The holiday season is upon us. Here are some wine considerations for any party you will be hosting or attending:
>> 2013 Chateau des Deux Rocs Rose (about $15 a bottle): Here is a fabulous dry, masculine pink wine from southern France, well suited to holiday food, from turkey to ham to smoked meat, with all the fixings. As recently as five years ago, there were only five roses I would buy for our restaurants, and none of them were as good as this one. Supply is limited, so act quickly.
>> 2012 Folk Machine “Parts &Labor” (about $18): This one is an interesting, wonderfully food-friendly red blend from California. Reminiscent of the “field blends” that European immigrants produced for their dinner tables in the early age of California wine history, wines such as this one capture old-vine character with tastiness.
>> 2012 Cantine Valpane “Barbera del Monferrato” (about $16): This wine may not be suited to those who lean toward New World wines, such as those from California or Australia. But I think it’s important to include at least one authentic, traditional-minded wine from the Old World.
This offering is an old-school Piemontese “country” red that possesses a virility, wildly rustic meatiness and soulfulness that is a heartfelt reminder of the origins of Italian wines.
Vines had been planted in this amphitheaterlike vineyard since the 1700s. The patriarch of the family that now owns the vineyard began his work in 1902, and the family’s pride and skill has been evident in every single bottle since then. Consider having this with roasted meat during a holiday meal.
>> Paul Bara Brut Reserve “Grand Cru” (about $70): I felt it important to mention at least one bubbly and thought long and hard about the one to feature. I selected an all-time favorite from Paul Bara. This family owns and farms a scant 11 hectares of vineyards in the grand cru village of Bouzy.
We were sad to hear of the recent death of its patriarch but know that daughter Chantale will carry on the tradition of delivering superb handmade, powerful, creamy grand cru Champagne. This bottle epitomizes the best in artisanal, handcrafted Champagne possessing true character.
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Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner
in the DK Restaurants group. Follow his blog at chuckfuruya.com.
