Published: Sunday, December 10, 2006
Some holiday indulgences are in order
I find it difficult to accept, but the fact is that we are well into December and waist-deep in the holiday season. No reason to panic though, because if you are in any way like this organizationally challenged cork dork, there is a gob of time between now and C-Day to acquire the perfect gifts for all of my friends and family. Just to clarify, the 25th is still officially a shopping day, right?
OK, here's where we can all rally around the holiday miracle of the gift of wine and embrace the fermented grape as the perfect gift for anyone north of 21. And, at this time of year, most of us are willing to stray a wee bit outside of our own comfort zone of wine style, varietal and price point to give a gift of a bottled experience. That is, after all, what enjoying a well-made bottle of wine boils down to. With the perfectly paired meal and someone special, wine is really one of our great life experiences.
All too often, we deny ourselves that experience because of a lack of justification. But for a gift, oh baby, we allow ourselves to unlace the gloves, stretch open the wallet, slap down the cash or plastic and throw caution, common sense (why do we call it common when it is so uncommon?), and our budget to the wind. Don't get me wrong. As a retailer, all I can say about this Bacchus-inspired phenomenon is, "Love it!"
After all, why do we all spend money (sometimes a ton) on experiences? It just comes down to appreciation and justification. I certainly can't afford to live at a Four Seasons Hotel or Resort, for example, but I can appreciate the experience and, once in a while, I can justify the expense. Ditto for skiing, boating, flying - and definitely poker. Even the great life experience of reading, which has a terrific positive cost/benefit ratio, given all the awesome libraries at our disposal, can get expensive. For example, I just start reading about wines and what new wine horizon I'd like to explore - and you see where that's heading.
I digress once again, so let's get back on task and start tackling the Christmas count-down and ascertain the perfect, brilliant, inspiring and slightly inebriating gift for that someone special on your list. And don't forget yourself. A tad bit self-indulgent, you ask? Heck yeah, after all, it's the holidays.
Here are a couple sure-fire winning wines to warm the heart and put a twinkle in the eye of everyone (including you) on your list. These are two wines made by a couple of friends of mine who are rising winemaking stars (if they haven't already risen) in our state.
Mark Ryan Winery 2004 "Dead Horse" $40
This is a holiday celebration in the bottle for anyone who enjoys a beautifully crafted Bordeaux-style wine with enough punch and grace to convert the biggest Scrooge into a holly-jolly soul. This is a blend of 56 percent cabernet sauvignon, 19 percent merlot, 17 percent cabernet franc and 8 percent petit verdot, with all the fruit coming off the prestigious Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain (hence the "Dead Horse"). It's a big, bold and dense wine with loads of black fruit, spice and that cool leathery, earthy dustiness that Red Mountain is famous for. Put a bottle of this wonderful wine under your tree, in a rather large sock or on your holiday table and you'll be very happy you did. I might also add that all Mark Ryan wines are worth seeking out.
Gorman Winery 2004 "Evil Twin" $50
Another blockbuster wine from Chris Gorman, who burst onto the scene with his first vintage last year, and has followed up with another stellar lineup this vintage. This wine is his flagship juice. It's just about as fat as Kris Kringle because of its late harvest, mass fruit extraction, sweet glycerol mouth-feel and elevated alcohol (15.5 percent). It's all Red Mountain fruit from Kiona and Ciel du Cheval vineyards and comprises 50 percent syrah and 50 percent cabernet sauvignon. The other wines in Gorman's stable are also solid examples of the new wave of Washington winemaking. The "Bully" (cabernet sauvignon), the "Pixie" (syrah) and "Zach's Ladder" (Bordeaux blend named after Gorman's son) are totally mistletoe worthy.
For more information on these two rock-star winemakers and the wines they produce, you can visit their Web sites: www.markryanwinery.com and www.gormanwinery.com, where the wines also can be purchased.
And now for a big bubbly treat and a little something sweet:
Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut $78
Beautiful epitome of a celebration in a bottle. This is one of the best rose Champagnes on the market, with incredible aromas of fresh red fruits such as raspberries, strawberries and red currants. The wine bursts on the palate with great concentration of wild berries and black cherries. Santa will get rose cheeks when he has a nip of this gorgeous sparkler, and for Rudolf, his red nose might just take on more of a light salmon color.
Inniskillin 2005 Vidal Ice Wine $40. (187ml)
Oh my, have we found the perfect stocking stuffer. This amazing nectar from Canada's Niagara Peninsula is absolutely exquisite. Sexy and alluring dessert wine with invigorating tropical flavors of fresh ripe pineapple, tangerine, litchi fruit and papaya that linger on the palate for what seems like forever.
