The Christmas
holiday is a time for sharing with our friends and our families, and when
the act of giving should come naturally and without seeming too studied or
worried over. This is a time for hominess and warmth, for sincere
simplicity and togetherness. Here are some of my favorite selections for
the holidays.
1994 Cabernet/Shiraz Penfolds 1994 Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet/50%-Shiraz/50%. Inky dark garnet. Cassis, caramel and spicy oak aromas, fruity and full. Big, ripe and juicy fruit with sweet oak on the palate over a firm acidic structure and soft tannins. It's delicious, drinkable, and best of all, still on the uphill slope. 1999 Beaujolais Nouveau Beaujolais Nouveau is the wine of the current harvest, made from grapes, which were picked less than two months before the wine is released. Perhaps no other wine so celebrates the enjoyment of the fruits of our summer labors, and signals the beginning of the transformation, which autumn signals. Beaujolais Noveau, served slightly chilled, can be served throughout your entire Holiday season. It is light enough in body to serve as an aperitif, soft enough in flavor to compliment light-tasting foods, high enough in acidity to go well with heavier foods, and simple enough that it will not conflict with all those flavor-filled dished which is kept traditional for this time of year. American Zinfandel Zinfandel is a mystery grape, in that no one is sure where it came from. Speculation and stories abound, but one thing is clear about this often misunderstood grape It produces a delicious wine in the United States. Americans consider Zinfandel an American grape. When grown in hillside plots in a cooler region, Zinfandel can produce a powerful wine, which can hold its own against many other, more costly wines. In the hands of a winemaker who understands the grape, the "bramble" flavors and fruity, berry notes on the palate can be enchanting. Some of the best
Californian Zinfandels made today come from low-yielding, older struggling
vines, some of which were producing before prohibition. The fact that they
were not uprooted in order to make way for other crops is a small miracle.
That they are producing wines that are affordable is a true blessing. Look
for the words "Old Vines" on the label. Enjoy your Christmas and you're
choice of wines. Don't forget to enjoy a nice sparkling wine or champagne
with you friends too. Designed and
maintained by FLB Enterprises
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