It’s that time of year when you probably like celebrating the Christmas Holiday Season with good food and tasty wines, which hopefully won’t break your budget. Here is my list of recommended red wines and I’ve been checking it twice!
Most of my selections can be found in BC Liquor Stores: Richmond Brighouse (RB), Richmond Ironwood (RI), and Richmond Seafair (RS).
1. 2019 Quid Pro Quo, Alentejano, Portugal ($15.99)
89 Points (Eric), 90 Points (Wine Enthusiast). This blend of four Portuguese varieties and Syrah is an excellent buy! Abundant ripe red fruit in the nose and plum and blackberries on the palate.
Available at: RB, RI, RS
2. Escudo Rojo 2020 Reserva Carmenere Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Chile (15.99 $4 off)
92 points (Eric). Generous aromas of vanilla, plums and black cherries with rich plum, raspberry, cassis and strawberries on the palate. Smooth round tannins in a medium body with green pepper and peppercorn spice. Decant overnight.
Available at: RB, RI, RS
3. Les Terrasses 2020 Pesquie Ventoux, France ($21.99)
91 points (Eric), 90 Points (Wine Spectator). Generous nose of black cherry, vanilla, and, tobacco with plum flavours adding complexity and freshness.
Available at: RB, RI, RS
4. Cotes du Rhone Halos de Jupiter 2020, France ($23.99 $3 off)
90 Points (Jeb Dunnuck). Charming, complex and elegant with red and blue fruits, violets, candied orange, and spicy notes with black pepper.
Available at: RB, RI, RS
5. Chateau Belair Coubet 2019 Cotes de Bourg, France ($17.99 $2 off)
91 Points (Eric), 90 Points (Wine Enthusiast). A Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, this Bordeaux has black and red fruit aromas as well as earthy notes. It reveals plum and cassis flavours and medium tannins. It’s drinking well now but there is still more aging potential.
Available at: RB, RI, RS
6. Molly Dooker 2019 The Boxer 2019 Shiraz, South Australia ($34.99)
92 Points (Wine Spectator), 92 points (Eric). A rich powerful but smooth Shiraz with ripe blackberry, boysenberry, and blueberry flavors. There are medium tannins and accents of licorice, vanilla, and milk chocolate. What’s not to love?
Available at: RB, RI, RS
7. Beringer Knight’s Valley 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($44.99, $7 off)
90 Points (Wine Advocate). There's an attractive floral presence that adds a touch of complexity to the cassis fruit, while the medium to full-bodied palate is silky and elegant.
8. Tinhorn Creek - Oldfield Series Merlot 2019, Okanagan ($29.99)
90 points (Eric). A Wine Align Gold Medal winner! This blend of Merlot with 9% Cabernet Sauvignon delivers aromas of freshly baked cherry pie, plum jam, red currants and raspberries with toast, vanilla, and licorice. Expect vibrant acidity from juicy red fruits, with hints of chocolate and well-integrated tannins.
Available at: RB, RI, RS
9. 2016 Country Vines Hot Pursuit, Okanagan ($18.99)
91 points (Eric). This eight-year-old full-bodied red is produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah that has aged gracefully. It is a dark opaque red with aromas of black, red, and blue fruit as well as the floral scent of violets.
The Hot Pursuit displays medium tannins with some grip to give the wine structure against a backdrop of black cherry, cassis, plum, blueberry and cigar box. All this and a wonderful acid fruit balance ending on a savoury finish.
Available at: Country Vines Winery Richmond
10. Chronos 2018 Cabernet Franc, Okanagan ($39.99)
91 points (Eric). Plenty of Fresh aromas of raspberry, white pepper vanilla, violets and red fruits along with red plum, cherry, and a touch of herbs on the palate with a fresh finish spicy finish. Decant for several hours to enjoy the complexity.
Available at: Ironwood Save-on-Foods
11. Lafage Bastide Miraflors 2017 Cotes Catalanes Syrah Grenache, France ($24.99 $2 off)
93 Points, (Jeb Dunnuck). This blend of 74 per cent Syrah and 26 per cent Grenache has aromas of kirsch, black raspberry, forest floor, wild fennel, white pepper, and hints of black licorice chocolate, leather aromas and flavors. Silky and medium-bodied. It’s delicious!
Available at: RB RI
12. Monte del Fra 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($55.99 $2 off)
92 Points (Wine Spectator), 95 Points (James Suckling): “A layered and rich red with plenty of dried orange peel and plum character. So tight and focused. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a beautiful finish.”
13. Meyer 2020 Pinot Noir, Okanagan ($26.99)
90 points (Eric). A generous aroma of black cherry, kirsch, and a whiff of earthy barnyard. On the palate cranberry and rhubarb and smooth tannins, plus a long slightly bitter finish with a dusting of cinnamon.
Available at: Save-on-Foods Ironwood ($26.99) and Everything Wine Vancouver ($31.99)
Next week a list of tasty whites for Christmas and the Holiday Season.
