Our very own Level 2 Sommelier & AGM, Sarah Ogden, wanted to share a couple wine’s that have been on her nice list. First, she shares one that is perfect for a casual dinner at home. Next, the perfect wine to pair for a holiday meal. And finally, she lets us know which wine she would gift this holiday season!
Wine for a Casual Dinner: 2021 Barista Pinotage | Western Cape, South Africa
Once upon a time, Pinot Noir and Cinsault had a baby, and they called him Pinotage. Well, that’s not exactly how it happened, but you get the point. The flagship grape of South Africa, this wine brings out red fruits and smooth tannins of Pinot, while adding unique broodiness and earthiness brought to you by Cinsault. This wine will pair nicely with the savory aspects of most proteins, specifically lamb and poultry. Smoked poblanos and leather on the nose, but the wine explodes on the palate. Plum, boysenberry, tarragon and anise, while black cherries dominate on the finish. It’s a fun wine to drink with friends.
Wine to Drink at a Holiday Dinner: 2020 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley, California
Who doesn’t know and love Caymus? Impress your guests with a bottle of this beauty. Evergreen, irises, white pepper, and chocolate on the nose. Palate expresses intense tannin with a luscious mouthfeel, raspberries, spearmint, French oak influence. This wine is extremely well made and will complement good food and great company. It’s not something you’ll drink every day, so a special occasion will be made extra memorable.
Wine to Give as a Gift: Ferraton Pere & Fils Condrieu Les Mandouls
Having trouble finding the perfect gift for a good friend? Skip the bubbles this year and get them one of the best Viogniers in France. Although it is grown in the largest white wine appellation in the Northern Rhône, it is by no means run of the mill. In fact, not much is produced yearly, so if you see one, snatch it up. Daffodils, beeswax, and Meyer lemon on the nose, honeysuckle, almonds, pomelo, and Lemonhead candy on the palate. Long silky finish exploding with minerality coating your tastebuds, expressive of the granite it grows from. This is a special wine the recipient will treasure.