It's the holidays, so let's all get a wee bit spoiled.
Jeff Wicklund can be reached at 425-737-2600, 360-756-0422 or wick@purplesmilewines.com.
OK, here's where we can all rally around the holiday miracle of the gift of wine and embrace the fermented grape as the perfect gift for anyone north of 21. And, at this time of year, most of us are willing to stray a wee bit outside of our own comfort zone of wine style, varietal and price point to give a gift of a bottled experience. That is, after all, what enjoying a well-made bottle of wine boils down to. With the perfectly paired meal and someone special, wine is really one of our great life experiences.
All too often, we deny ourselves that experience because of a lack of justification. But for a gift, oh baby, we allow ourselves to unlace the gloves, stretch open the wallet, slap down the cash or plastic and throw caution, common sense (why do we call it common when it is so uncommon?), and our budget to the wind. Don't get me wrong. As a retailer, all I can say about this Bacchus-inspired phenomenon is, "Love it!"
After all, why do we all spend money (sometimes a ton) on experiences? It just comes down to appreciation and justification. I certainly can't afford to live at a Four Seasons Hotel or Resort, for example, but I can appreciate the experience and, once in a while, I can justify the expense. Ditto for skiing, boating, flying - and definitely poker. Even the great life experience of reading, which has a terrific positive cost/benefit ratio, given all the awesome libraries at our disposal, can get expensive. For example, I just start reading about wines and what new wine horizon I'd like to explore - and you see where that's heading.
I digress once again, so let's get back on task and start tackling the Christmas count-down and ascertain the perfect, brilliant, inspiring and slightly inebriating gift for that someone special on your list. And don't forget yourself. A tad bit self-indulgent, you ask? Heck yeah, after all, it's the holidays.
Here are a couple sure-fire winning wines to warm the heart and put a twinkle in the eye of everyone (including you) on your list. These are two wines made by a couple of friends of mine who are rising winemaking stars (if they haven't already risen) in our state.
Mark Ryan Winery 2004 "Dead Horse" $40
This is a holiday celebration in the bottle for anyone who enjoys a beautifully crafted Bordeaux-style wine with enough punch and grace to convert the biggest Scrooge into a holly-jolly soul. This is a blend of 56 percent cabernet sauvignon, 19 percent merlot, 17 percent cabernet franc and 8 percent petit verdot, with all the fruit coming off the prestigious Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain (hence the "Dead Horse"). It's a big, bold and dense wine with loads of black fruit, spice and that cool leathery, earthy dustiness that Red Mountain is famous for. Put a bottle of this wonderful wine under your tree, in a rather large sock or on your holiday table and you'll be very happy you did. I might also add that all Mark Ryan wines are worth seeking out.
Gorman Winery 2004 "Evil Twin" $50
Another blockbuster wine from Chris Gorman, who burst onto the scene with his first vintage last year, and has followed up with another stellar lineup this vintage. This wine is his flagship juice. It's just about as fat as Kris Kringle because of its late harvest, mass fruit extraction, sweet glycerol mouth-feel and elevated alcohol (15.5 percent). It's all Red Mountain fruit from Kiona and Ciel du Cheval vineyards and comprises 50 percent syrah and 50 percent cabernet sauvignon. The other wines in Gorman's stable are also solid examples of the new wave of Washington winemaking. The "Bully" (cabernet sauvignon), the "Pixie" (syrah) and "Zach's Ladder" (Bordeaux blend named after Gorman's son) are totally mistletoe worthy.
For more information on these two rock-star winemakers and the wines they produce, you can visit their Web sites: www.markryanwinery.com and www.gormanwinery.com, where the wines also can be purchased.
And now for a big bubbly treat and a little something sweet:
Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut $78
Beautiful epitome of a celebration in a bottle. This is one of the best rose Champagnes on the market, with incredible aromas of fresh red fruits such as raspberries, strawberries and red currants. The wine bursts on the palate with great concentration of wild berries and black cherries. Santa will get rose cheeks when he has a nip of this gorgeous sparkler, and for Rudolf, his red nose might just take on more of a light salmon color.
Inniskillin 2005 Vidal Ice Wine $40. (187ml)
Oh my, have we found the perfect stocking stuffer. This amazing nectar from Canada's Niagara Peninsula is absolutely exquisite. Sexy and alluring dessert wine with invigorating tropical flavors of fresh ripe pineapple, tangerine, litchi fruit and papaya that linger on the palate for what seems like forever.
It's the holidays, so let's all get a wee bit spoiled.
Jeff Wicklund can be reached at 425-737-2600, 360-756-0422 or wick@purplesmilewines.com.
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