Fourth Annual "Shopping List"

After the incessant rains of June and July, which may have had some of us thinking about building a boat and collecting creatures in groups of two, along with the fleeting summer that followed, it always seems startling to me here in New England how quickly the holidays come upon us. The kids are back in school and another year older and it gets me thinking about the passage of time. And I guess... time flies when you're having kids. That being said, it's time to let go of the sorrow of a mostly lost summer that took September and October to forget about and get into the spirit of the holidays! And in that spirit, I offer my fourth annual "shopping list" designed to take some of the guesswork and predictable angst out of shopping for wine during the holidays, leaving you with more time for family and friends.

I'm fortunate in my work to be exposed to a fair number of wonderful wines throughout the year. It's my intention to share some of these great discoveries here in hopes that you will also find favorable some of these gems that I have recently discovered.

Since wine is so subjective by nature, and since these choices are offered humbly by your narrator to be used as a road map to find your own path in wine, please accept these picks in the spirit they're offered - unpretentiously and enthusiastically. All in all though, I would bet these wine selections would please most anyone from the "I don't care what it is, just pour it in my glass" crowd, to the snobby, autodidactic wine enthusiast. But mostly, I hope it will please you. Happy Holidays!

Champagne & Sparkling Wines

What better way to start any special occasion? Pol Roger, Heidsieck Monopole Brut, Ferrari Brut, Taltarni Brut, Scramsberg Rose, Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc, and Moet & Chandon Vintage Brut are all excellent choices.

White Wines and Dry Roses

Refreshing whites are a great way to start a dinner, getting your palate ready for the complexities to follow. And, if you haven't discovered the joys of a well-made dry Rose, maybe it's worth looking for the wines that are highlighted in the list below.

Artesa Chardonnay, Mirabile Inzolia-Mer Soleil Chardonnay, Windsor Sauvignon Blanc, Telmo Rodriguez Basa White, Hermann J. Wiemer Finger Lakes Dry Riesling, Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard, Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay, Coeur D'Alene Viognier, MOMO Sauvignon Blanc, Nicolas Joly Savennieres, Mercer Estates Pinot Gris, Cotes de Provence Croix de Basson Rose, Domaine Tempier Rose, Donnafugata Anthilia, Bonny Doon Vin de Gris de Cigare (Rose), Argiolas Serra Lori Rose.

Try any of the white Burgundies (which are all made from Chardonnay) from our vast selection, as well as German Estate Rieslings.

Light-to-Medium-Bodied Reds

These wines can be enjoyed best with light to medium-bodied foods or on their own served slightly cool:

Jacuzzi Pinot Noir, Momo Pinot Noir, Chateau Pesquie, Duck Pond Cabernet Sauvignon, Ken Brown Duncan's Cuvee Pinot Noir, Einaudi Dolcetto di Dogliani, Babcock Pinot Noir, Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Ca' Del Solo Sangiovese, Le Pas de la Beaune Cotes du Rhone, Dom, Les Pallieres Gigondas, 2006 Burgundies, which are made from Pinot Noir.

Medium-to Full-Bodied Reds

The heart and soul of my wine collection are wines of this nature. Best to serve these with heartier foods:

Merriam Vineyards Miktos, Merriam Vineyards' Jones Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Juan Gil Jimila, Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha, Luzon Jumilla, Black Bird Cabernet Sauvignon, Hendry Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel, Ferrer Bobet Priorat, Michel Torino Don David Malbec, Trapiche Broquel Malbec, Atteca Garnacha, Planeta Santa Cecilia, Telmo Rodriguez LZ Rioja, The Black Chook, Mitolo Jester Shiraz, d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz, Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz, Cadaretta Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, and any of 2006 or remaining 2005 red Bordeaux wines.

Port, Sherry & Sweet Wines

Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine (perhaps one of the greatest in the world), Warre's 20 Year Tawny, Penfold's Grandfather's Tawny Port, Whiskers Blake Tawny Port, Dow LBV, Taylor Fladgate LBV, Sandeman's Character Sherry, Dios Baco Amontillado Sherry.

Try tawny Ports with milk chocolate and LBV or vintage Ports with dark chocolate. Also, try Dios Baco, Amontillado Sherry with creme brulee.

Winery of the Year

Merriam Vineyards - Locally-owned Sonoma vintners Peter and Diana Merriam epitomize quality in every wine. While not inexpensive, these wines still over-deliver for the price. All are stunning, including the new Bordeaux blend called Miktos.

Cheers!