by Mary Bailey
What the wine pros want for Christmas
Here’s what’s under the tree from the skint friend who always has an eye for value and the rich and generous rellie who can be counted on to come up with something fabulous.
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Christina Masciangelo, Salivate Wine Consulting
Cash-strapped Friend
2021 Heimann SXRD Cuvée
(Szekszárd, Hungary) $25
This bang for the buck is a Kékfrankos blend, Hungary’s top red grape. No oak, just pure fruit—and no chemicals used in the vineyard. Fruity and mouthwatering, with great tannin structure, it’s excellent with poultry, red meats and other hearty dishes. Yum!
Rich Uncle
2021 Huber Berg Riesling
(Traisental, Austria) $75
A dry Riesling from a premier cru site in this tiny subregion of Lower Austria. This showstopper is an incredible value given its high quality. Full-bodied, with tons of freshness and a beautiful balance of fruit and minerality. My uncle recommends a few bottles for now, for later, and for much later. Organically farmed, of course.
Misun Bu, Dream Wines
Cash-strapped Friend
2022 G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso
(Piedmont, Italy) $20
Violets, summer berries, then hay, tobacco, spices. The wonderful minerality and acidity makes this wine so approachable, just like my friend. GD Vajra is one of the best kept secrets in Piedmont, and Aldo Vajra, (one time student rebel, now dedicated wine maker) is known for stunning Barolo crus but also Barbera, Dolcetto, Pinot Nero and Freisa (and some serious Riesling). This blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, Albarossa and Pinot Nero is 100 per cent organic. I will buy an extra bottle to share with pepperoni pizza, porcini risotto and chorizo sausage.
Rich Uncle
La Rogerie La Grande Vie Grand Cru NV,
(Champagne, France), $100
Wildflower, pillowy brioche, freshly-picked apple with savoury undertone…mmmm! La Rogerie is a wife and husband (and a little baby) Champagne producer from the Grand Cru village of Avize with a tiny production of just over 2000 bottles of Blanc de Blancs. The reserve wine for this cuvée rested in a solera system which allows the blending of multiple mature wines from different vineyards and gives the wine a beautiful complexity and vibrancy. Organically grown plus Grand Cru plus grower Champagne plus an elegant label! Let’s make some sashimi, truffle fries or a classic Dover sole.
Curtis Bawden, Pacific Wine & Spirits
Cash-strapped Friend
2020 Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz
(Clare Valley, Australia) $24
Sometimes you need to have a wine that is enjoyable with good company and conversation, and not so complicated or tannic that it requires food. Jim Barry Lodge Hill Syrah is that wine, elegant with notes of violets and crushed red berries and liquorice on the palate with subtle tannins on the finish. Also perfect with game dishes and charcuterie boards.
Rich Uncle
2018 Gérard Bertrand Clos d’Ora
(Languedoc, France) $275
This biodynamic wine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre grown at 220 meters above sea level. It delivers nothing but total perfection. It was incredible to see how small this vineyard is, nine hectares to be exact, and they only use horses, not tractors, in the vineyards. Clos d’Ora possesses intense concentration delivering dark black fruits, suitable for cellaring. If you plan on enjoying a bottle for dinner, a minimum of a six hour decant is recommended.
Marcia J Hamm, Canadian Liquor Store
Cash-strapped Friend
2023 Ippolito Mare Bianco
(Calabria, Italy) $23.
If you can’t be by the sea, bring the sea to you. My friend knows I love the warmth and water, and nothing evokes those images like this Greco Bianco. Gorgeous tropical fruits, lime verbena and a salty finish, this wine has a true sense of place. Pour a glass in the middle of winter and dream of dipping your toes in the sea.
Rich Uncle
2020 Domaine Michel Noëllat Vosne-Romanée
(Burgundy, France) $195
Pinot Noir from a storied sub-region of the Cote de Nuit? Yes please. While it may only be a villages appellation, Uncle Bob knows the wines of this region are some of the best expressions of Pinot Noir in the world, possessing the perfect balance of structure, elegance and longevity.
