Wines from the Rich Uncle and the Cash-Strapped Friend

Cash-strapped Friend
Meinklang Burgenland Red (Burgenland, Austria) $24

An organic and biodynamic wine that’s so bright, fresh and juicy! This is made with Austrian natives Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Saint Laurent. I love the fact that this winery is family owned and operated with a focus on healthy soils and wines.

Rich Uncle
Krug Clos du Mesnil (Champagne, France) $950

Champagne of course! This is the iconic wine from Krug—a single vineyard Blanc de Blanc of legendary proportion.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 Francesco Cirelli Montepulciano (Abruzzo, Italy) $20

This Montepulciano is meaty and spicy with loads of fresh red fruit and is a great value, interesting and versatile on the table, particularly with slow-roasted lamb on Christmas Day. Francesco Cirelli is a young, passionate rising star in Italian wine who strives to capture the flavours of his land. While many wineries around the world are turning back the clock and making wines according to pre-industrial methods, Cirelli is going one step further and is looking to ancient Roman and Greek vinification for inspiration.

Rich Uncle
2017 Feudo Montoni Nero d’Avola Vrucara (Agrigento, Sicily) $90

I have so much respect for this producer and absolutely love their wines. It’s from a pre-phylloxera cru (single vineyard) called Vrucara; intense and persistent on the nose with aromas of forest floor, notes of cherry and dried rose petal. I first met Fabio Sireci and Melissa Muller (who also wrote a fantastic Sicilian cookbook) at Vin Italy a couple of years ago and really connected with their philosophy of listening to the voice of mother nature. I love all the wines they make, but this is the bottle you would want your rich uncle to bring over. Sip with late night salumi and aged cheeses.

Cash-strapped Friend
2018 Meinklang ‘Prosa’ Frizzante Rosé (Burgenland, Austria) $25

A pink, bubbly bouquet of strawberry, a dangerously delicious bottle of freshness and bright acidity. It tastes as beautiful as it looks and smells. I’m eating olives and salami right now and this is delicious! Plus, who doesn’t like to say Zweigelt and Blaufränkish?

Rich Uncle
Grand Cru Reserve Brut (Ambonnay, Champagne, France) 1500ml $110

Bottom line, a magnum of Champagne between friends is a great start. Primarily Pinot Noir comingled with Chardonnay, this bottle oozes richness. Serve with a bag of your favorite kettle chips, a match made in heaven.

Cash-strapped Friend
2016 Montes Twins White (Aconcagua Valley, Argentina) $20

This crisp white, a blend dominated by Sauvignon Blanc, with Chardonnay and Viognier, delivers great value. The super funky label by artist Ralph Steadman is as fun and fresh as the wine inside the bottle.

Rich Uncle
2016 Joseph Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (Burgundy, France) $265

In the words of Véronique Boss-Drouhin; ‘One of the greatest wines of Burgundy, to be tasted with awe and reverence.’ An incredible wine with an amazing balance of richness and elegance.

Cash-strapped Friend
2015 Alvear Pedro Ximénez de Añada (Montilla-Moriles, Spain) 375 ml, $25

Warm and intense with flavours of golden raisins, toffee, toasted almonds—a definite must-have in your Edmonton winter survival kit. Could quite happily end every meal with this poured over some French vanilla ice cream (or pumpkin pie if you’re feeling extra festive).

Rich Uncle
2016 Little Engine Platinum Chardonnay (Naramata Bench, B.C.) $110

With a soft texture, light oak and a buttery, caramel finish, this juice is a true expression of what Canadian Chardonnay has to offer. Proprietors Steven and Nicole French, along with their Okanagan-based wine making team, believe that a wine should speak for itself and this is exactly what is accomplished in this Chardonnay. A fantastic pairing with rich fish or poultry, but I’d just as soon pass on dinner and take a top-up of my glass!

Cash-strapped Friend
2016 Château de Romance Blanc Sec (Bordeaux, France) $25

This Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc blend is bone dry, offering lively aromas of honeysuckle and lychee. The palate is round and unctuous, redolent of stone fruit and a hint of minerality, balanced with a vibrant streak of acidity. It is perfect on its own or with white fish, oysters or sushi. A go-to of mine when I want something fresh, elegant and mouth-watering.

Rich Uncle
2013 Continuum (Napa Valley, USA) $230

Continuum was the last project Tim Mondavi worked on with his father Robert Mondavi. Their idea was to create a California First Growth. This vintage is special because it marks 100 years from Robert’s birth year, it was Tim’s 40th year as a winemaker and is the very first vintage grown, produced and bottled on Tim Mondavi’s Pritchard Hill estate. Aside from the obvious heritage, the wine is plush with dark fruit, mocha and graphite. It’s a delicious piece of history.

