Tag Archives: holiday wine

Wine of the week: Cote Mas Cremant de Limoux Brut NV

Cote Mas Crémant de Limoux Brut
Cote Mas Crémant de Limoux Brut NV/$10-$25

Quality French sparkling wine that doesn’t cost as much as this month’s electricity bill

This has been the most odd and puzzling year for sparkling wine in the blog’s history. I’ll write more about that tomorrow in the New Years’ bubbly post, but know that quality and prices have been all over the place – pricey wines that were flat and flawed, and cheap wines that were just the opposite.

The Cote Mas Crémant de Limoux Brut NV ($13, purchased, 12%) is a perfect example. The producer makes a lot of inexpensive wine, sparkling and still, and I’ve yet to figure out why some are terrific and the others make me crazy .

The Mas is in the former category. It’s an extremely bubbly sparkling wine from Limoux in France’s Languedoc, and when I say bubbly, I mean bubbly. In fact, one tasting note calls it crunchy, which probably isn’t far off.

But there is much more going on than fizz. Look for lots of bright green apple fruit from the chardonnay in the blend, as well as a little minerality from the chenin blanc. In all, it’s full and round and the finish seems to go on forever. It isn’t subtle, but why does it need to be?

Highly recommended. Drink this on its own, to toast the New Year, or with a holiday brunch.

Imported by Taub Family Selections

Christmas wine 2022

christmas wine 2020
“Hey, WC. This is the third year in a row you’ve used this picture. Find another one already.”

Four recommendations for Christmas wine 2022

Once more, the blog’s Christmas wine suggestions, whether for a last minute gift, something to drink when you just want a glass over the next couple of weeks, or for a holiday dinner. Keep our wine gift giving tips in mind — and don’t overlook the blog’s 2022 holiday gift guide (blog subscriptions, hint, hint).

These wines will get you started:

• Alma Brut NV ($6, purchased, 11.5%): The blog’s Arizona correspondent raves about this Total Wine private label, which comes from Brazil. So, because he rates it so highly — and he makes good sense — it’s here even though we try to avoid private label. Look for some decent bubbles and a bit of apple. Imported by Saranty Imports

• Domaine de la Croix Senaillet Mâcon-Davaye 2020 ($18, purchased, 13%): This French white, made with chardonnay, is a touch pricey for a wine from the Macon region. But it’s very well done and a delight to drink. Rich, not oaky, pear and apple fruit, and a bit of stoniness. Imported by Wines with Conviction

• Château Pey La Tour 2019 ($15, purchased, 14.5%): A fairly typical merlot-based red Bordeaux, so softish, what the wine magazines call “perfumed,” and lots of red fruit. Find it for $15, and you have something to drink with prime rib. Imported by Champagnes & Chateaux USA

• Le petit Gueissard Rose 2021 ($10, purchased, 12.5%): How anyone can turn out a pink wine of this quality at this price, given all that is going on in the world, is mind boggling. Some softish cherry fruit from the grenache in the blend, but also structure and character. Highly recommended. Imported by Artisan Wine Selections

More about Christmas wine:
• Christmas wine 2021
• Christmas wine 2020
• Christmas wine 2019
• Wine of the week: McManis Petite Sirah 2020
• Expensive wine 160: Vietti Arneis 2021

Photo: “guardian of wine” by marcostetter is marked with CC PDM 1.0

It’s a Wonderful Wine Life 2022

The WC rolls out the holiday traditions, both video and literary

What does one acquire after writing the blog for 15 holiday seasons? Holiday tradition, of course. So enjoy:

• The video is the WC’s epic holiday wine advice video, made with the legendary Michael Sansolo for the Private Label Manufacturers Association. This was supposed to be a series, but then the pandemic happened. The original post ran here. The video is age-restricted, since it’s about alcohol, but click the link to watch it on YouTube.

• The WC’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” — not quite as wonderful as the original, but it has its moments. And, no, my version of “White Christmas” isn’t coming any time soon.

• The first two holiday parodies — A Wine Curmudgeon Christmas Carol and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: The cheap wine version. Frankly, pretty classic stuff.

Holiday wine gift guide 2022

wine racks at a storeThe Wine Curmudgeon’s holiday wine gift guide 2022 — value, value, and more value

Once again this year, the WC received the same sort of news releases for holiday season wine gifts — lots of overpriced items that hardly anyone actually needs. That means you, Yeti wine cooler.  Plus, and as always, lots and lots of plus for the Coravin opener, which begs the question: How many Coravins does one person have to have?

Which doesn’t those of us much good who want quality and value, as well as a gift we will enjoy. Which brings us to the blog’s 2022 holiday wine gift guide. As always, keep the blog’s wine gift buying guidelines in mind:

• Give the gift of the blog, and save the WC from all that Substack subscription advice.  One year of the newsletter at 20 percent off, just $56. Click this link to send a gift subscription. Use the email address of the person getting the subscription where it asks for an email, add a credit card, and they’ll get the $10 Hall of Fame, the Cheap Wine of the Year, and all of the rest — plus the rants and analysis that have made the blog what it is.

• Windows on the World, 35th edition ($21): There are probably a trillion wine books, including mine (which is almost out of print). But the Zraly is almost certainly the best overall look at wine and how to make sense of it. I own a couple of editions, and it has been the textbook for most of the college wine classes I have taught. And if it seems like I recommend it regularly, that’s because it’s that good.