Stacey-Jo Strombecky, 2851 Selections
Cash-strapped Friend
2022 Bideona Mayela Tempranillo
(Rioja, Spain) $24
What a treat. Lighter-bodied, refreshing wines ideal for light courses or aperitivo and tapas are all I think about right now. (And not just because I am a 50-year-old woman!) This Spanish gem has the more-ish quality of a refreshing white, with the spicy and earthy tones we know Tempranillo offers. It’s crunchy, juicy and immensely drinkable, so while hailing from a great winery in Rioja Alavesa, it is an absolute outlier in terms of profile. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Rich Uncle
2018 Leclerc Briant Blanc de Blancs Champagne 1er Cru
(Champagne, France) $250
Leclerc Briant, a new-to-Alberta-market Champagne house, has a spectacular roster of unique offerings and cru selections, sure to make the bubble-philes swoon. And while I would not turn down any of these gorgeous offerings, I am always delighted to have 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs in my glass. I heard the terms nerve and singular energy when Leclerc Briant wines were described, and those are just a starting point for this bracing beauty. Vibrant lemon and white flowers in a glass, with the finesse and lasting impression only a great vintage Champagne can offer. You could age it, but I will make myself available if you crack it this holiday season.
Lisa Rogers, Select Wines
Cash-strapped Friend
Ramos Pinto Adriano Reserva Aged White Port,
(Douro Valley, Portugal) $35
Ramos Pinto is a unique small Port producer making exceptional traditional-style wines that have finesse and elegance. This aged white Port is no exception. This uncommon Port has an average age of eight years with the oldest Port in the blend coming from 1965. A golden amber colour, with luscious sweetness and notes of tropical fruit, candied orange and spices. Drink this chilled as an aperitif with strong cheeses or with egg-based desserts, or in a cocktail with tonic.
Rich Uncle
Tesseron Composition VSOP Cognac
(Cognac, France) $90
Tesseron has been stockpiling eaux de vies since 1905 and producing old and rare Cognacs for other houses. That all changed in 2000 when the 4th generation decided to start making Cognac under their own name. They own their vineyards in Fine Champagne, operate their own distillery and also distill for other houses. Their primary focus is XO and above, but this VSOP is something very special—round, silky and smooth with a spicy finish. Drink it neat, on the rocks or make a great Old Fashioned.
Tara Smith, roving sommelier
Cash-strapped Friend
Boutinot Cuvée Jean-Paul Blanc Sec
2022 (Côtes de Gascogne, France) $18
This might be one of the most undervalued French white wines right now. I’m not afraid to admit it got me through several hot Alberta summer nights on my patio—crisp and fresh, not flabby, with bright fruit. It’s aromatic without being overly floral—the perfect sometimes you just need a glass of wine wine.
Rich Uncle
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay
2021 (Stellenbosch, South Africa) $7
It’s no secret how much I enjoy South African wines and Chardonnay is almost always a win in my world. This single parcel offer is a beautiful example of a well-balanced chardonnay— the barrel fermentation and oak aging are precise and doesn’t overpower the citrus and stone fruit. As much as I enjoy this wine now, I’m going to LOVE it after it’s been in the cellar for a few years.
Camilo Torres, Wine Director, Bar Henry
Cash-strapped Friend
2019 Envinate Albahra
(La Mancha, Spain) $25
This dark, spicy and lively red that goes well with basically everything is from Garnacha Tintorera and Moravia Agria vines grown on a steep hill. A perfect wine for the days when you’re ordering takeout or having charcuterie on the couch after running all those last-minute errands and need some time for yourself. Amazing value.
Rich Uncle
2017 Edoardo Valentini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo,
(Abruzzo, Italy) $550
This rare gem comes from the hills of Abruzzo and is made by the family that almost single handedly put this region on the world’s stage. A once in a lifetime thing! Tastes like you’re at a farmhouse, drinking stovetop espresso in the late afternoon having just gathered the last of the plums and blackberries from the orchard.