Cash-strapped Friend
2016 Finca La Linda Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) $20

La Linda is straightforward and voluptuous, with supple tannins, a touch of candied fruit, finishing with a pleasant smoky aftertaste due to the barrel ageing. A new winning wine from 4th generation wine producer Luigi Bosca, made from 30-year-old vines.

Rich Uncle
2017 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha (DouroValley, Portugal) $390

Exquisite cassis and black cherry aromas, voluptuous and rich, a wine of majestic scale. This outstanding estate, recognised as one of the world’s finest vineyards, was acquired by Taylor Fladgate in 1893. And this Port is one of the rarest and most collectible vintage Ports of all, made from the oldest vines on the estate.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 Edoardo Miroglio Blanc de Noir (Bulgaria) $24

If you’re looking for something that will get people talking and also won’t break the bank this is definitely it. This super unique white Pinot Noir has a beautiful full mouth feel, with notes of apple, quince, and pear. A perfect white for the fall/winter season as it will stand up well to richer dishes.

Rich Uncle
2017 Pearl Morrissette Metis Rouge Magnum (Niagara Peninsula, Ontario) 1500 ml, $90

Bigger is always better, right? When given the chance one should always choose to drink wine from large format bottles. This tasty Canadian blend is Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Gamay grown organically and biodynamically. Extremely complex and densely layered while still being completely elegant.

Cash-strapped Friend
Birrificio del Forte Micro Brews (Tuscany, Italy) $9

Elevate hockey night with a Tuscan microbrew—big in quality and flavour, low on bitterness. The special care Italian artisans are known for is amply displayed in these beers—careful selection and blending of the hops; top fermentation and cold maturation; with no micro-filtration, nor pasteurization. Try the trio: La Mancina, Belgian-style strong pale ale; Regina del Mare, a Belgian-style strong dark ale and 2 Cilindri, an English-style brown porter.

Rich Uncle
2009 Cantine Madonne della Grazie Drogone d’Altavilla Riserva Aglianico del Vulture DOC (Basilatica, Italy) $60

Aglianico is a notorious big boy that needs plenty of time to settle down and loosen up. ‘Prunes and spices; round and chewy tannins and a juicy finish,’ says James Suckling. Nothing says special like rarity and a wooden case. Buy a case (six bottles). You get the wooden case, and you can enjoy a bottle annually to see how it evolves. Sophisticated yum.

Cash-strapped Friend
2018 Soli Rosé Edoardo Miroglio (Thracian Valley, Bulgaria) $22

A gem of a rosé. Everything is in balance; it’s fresh and delicious, dry, with ripe juicy fruit. It’s a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Melnik (native to Bulgaria). The perfect aperitif.

Rich Uncle
2015 Prieler Goldberg Blaufränkisch (Leithaberg, Burgenland, Austria) $100

This gorgeous red is the top single vineyard Blaufränkisch from the renowned Prieler wine-making family, from a superb vintage. If you love elegant, beautifully structured reds, and don’t know about this native Austrian grape, this is one of the best. This would be a fortunate treasure to find under the tree this year, as it will only be available at a few specialty shops for a short time.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 el Picoteo Red (Almansa, Spain) $13

The juicy tannins of this organic Spanish wine (Monastrell and Syrah blend) are perfect with the smoky sausages and cured cheeses that we love to snack on. It will have you dreaming of the Spanish sunshine in the midst of winter—an absolute bargain.

Rich Uncle
Nomad Outland Whisky (Scotland/Jerez) $65

Expect lovely aromas of malt, wood and hints of sherry. Smooth, tasting of raisins, honey with notes of vanilla and dried fruits. Nomad is a premium blended whisky produced from over 30 5-8 years-old malt and grain whiskies. It’s matured in sherry casks for three years in Scotland before being finished for a minimum of one year in Pedro Ximenez casks in Jerez, Spain. Born in Scotland and raised in Jerez; an elegant and complex whisky to keep you warm on a cold winter night.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 Stemmari Nero d’Avola (Sicily, Italy) $15

My family Sunday dinner wines change from time to time, but this little gem is here to stay. The flavour profile suits everyone from wine newbies to wine weenies and so does the price. Nero d’Avola is an indigenous grape to Sicily and is often compared to Shiraz. The Stemmari is medium-bodied with wild berry and ripe cherry aromas and finishes with a touch of spice. Fruity enough to go with lots of different foods and just as wonderful by a toasty fire.

