So, I pretty much have two guest columnists this week. You see, last week I cast a wide net to a few key wine and restaurant industry pros, looking to get holiday wine recommendations. While it can occasionally be like pulling teeth trying to get busy restaurant folks to drop me a quick email during a hectic time of year, there are others who embrace the request wholeheartedly, sending me epic manifestos. Theres so much thought and care in some of them, that it would crush me to hack them down to a sentence or two. In saying that, this week Im letting two of the nicest guys is the business grab the reins around here.
Casa dos Vinhos Selected Rich Madeira | Portugal | $28.03 | BC Liquor Stores
This recommendation comes from Jason Yamasaki, the mild-mannered, whip-smart sommelier at Chambar.
My favourite part of Christmas is being able to cook for my family for three days straight. While always equipped with a glass of growers Champagne while Im chopping, peeling, stuffing, and roasting, I am also uniquely armed with an arsenal of fortified wines, my counter always replete with sherry, port, and madeira.
The particular Madeira is a warming, sweet, and vivid expression of this traditional and relatively unloved fortified wine. Lengthy oxidative winemaking delivers an array of gastronomic flavours that I love to sip alongside candied walnuts andpecans.
Why do I love this so much I use it in sauces and gravies to reveal a galaxy of flavours that will astound your guests and have them licking their plates. Finally, zest some orange into your best rendition of a butter tart. Pour this a splash of this alongside and discover your new favourite winter warmer.
Velenosi 2010 Lacrima di Morro dAlba | Italy | $20-25 | Private Wine Stores
Originally from Leeds, Alex Thornley runs the wine program at Homer Street Cafe & Bar, listing an incredibly sharp and dynamic selection of bottles.
For this holiday season, Im going with a fairly unusual wine. There are only 150 hectares of the Lacrima grape planted in the Marche region of Italy, and it is shared between 18 producers.
Though obscure, the wine is absolutely stunning and is my new wine crush. Dont be afraid of all the strange words on the front just buy it, open it, and drink. The naturally thin skin of the Lacrima grape means it has very little tannin, minimal acid, and basically goes down like juice blueberry juice to be precise. If you like a lighter style of red and are looking for something other than Pinot or Gamay Noir, Lacrima could be your new crush, too. Gorgeously expressive, it borders on opulent. It leans towards a New World, fruit-driven style of wine, but is most definitely sleek and sexy with some Old World intrigue. Easy to like, it suggests violets, wild blueberries, raspberries and a hint of purple wine gums on the nose, feels soft, light and silky as it glides across the tongue, and bursts with blueberry and wild red fruits on the palate. There is no need to be paired with food, but its also extremely versatile, so if you do pair it with some holiday fare, go with lighter cheeses, turkey, pork or chicken. It is especially good wine to pair with good times and friends with board games on Boxing Day.
If youre having trouble finding something, find me via KurtisKolt.com or Twitter @KurtisKolt.
