My Article: Christmas Spirit

Christmas always makes me remember how much fun wine is. Part of the joy of Christmas is selecting wines for various meals over the holidays – whether it’s wines from my cellar or buying bottles in wine shops. And I love to hear everyone’s impressions of the wines whether it’s my wife, my 16-year-old daughter or my 84-year-old mother.

Yesterday, we drank three delicious bottles with a Christmas lunch of grilled salmon, Korean kimchi pancakes, and green salad: 2008 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits-St.-George Les Vaucrains (93 points), 2008 A. Clape Cornas (92 points) and 2010 Tenuta della Terre Nere Etna Rosso Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Pepppino (97 points).

The last wine was the hands-down favorite of the group. Everyone enjoyed the harmonious, delicate and fruity style to the red from the slopes of Sicily’s Etna volcano. It almost felt more Burgundian in texture than the Burgundy we drank. In other words, it was silky-textured and fresh with lots of bright fruit. The dried strawberry and floral character was wonderful.

I bought all the wines at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, Calif., because I am staying for the holidays in Newport Beach, where I went to high school. It was really fun to go through the store and pick three or four bottles to drink. In fact, I am going back to buy a few more bottles this evening since my best friend from high school is coming over for dinner.

I hope you are having a great time over the holidays and drinking lots of great bottles.