2005 Gramona Gran Cuvee - Spain, $22 (I love to open this while cooking up a storm in the kitchen with friends and family fading in and out all day).
Gramona is, unfortunately, one of the last remaining family-owned cava houses of
the Penedes. Here, elderly ladies from the village carefully wrap each bottle before being packed for transport and the entire operation is carried out by people who love the family and the estate. The Gran Cuvee is aged for 24 months (longest aging of a Dry type in the world of CAVA), and is a beautiful blend of equal parts Xarel.lo, Macabeo and Chardonnay. Incredibly rich with tiny tiny bubbles "Krug, the expensive alternative to Gramona" and I'm not kidding here. Gramona is a must for any celebration or relaxation.2007 Handley Cellars Anderson Valley Estate Chardonnay - Anderson Valley California, $20 (I've alreaded picked out the Red Hawk Triple Cream Cheese to go with this delicious Chardonnay). A perfect California Chardonnay -
seriously folks but down the big-brand-name bottles of sappy chard and reach for Handley Cellars. You'll never go back. This Chardonnay has become a staple on popular wine lists all over Texas. Each component of this Estate Chardonnay adds another layer of flavor. It offers aromas of fresh pear and apple compote with a hint of nutmeg. Clean and bright flavors of ripe apple are nuanced by lemon cream and vanilla. This wine is nicely balanced with a graceful texture and lasting finish. My pick each time I roast a chicken.2007 LIOCO "Michaud" Pinot Noir - Chalone AVA, Monterrey County, $45
(this is one I'm selfish with, only opening this puppy up with my husband to enjoy)
Winemaker extraordinaire Kevin Kelley notes "...what it is about pinot noir from
this windswept, elevated swath of dirt, full of limestone deposits that makes for superior cellaring?" Matt Licklider and Kevin O'Conner add ""The limestone speaks," we often cry when tasting this wine. This 07 Pinot Noir "Michaud Vineyard" may our wine of the vintage. It's been likened to Ambroise Le Corton (one of Burgundy's greatest Pinot Noirs). Stephen Tanzer adds, "potent, exotic, mineral." Need I say more?2004 Luca "Nico" - Argentina, $125 (for Christmas Dinner, because I fell in love with Argentine Malbec) 95 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 200
4 Nico by Luca Malbec (100% Malbec) raises the bar. It offers a heady perfume of pain grille, scorched earth, mineral, black cherry, and black raspberry preserve. Loaded on the palate, the wine has great depth and incipient complexity. This superb Malbec will evolve for 8-10 years and drink well through 2035 in the manner of a top classified growth Bordeaux. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolas Catena. Luca takes its name from Laura's oldest son."2005 Pellegrini "Milestone" - Sonoma County, California, $45 ( this was such a hit last year with Chateau Briand Beef Tenderloin we're doing it again!).
Only a few hundred cases produced. I first tasted this in barrel after Milestone was conceived by selecting special lots of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc to form a mosaic that would be defined by its depth of color, richness, complexity, and supple texture. This wine is meticulously barrel selected to make what they think is their best wine ever - homerun! Flavors of milk chocolate, vanilla bean, black cherry, oolong tea and cigar smoke overtake your senses. The Milestone wine commemorates the 75th anniversary of Pellegrini Family Vineyards.
For the complete list please click on my website here: www.texacaliwine.com/thelist
Cheers and Merry Christmas to all, thank you for supporting the wines of TexaCali Wine Co., I truly am blessed to represent all these amazing producers! Alison
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