Rich Uncle
2008 Tommasi De Buris Amarone Classico Riserva (Veneto, Italy) $300

This is from an old Amarone property now owned by the Tommasi family. Very little is made and it’s highly allocated, available only at Wine & Beyond.

Cash-strapped Friend
2015 Zenato Veneto Rosso (Veneto, Italy) $20

Luscious and smooth, with flavours of ripe cherry and raspberry, this red is a perfect pairing with pizza, pasta, burgers, or a quiet evening with book and blanket. The lusciousness is due to the partial appassimento method, used with Corvina, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Rich Uncle
Delamain Cognac Gift Box Trio (Cognac, France) $180

The House of Delamain is one of very few cognac producers to work exclusively with eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne appellation, home to the very finest Cognac crus. The Delamain Gift Box trio contains three 200 ml bottles each of three

Cash-strapped Friend
2018 Emiliana Adobe Syrah Rosé (Central Valley, Chile) $15

This 100 per cent organic Syrah rosé has aromas of ripe strawberries and raspberries with a touch of spice, crisp acidity and a dry finish. Pairs well with anything rosé-all-day, especially with brunch.

Rich Uncle
Camus Borderies XO Cognac (Cognac, France) $200

The aromas are light and floral with a hint of violets and the finish is refined, elegant, long and persistent. Camus is a 5th generation Cognac house who owns the majority of the vineyards in the very prized Borderies region of Cognac. This is the only Cognac to be made with 100 per cent Ugni Blanc grapes from the area. A beautiful sipping Cognac. If you are looking for something rare and unique, this is it.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 Bodegas Ponce Depaula (Jumilla, Spain) $20

A juicy 100 per cent Monastrell that’s infinitely drinkable. Bring this as either a hostess gift or stock up for your own hosting. It won’t break the bank, nor make you feel bad if you open a second (or third) bottle.

Rich Uncle
2017 Le Vieux Pin Ava (Oliver, B.C.) $50

It is everything you want in a white wine, a classic white Rhone blend that’s predominantly Viognier, with gorgeous stone and tropical fruit on the nose and palate with enough structure and acidity to make it a natural for aging—not to mention super food friendly. My favourite white from the Okanagan Valley.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo, Chile) $20

A deep and intense ruby-red color and aromas of black currants, blackberries and licorice, with smooth, elegant cedar notes on the nose, a rich and generous yet fresh and vibrant palate, with abundant fruit and firm tannins that lend structure and depth. Hand-picked from a single estate vineyard in the upper Maipo Valley, this wine just earned a stunning 97 points from Decanter Magazine in a blind tasting. Vina Carmen, Chile’s oldest commercial winery, continues to offer incredible consistency, value and high-quality with this killer Cab at a killer price.

Rich Uncle
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV (Champagne, France) $135

The wine has outstanding tactile sensation, with a creamy smoothness and subtle flavours of wild strawberries and raspberries. Precise, harmonious and delicious. Billecart-Salmon is renowned for the quality and delicacy of their Brut Rosé. The house celebrated its 200th anniversary last year and is still owned by the same family.

Cash-strapped Friend
Yoshi Toji No Banshaku Honjozo Saké (Niigata Prefecture, Japan) $23

Aromas of pears and melon with a crisp, clean, and dry finish. This saké is bound to please even those who have never had the luxury of experiencing this extraordinary brewed beverage before. Go ahead, sip and simply enjoy. Kanpai!

Rich Uncle
Adictivo Extra Anejo Tequlia (Mexico) $140

A sensory explosion! Aromas of exotic spices, vanilla and honey, flavours of toast, caramel, dried fruits, a kiss of sweetness and the texture of silk. A beautiful dark amber colour due to the seven years of barrel age. This 100 per cent blue agave tequila is not easily forgotten, nor will you ever want too. Sexy and mysterious.

Cash-strapped Friend
2016 Casale del Giglio Petit Verdot (Lazio, Italy) $25

Casale del Giglio has made this rich, savoury, inky black, full-bodied delicious beauty from Petit Verdot, typically a blending grape in the great wines of Bordeaux, here in a single varietal wine. My friend may not have a lot of cash lying around but is savvy enough to know a good wine when they taste it.