Cory Levy, Wine Director, Sabor/Bodega Restaurants
Cash-strapped Friend
2021 Michael David Winery 6th Sense Syrah
(Lodi, California) $30
This bold, full-bodied Syrah reflects the rich, fruit-forward characteristics of the Lodi AVA, which is known for its warm climate and ripe fruit flavours—blackberries, dark plums, black cherries and hints of white pepper and clove. The oak barrel aging lends subtle notes of smoked meat, earthy undertones and hints of vanilla.
Rich Uncle
2019 The Mascot Napa Valley Cabernet
(California, USA) $225
I love California wines, especially Napa Valley Cabs. The number of cult wines coming out of the valley is quite extensive and one of my favorites is The Mascot, made from youngish vines from select Harlan, Bond and Promontory sites. This elegant high-end Cabernet Sauvignon blend showcases Napa’s signature bold and opulent style. A deep, inky purple colour, and intense blackcurrant, blackberry and ripe plum dominate the bouquet. Notes of dark chocolate, cedar and graphite, hints of tobacco, leather and subtle earthiness, revealing the early stages of maturity with well-integrated vanilla, baking spices clove, cinnamon and a faint smoky quality from the American oak aging.
Juanita and Kelsey Roos, Color de Vino
Cash-strapped Friend
Mas Coutelou Ploutelou
(Languedoc, France) $39
We fell in love with this wine in New Orleans and couldn’t wait to get it on the shelf at Color de Vino. Made from Aramon, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Clairette on a small estate near Béziers. Low manipulation, medium-bodied with crunchy red raspberry and cranberry and plenty of high-toned acidity. The wine sees no fining, filtering, or sulfur additions (vegan and organic). Serve chilled for every occasion.
Rich Uncle
2021 JL Chave Hermitage Blanc
(Rhône Valley, France) $375
A flagship bottling that dazzles. It will stop conversation at any gathering. Layered complexities of honeysuckle, lemon peel, white peach, quince, apricot and discrete cedar aromas. Life changing and cellar worthy. For 25 generations the JL Chave families have farmed some of the best parcels in the Northern Rhône. The wines are highly-acclaimed by critics and wine lovers worldwide.
Mike Fregren, Revolution Wines
Cash-strapped Friend
2022 Flower and the Bee DO Ribeiro
(Galicia, Spain) $25
Never heard of the red grape Sousón before? Not to worry, as no one else has either. The winery hails from northwest Spain, where the focus is on producing wine from the indigenous grapes of the region. A great weekday wine, medium bodied with lush fruit flavours and deceptive tannin. Drink with everyday pizza, pasta or burgers.
Rich Uncle
2019 Coto de Gomariz DO Ribeiro
(Galicia, Spain) $48
A beautiful, seductive and opulent white wine—fresh and floral with lovely gingery spice qualities. A blend of Treixadura, Albariño, Godello and Loureira, the new cool school varieties emerging from Spain and Portugal. Think of it as an exciting and vibrant cousin visiting from the Iberian Peninsula.
Maureen Zenari and Diana Kennedy, Whitehall Agencies
Cash-strapped Friend
2022 Nestor Fileri Pyrgos Trifylias
(Messinia, Greece), $24
Our wine-savvy, cash-strapped friend completely changed my mind about Greek wines. This winery is nestled amongst olive groves and vineyards a few kilometers from the ancient palace of King Nestor. Fileri is an aromatic clone of the Moschofilero grapes—intensely floral with rose petal on the nose followed by bright citrus, jasmine and white tea notes. The palate is dry yet balanced with a refreshing acidity. Perfect for holiday meals and gatherings—pair with Mediterranean dishes such as shellfish, white fish and goat cheese.
Rich Uncle
2020 Castello di Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore DOC
(Tuscany, Italy) $128
This Cabernet Sauvignon-driven Super Tuscan from Castello di Bolgheri is our rich uncle’s well-kept secret that should be widely shared with those who love rare and elegant Italian wines. The grapes have been carefully hand harvested from 20-year-old vines and aged for 20 months in oak. A silky, yet intense wine with structured tannins and notes of juicy currants, herbs and grilled vegetables. Drink from 2025 or cellar up to 15 years.
