbly certainly adds to the celebrations of the season. Recoltant manipulant (nicknamed “grower Champagne”) is a category rising meteorically among wine professionals. To be part of this category, winemakers must own and farm their own vineyards, as well as bottle their own wine. While this does not necessarily determine quality, it does say something about the product being family-owned, artisan and — at its best — handcrafted. Not all are created equal. Chartogne-Taillet is undoubtedly one of the top renditions, and only recently has it come to the islands. Not only is it superb in quality, the price is most remarkable, given what comes in the bottle.
>> 2018 Clos Ste Magdeleine Cassis Rosé (roughly $49): Pink wines are certainly enjoyable with holiday foods — roast turkey and ham specifically. One of the finest rosés in the world is the Clos Ste Magdeleine, and it typically is quite hard to get. The estate vineyard is in Cassis, a wine appellation within Provence, France, on a mini-peninsula right on the Mediterranean. The limestone soils and immediate proximity to the sea create a magical pink wine, completely enjoyable on its own, but its real delight is how it makes foods taste so much better. This will give you a whole other perspective on what pink wines can be.
>> 2015 Sucette Grenache (roughly $56): Over the years I have come to appreciate many wines from the land Down Under. This is one of the most jaw-dropping, game-changing wines from the region. While Australia has a propensity to showcase lavish opulence and a quite showy style, here instead is a lighter- colored, provocative, mega-savory grenache from the southern enclave of the Barossa Valley. Adding intrigue, this wine comes from vines 150 years old, still planted on their own roots in dominantly sandy soils, which creates a completely different, fascinating red wine. Stylistically, it lies somewhere between pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon in weight, mojo and swag; you can have a blast with this wine at the dinner table. A truly one-of-a-kind wine.
>> 2014 Reynvaan Syrah “In the Rocks” (roughly $65): After a nearly two-week trek through Washington state wine country, I came home with an updated understanding of what is happening in the region, and which wines we need to get to the islands. Among standouts were the wines of Matt Reynvaan. They get astronomical scores and accolades, but they are so unique they will set a pace for his neighbors to follow. The Reynvaan family owns two very different parcels in the Walla Walla Valley appellation, the most intriguing in the “Rocks” nook (which is actually on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla appellation). The vineyards are planted in a series of basalt cobblestones at the foot of the Blue Mountains.Reynvaan’s rendition of syrah is lighter in color than most other 95-point red wines, with an intoxicating, alluring perfume, medium to full body and a super-long finish. This is a very special wine that clearly shows the worldly potential Washington state has to offer.
Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and co-host of the weekly podcast “Chuck Furuya Uncorked.” Follow his blog at chuckfuruya.com.
