Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Now it is time to prepare for New Years and what better way to celebrate than with some sparkling and dessert wine recommendations:
Stellar Jay’s 2017 Mountain Jay Brut Sparkling
Originally produced by Sumac Ridge Winery, which has now been purchased by Arterra Wines, this wine continues to be one of the best B.C. sparkling wines for its price. It is made with a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay grapes using the same method to produce Champagne. The 2017 wine has citrus and green apple flavours with a crisp, clean finish. This will be on the sweeter side of the sparkling wines that are available in the market. Reduced this month at BC Liquor Stores from $24.99 to $21.99.
Mumm Napa Brut Prestige
This is another sparkling wine made in the U.S.A. using the same method used to produce Champagne. I was recently impressed by the quality of Mumm’s Champagne but at one-third the cost, just because it is produced in the U.S. by the same champagne house, I would take a chance on this wine. This is a blend of 45-per-cent Chardonnay, 45-per-cent Pinot Noir and 10-per-cent Pinot Meunier/Pinot Gris and it will be drier in style to the Stellar Jay’s. Reduced this month at BC Liquor Stores from $30.99 to $27.99
Piper Heidseick Non Vintage Brut Champagne
If you are interested in drinking Champagne made in the Champagne region in France, Piper Heidsieck has been making champagne since 1777. Their champagne is a blend of 50-per-cent Pinot Noir, 30-per-cent Meunier and 20-per-centChardonnay taken from multiple vintages and 100 different vineyard sites. It will have pear, white peach, citrus and orange blossom aromas with toasted bread, fresh almonds and mint on the palate. On sale this month at BC Liquor Store from $74.99 to $69.99
Taylor Fladgate 10-Year-Old Tawny Port
How about some port to end your night? This port is aged 10 years in small oak barrels. The grapes come from different vintages and once bottled, they will not improve with age. Because it is made with grapes from different years, it is not as expensive as Vintage Ports, which are made with grapes of only one year. Tawny Ports are very sweet but go very well with most cakes, especially caramel-based desserts. Taylor Fladgate has been making port since 1692 and this wine will have berry fruit and figs on the palate with a nuttiness and chocolate & butterscotch aftertaste. On sale this month at BC Liquor Stores from $41.99 to $38.99
Blandy’s 10 Year Old Sercial Madeira
Madeira, like Port, is a fortified wine made through a unique process involving heating the wine and oxidizing it. As a result, Madeiras are virtually indestructible and you don’t have to worry about storing them in improper conditions. Blandy’s has been making Madeira on the Madeira Islands (off the coast of Africa) since 1811. Sercial is the driest style of Madeira. It is hard to describe the taste of Madeira as you will find some nuttiness but also a tangy component like green apples. Worth a try as either an apertif or with a fish or cheese course. Price at BC Liquor Stores at $41.99
Hope everyone has a joyous New Year and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2024! Until next time, happy drinking!
Tony Kwan is a lawyer by day, and a food and wine lover by night. Kwan is an epicurean who writes about wine, food and enjoying all that life has to offer.
