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A Range of Red Wines for Holiday Occasions
Before I begin, I just want to greet you all first a “Happy Holiday!” In this special season marked by adamant snowfall and gift-giving, I will feature wines of fuller body and distinctive intensity. Below are some of the red wines you might want to enjoy along with your scrumptious winter meals. For your convenience, I have provided wines of varying price, style and producers that would definitely match your discriminating tastes.
We feature 2001 vintages which are firm and structured; 2002 with its softer and fruity quality; and 2003 vintages of leaner and excellent kind.
Recommended Merlot & Merlot Blends
Ballentine Vineyards, 2002 MERLOT POCAI VINEYARD, NAPA VALLEY
$22-$24
Enticing and elegant. This Merlot features the fruitiness of plum, baked cherry accentuated with subtle earthy finish. 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc. 2,240 cases. Drink through 2010.
Duckhorn Vineyards, 2002 MERLOT, HOWELL MOUNTAIN
$70-$75
Taste reminiscent of cranberry, blueberry, toasts, roasted nut and black licorice. Noteworthy style and structure with light tannic properties. Long, persistent and firm on the end. 1,707 cases. Drink through 2010.
Pine Ridge, 2002 CHARMSTONE, NAPA VALLEY
$30-$32
Ripe, complex and fleshy. This Merlot is full-bodied and moderately rich. It features good depth and fruitiness. Possible to be aged a bit. Distinctive blend of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. 1,500 cases. Drink through 2009.
Trefethen, 2002 MERLOT, OAK KNOLL DISTRICT
$30-$32
Merlot of excellent style and quality. It features round and well-balanced structure. Taste reminiscent of blueberry, plum, toast and aniseed. 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink through 2010.
Recommended Malbec & Malbec Blends
Chateau St. Jean, 2002 MALBEC RESERVE
SONOMA COUNTY $62-$65
Supple and rich, this is an intensely flavored wine, with light oakiness, and a smooth long finish, tasting of berry jam, toast, herbs, and oak. 8% Merlot. 505 cases. Fine Malbec. Drink through 2010.
Pine Ridge, 2002 ONYX, NAPA VALLEY
$58-$60
Fleshy and ripe. This Malbec features a harmonious blend of blackberry, black currant, toast, cedar and aniseed. It is a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot. 500 cases. Drink through 2010. Full-bodied and luscious.
Recommended Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends
Eberle, 2003 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, VINEYARD SELECTION
PASO ROBLES, $16-$18
Intense and powerful. This cabernet is full and slightly woody. Taste reminiscent of blackberry, cedar and oak. Possessing such persistent and long finish. 2,966 cases. Drink through 2009.
Eberle, 2001 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, RESERVE
PASO ROBLES $62-$65
Cabernet which features flavors of blackberry, plum, cedar, oak and tobacco, accentuated with slight oaky finish. Long and lasting on the palate. 348 cases. Drink through 2011.
Far Niente, 2003 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY $100-$105
Full-bodied and supple. Rich with excellent balance and texture. Long and persistent on the palate. Possible to be aged for several years. Bursting with flavors of black currant, cherry, toast, aniseed and subtle oak. 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. 8,500 cases. Drink through 2012.
If you enjoyed these wine reviews, you
might also find the following wine resources
to be useful:
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