Wine Review: Latter half of year calls for celebration

There can be no question that the latter part of the year is party time. Discounting weddings, birthdays and all of the other usual celebrations, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the biggest celebration of them all, ushering in the New Year, are top of mind. There can also be no question that wine will probably be served at all of these very happy occasions.

Even though these events may seem a bit premature to think about, purchasing many of the particulars for the celebrations now will save you from those costly last-minute preparations. Wine would be a good place to start.

Wine prices often drop at the end of the summer, but they have the magical properties to significantly rise prior to the winter holidays. With that in mind, I would like to introduce the reader to quality wines that will help to make the party.

Telemont Reserve Rose Champagne ($92)
This is a well-made French Champagne that is presented in a crystal-clear bottle to accentuate its vibrant pink color – making it an attractive centerpiece on your holiday table. Made from a blend of 85% chardonnay and 15% pinot meunier, the wine features an aroma of fresh summer fruits surrounded by very ripe cherries, strawberries, rye bread and rose petals, all of which are accentuated by the persistent carbonation. There can be no question about it – this is a well-made, sure-to-please Champagne that I am sure will produce kudos from your guests about your choice of wine.

Sonoma-Cutrer 2024 Sauvignon Blanc ($25)
Here is an excellent and affordable example of a California sauvignon blanc that does not accent the grassy flavor that is sometimes associated with this variety. Both the aroma and the flavor stress the melon and grapefruit characteristics of the grape, while maintaining a slightly fruity sweetness. This bit of sweetness raises this wine from the ordinary to the position of an impeccable sipping wine. The Sonoma-Cutrer 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect wine accompaniment to all of the dishes served at a holiday party. By some chance, the variety has become our country’s favorite white wine, so I am positive it will be a hit at your holiday get-together.

Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast 2022 Chardonnay ($25)
If the reader is not familiar with the previous white wine, there is another white wine from Sonoma-Cutrer that, like the previous wine, is also from California, is full flavored and is also affordable. This chardonnay offers the aroma of nectarine and oak spice with hints of caramel that are easily discernible along with pear, apple and fresh-roasted nuts. The finish is a host of fresh-picked fruit, displaying peach, apple apricot and under-flavors of honey, vanilla, toasted nuts and oak. I found this to be an excellent example of the variety that I am sure will please one and all at your holiday party.

Bailey Family Wines 2018 Pinot Noir ($125)
I know that this wine is costly, but you don't get diamonds for the price of marbles. The color of this full-bodied wine is a bright cherry red and the aroma is heavy with the scents of cherries, blueberries, mushrooms, red currants, cocoa and the incense-like aroma that truly marks a great pinot noir caused by aging the wine with cedar. These aromas carry over to the flavor, where they meld with a layer of spice. There is an almost perfect balance between the fruit and the acid. What is rare about this wine is the soft and smooth tannins that are all too often missing in most examples of this variety. This is a very fine wine, which words alone cannot do justice to. Itmust be experienced, as it is a wine that can and will hold its own with the best of the best from any place in the world and add an elegant and memorable aura to your holiday affair.

Wine columnist and Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein can be reached at frojhe1@att.net.