Written by: Aaron Ramano | Wine Spectator
December 20, 2021
This week’s selection spotlights wines that are perennial high-scorers in their categories, which makes them terrific options for gifts and impressive pours during the holidays. They span noteworthy regions and styles around the globe, and all have scored 90 points or more on Wine Spectator‘s 100-point scale. There are even a few great values sprinkled in.
Antinori makes some of Italy’s most famous wines, as well as noteworthy values. Its intense Chianti Classico Villa Antinori Riserva is one of the latter, with cherry, raspberry and tobacco flavors. It impresses now, but it would also serve as an excellent gift for any wine collector. In France’s Rhône Valley, E. Guigal is another famed wine name. Founded by Etienne Guigal in 1946, it is one of the largest négociant businesses in the region today. Guigal’s 2019 Gigondas displays an understated style with light incense and worn cedar notes along the edges of its red fruit flavors. Digging deeper for values, Bodega Colomé‘s archetypal Argentine Malbec offers rich acidity and concentrated dark cherry and plum paste flavors, and Bodegas Lan‘s harmonious and juicy Rioja is an excellent buy at just $20.
Among the white wines, the flavors of J.-A. Ferret‘s creamy Pouilly-Fuissé are akin to those of some holiday desserts, such as its lemon pie, apple, vanilla, nutmeg and clove notes. Or for something off the beaten path, seek out the creamy and balanced Etna white from Tenuta delle Terre Nere, which offers notes of orange peel, golden apple and raw almond, backed by crunchy acidity. It’s a light- to medium-bodied white that spotlights local Sicilian grapes like Carricante and Catarratto.
Of course, nothing spurs merriment like a glass of bubbles. Earlier this year, wine lovers may have discovered a new sparkling category on shelves: Prosecco rosé. Both sparkling and rosé wines have been on the rise in recent years, meaning these pink Italian bubblies have broad appeal, in addition to tremendous value. Ca’ Furlan‘s Cuvée Mariana brut rises to the occasion on both fronts, with its $12 price tag and lively mousse, plus notes of orchard blossom, peach skin, blood orange sorbet and stone. Altogether, no matter what you fancy, these wines are sure to help bring cheer to your holidays!
CA’ FURLAN
Brut Rosé Prosecco Cuvée Mariana NV
Score: 90 | $12
WS review: Ballet slipper pink in color, this Prosecco rosé has a fine, lively mousse, with delicate accents of pickled ginger and orchard blossom enmeshed with notes of peach skin, blood orange sorbet and stone. Lightly mouthwatering on the finish. Glera and Pinot Noir. Drink now. 7,500 cases made 7,500 cases imported. From Italy.—A.N.
