Brand New [WEDNESDAY]

Fresh, Fruity and Full-bodied. . .

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Party season is in full swing, and what better gift to bring to a bash than a great bottle of vino?  And for those of you last minute Christmas gift shoppers, why not buy a special bottle for the wine lover on your list?  We’ve put together a list of our faves, in every price range, for you and yours.  Cheers!

Rosemount Estate (Australia) – Shiraz (2004) - $16.99
Australia is known for its Shiraz.  This wine?  Intense, spicy fruit, rich textured finish.  Great with pastas, BBQ’d meat & vegetables, roast turkey, duck, sausages.  You can’t go wrong.  It’s cheap and cheerful.  And even better?  It drinks like a $20 bottle. 

Pfaffenheim (Alsace, France) – Gewurtzraminer (2005) - $19.05
Where does Gewurtz grow best?  Germany and Austria do a great job, but it’s best known from Alsace.  And this nice affordable version is aromatic and full bodied.  Floral, grapefruit, lychee and pineapple.  Great with Chinese dishes made with hoison or sweet bean, and some high-spiced Indian dishes.

7 Deadly Zins (California) – Zinfandel (2003) - $27.90
This wine rocks.  Michael and David Phillips have created some magic here.  Ripe raspberry, sweet spicy fruit, big dry red.  We once drank too much of this at Bin 941, thanks goodness for taxis. . .

Amarone Della Valpolicella - Tommasi (Italy) – Amarone (2001) - $60.15
“Now I lay me down to sleep and pray the lord my soul to keep…”  Whether or not you’re religious, this wine will bring you to your knees.  Nuff said.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild (France) – Bordeaux (2001) - $275.00
Ok, we haven’t tried this one.  But the folks at the Cambie flagship liquor store say if you wanna go big, this is the wine for you.  Send shivers down the spine of your favourite wine connoisseur.  Light bodied, like a Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir, this melts in your mouth.  Drink with lamb.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut – Champagne - $372.55 (3 Litre bottle)
Nothing says “I love you” like a Magnum of Champagne.  Seriously.  Nothing.  What are you waiting for?  And if you’re single, we'll help you drink it.  That’s the kind of sacrifice we’re willing to make for our loyal readers.

Happy wine shopping.  And don’t forget, drink responsibly.

If you're still madly checking your list twice don't forget to check out our gift guides and coming tomorrow we've got some gifts that'll break the bank:

• Girls-a-Making-up
• Cooks-a-Cooking
• Thumbs-a-Thumping
• Readers-a-Reading
• Stockings-a-Stuffing