• The Language of Yes Syrah 2020 ($40, sample, 13.9%) is a collaboration between Randall Grahm, who is about as iconoclast as wine gets, and E&J Gallo, which isn’t. Ever. In any way. Hence, it’s an interesting and well-made wine that doesn’t taste particularly a Randall Grahm wine, and especially a syrah. Remember this? Instead, it’s less meaty, but fruitier (black fruits) and more rich. And, because it is what it is, it has received high praise from the Winestream Media. That’s something that doesn’t always happen with Grahm wines.

• Yes, wine glasses seem sort of cliched — until yours break and you need new ones And then they’re expensive and confusing.  But a company called made-in has quality glasses — four red and four white for $69.

Photo:”More Wine Racks” by Didriks is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

More holiday wine gift guides:
• Holiday wine gift guide 2021
• Holiday wine gift guide 2020
• Holiday wine gift guide 2019

The blog’s holiday, 2023 Hall of Fame, and Cheap Wine of the Year schedule

woman with wine glass
“Perfect. … now I know what to give my friends for the holidays — the WC.”

The 2023 $10 Hall of Fame and Cheap Wine of the Year are just a month away — and the blog makes a fine holiday gift

The WC is already hard at work reviewing tasting notes and deciding which wines to sip again in the quest for the 2022 Hall of Fame and Cheap Wine of the Year. As always, your suggestions are welcome.

The blog’s schedule for the rest of the year includes:

• Christmas and New Year’s wine ideas on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29.

• The always popular Do it Yourself wine resolutions on Jan. 5.

• The 2023 $10 Hall of Fame will make its 16th appearance on Jan. 13, and the 2023 Cheap Wine of the Year will post on Jan. 12. As always, email me with suggestions for either or leave them in the comments. Eligibility rules are here. Keep in mind the wine should cost less than $12 or $13, should be generally available, and can’t be a private label sold exclusively by one retailer.

And, of course, how could it be a holiday season without a WC plug for the cheap wine book and a 12-month subscription to the blog (discounted, of course)?

Photo: Matilda Wormwood via Pexels

Thanksgiving wine 2022

turkey holding a wine glassFour Thanksgiving wine 2022 suggestions

How about another Shakespeare quote this year? Or, more exactly, not quite a Shakespeare quote? “Gnarly, dude.” Because, after the past couple of years, it’s time for a good laugh.

So enjoy the holiday, and especially these Thanksgiving wine 2022 suggestions. The blog’s guidelines for holiday wine buying are here.

• McManis Pinot Noir 2020 ($12, sample, 13,5%): Lots of nits to pick with this California red — too much oak, it doesn’t need all that vanilla, and the acidity seems a bit out of whack. Having said that that, this is about as close to legitimate pinot noir from California at this price as you’re going to find. It’s fruity (berries and cherry), but not overblown, and the tannins are soft. It is wine, and not smoooth.

• Anne Amie Pinot Gris 2021 ($20, purchased, 13.9%): Would that all wine at this price was this well made and this true to its variety and terroir. This Oregon white has lots of lime, but is also balanced — a bit of mineral and some zippy acidity. Highly recommended from one of the WC’s favorite producers.

• Veuve du Vernay Brut NV ($9, purchased, 11%): There are, apparently, warehouses and warehouses jammed with inexpensive French sparkling wine, made with methode Champenoise for $10 or so and that are well worth drinking. This is one of them, soft but more than just fizzy, with some lemon and apple fruit and a longish finish. Imported by Patriarche USA

• Les Maitres Vignerons de la Vidaubanaise Le Provencal Rose 2021 ($15, purchased, 13%): Well-made and spot on Provencal rose, so there is garrigue, barely ripe berry fruit, and oh so stony. If you can find it for $13, buy a couple of bottles. Imported by Michael Corso Selections

More about Thanksgiving wine:
• Thanksgiving wine 2021
• Thanksgiving wine 2020
• Thanksgiving wine 2019
• Wine of the week: Cantina Cellaro Luma 2019
• Wine review: Patricia Green Dollar Bills Only Pinot Noir 2020

Expensive wine 162: 10000 Hours Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

10000 Hours Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 bottle
10000 Hours Cabernet Sauvignon 2019/$26-$40

Once again, Washington state producer offers quality and value – and just in time for the holidays

Thank you, 10000 Hours.

In an era when finding expensive wine worth writing about has become past difficult, this Washington state producer has done the blog proud twice.

The first was in January, with its red blend. Today, we have the 10000 Hours Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($30, sample, 14.5%), which takes the red blend in a decidedly Washington state cabernet direction.

That means a dense, rich red wine that doesn’t taste like it came from Napa – so less obvious oak, more intriguing tannins and lots and lots and lots of black fruit. So layers and layers, though hardly subtle. The winery’s tasting notes probably wax a little more poetic about espresso beans than they should, but I’ll forgive the excess. The wine is that well done – and it’s hardly the kind of style that I wax much poetic about.

The rest of the technical stuff: Five grapes the blend, though 84 percent cabernet; the grapes come form Washington state’s Red Mountain, a highly acclaimed region; and this wine will age maybe 8 or 10 years, another plus at this price.

Highly recommended, and just the thing for a holiday dinner for a red wine drinker who wants to go a slightly different direction.