A bundle of six for when you’re bundled up
Halloween is over. And you know what that means, petal. The Christmas countdown is on. And nothing says perfect pandemic prezzie like a great bottle of wine. So much more on point and practical than, say, a tie or stilettos these days.
So jump-start your holiday shopping with this mixed six-pack.
It promises a little something for every wine lover on your list, including a sassy yet sophisticated New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a smart Ontario Chardonnay and an upscale Prosecco — each of which just sings. It also includes a seductive Spanish red, a cult red from Washington, which is not available at the LCBO, and a pull-out-all-the-stops Amarone.
The price of the pack is $165.70 including tax, bottle deposit and delivery, and you can place your order at nobleestates.com. But first, read on for what makes each bottle brilliant.
From Marlborough, New Zealand, comes the 2019 Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ( LCBO, Vintages $27.95). This sunlit, aromatic wine glides in with shinytasting flavour that beams with allusions of struck steel, sliced grapefruit, cool slate, sea salt and a whisper of lime. That captivating flavour builds mid-palate and lasts for ages on the finish. This white would thrill any Sauvignon Blanc lover. Score: 92
Locavores on your list will appreciate the 2018 Malivoire “Estate Grown” Chardonnay from Beamsville Bench,
Niagara (LCBO, Vintages Essential 573147 $19.95). This elegant-tasting expression from Ontario suggests fresh linens air-dried in the sunshine, citrus oil, crushed limestone and toasted meringue. Dry, delicious and long with impeccable balance, this wine is a bottle you can be proud to give. Score: 91
And because giving a bottle of bubbly is always a class act, there’s the NV Bottega Gold Prosecco DOC Treviso from Italy in its striking gold foil packaging (LCBO, Vintages 621458 $27.95). Beautiful inside and out, this smart sparkler tastes breezy yet complex. It’s dry-tasting with just enough sweetness to polish the pear-scented middle — a centre that’s threaded with delicate notes of sea salt, wet stones, bitter orange and pounded almonds. Score: 91
Spanish wine lovers on your list will love the 2013 Monasterio de las Vinas Gran Reserva from Carinena, Spain (LCBO, Vintages Essential 82024 $18.95). This blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Carinena and Cabernet Sauvignon offers incredible value. Think heady aromas and flavours of roasted dark fruit — cherries, damsons, blackcurrant — infused with vanilla, fresh cream and a touch of toasted tobacco. And that’s only the initial impression. Then, it tapers to a long, slow finish that calls to mind brawnier notes of dark chocolate, cigars and black peppercorn. Just shockingly good value. Score 94
And those in the know will appreciate the NV Maison Noir Horseshoes & Handgrenades American Red Wine (in six pack only, $25.95). This red blend with a cult following is made from fruit sourced from the Pacific Northwest. The whack of saturated Oregon Syrah is seasoned with just enough Washington Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to add complexity and finesse. The result is velvety black cherry goodness, melting milk chocolate, a touch of well-loved leather and espresso that lasts on the finish. Delicious. Score: 94
And then there’s the Amarone — a wine of power and substance. The 2016 Tedeschi Marne 180 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG from Veneto, Italy (LCBO, Vintages Essential 433417 $44.95) in the mix is a steal for what it is.
The bold bouquet immediately calls to mind fruitcake and almond paste — which is so seasonally appropriate — with more of the same on the palate with a rich, almost portlike quality with an intense 16.5 per cent alcohol level. But unlike port, which is of course sweet, this is a dry red wine made from air-dried grapes. Each sip thunders in with a powerful generosity of fruit. And that saturated centre just keeps unfurling with dark berries, dark chocolate, black earth, tobacco, figs, raisins, gingerbread, molasses, black olive and more. Then a savoury bittersweet chocolate and black olive finish persists. Score: 95
This deal is so good, you’ll probably want to buy two six-packs — one for you, and one to share with those lucky souls on your list.