Rich Uncle
2013 Solaia (Tuscany, Italy) $250

Ripe red fruit aromas and flavours, especially cherry, there’s also complex notes of licorice, vanilla spice and smoke, making this a great wine to age. Solaia, a blend of Sangiovese and the Cabernets (Franc and Sauvignon) is from the sunniest plots of the Antinori family vineyards in Tuscany; and from a vintage full of sunshine aplenty. Good vintage or bad, this wine will always be known as one of the world’s greatest cult wines. Nothing is too rich for Uncle Bob’s blood and a bottle of this wine would certainly stand out under any Christmas tree

Cash-strapped Friend
Antech Blanquette de Limoux (Limoux, France) $25

This méthode traditionnelle (made the same way as Champagne) sparkling wine is soft and creamy, with a lovely floral, citrus and fresh-cut green apple bouquet. The 6th generation family winery is now led by the dynamic and fierce Françoise Antech-Gazeau. Her winemaking philosophy is to keep the wines as natural as possible, using modern techniques only when they improve the taste of the wine. What better recommendation for my style-savvy friend than a sparkling wine that has flair, is well-made, affordable and delicious?

Rich Uncle
2012 Elio Altare Barolo, Cerretta Cru DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) $180

Wonderfully rich, layered with sweet mixed fruit, spice and earthy notes. Silvia Altare, the winemaker and owner, is the third generation to take the helm at this small family winery. ‘Harvest in Barolo is about family and respecting tradition,’ she says. She and her female peers have started The Barolo Bitches in homage to their fathers’ group The Barolo Boys who launched the modernist Barolo movement. Like the prior generation, this new generation of female winemakers and winery owners are evolving Barolo. Yay women in wine! Now, if my wine-savvy relation could only find a Barolo Bitches t-shirt for me.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 Bodegas Izadi Rioja Blanco (Rioja, Spain) $25

Straw yellow in colour with bright green hues, succulent fruit, a well-structured white with perfect acidity. Made from Viura, Malvasia Fina, Grenache Blanc and Tempranillo Blanco. My white wine of the past summer—fresh, crisp and crushable—a bottle only lasted moments with friends.

Rich Uncle
2015 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino (Mendoza, Argentina) $145

Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino is made from a meticulous vine selection in the best lots of the Catena family’s estate vineyards, Angelica and Nicasia. The vines are carefully hand-tended and produce extremely low yields. The Argentino is made in very limited quantities.

The new label, the brainchild of Adrianna Catena, pays homage to Malbec from its ancient roots in France to its modern success in Argentina, via four female figures illustrating different moments in the history of Argentina’s treasured grape variety.

Cash-strapped Friend
2017 Lucien Lardy Beaujolais Villages Blanc AOC (Beaujolais, France) $24

Enticing aromas of orchard fruit, apple, pear, lemon and notes of white flowers. Ripe fruit, unctuous texture with great minerality—drinks like a Maconnais at a fraction of the price. Lucien Lardy is a third-generation vigneron from Fleurie, who farms sustainably and crafts complex wines that individually express their terroirs. It is rare to see whites from this region, as they only account for three per cent of the production in Beaujolais.

Rich Uncle
2013 Dal Cero Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG (Veneto, Italy) $77

Here is an Amarone that speaks to my soul—rich and heady yet still elegant. It has bountiful aromas of ripe fruit and Christmas cake spice, an unctuous palate and is beautifully supported by acidity that lifts the wine. I have enjoyed it on different occasions with prime rib and lamb osso bucco dinners shared with friends or family.

Intense red in the glass with hints of cherry and cranberries on the nose along with a wee bit of chocolate. Soft in the mouth, fresh and fun. If this little organically farmed gem from the Mentrida DO in central Spain was under the tree from my cash-strapped friend, I would be thrilled. /td>

Deliciously delectable and potentially ageless. This Tawny celebrates not only the great vintage of 1867, it arrived in Alberta shops during Canada’s 150th year. Amazing! This Port unveils as a true memory of the 19th century, preserved in time with meticulous care and an almost religious devotion.

Cash-strapped Friend
2014 Carmen Gran Reserva Carignan, El Secano Vineyard (Maule, Chile) $25

Carignan is one of those grapes that does so much but is rarely highlighted on its own. This bottling from historic Chilean winery Carmen showcases what older vines and care in the winery can do—aromas of red fruit and violets, very pretty and elegant with just the right amount of tannin and structure. The rusticity of Carignan is tamed and great varietal character at a crazy good price is showcased.

Rich Uncle
2014 Saó del Coster La Pujada (Priorat, Spain) $350

Inky and alluring with boatloads of complexity, there is ripe fruit, dried sour cherries, dried herbs, lots of spice, minerality while maintaining balance and elegance. I didn’t plan it this way, but apparently, I am having a love affair with Carignan as this wine is also 100 per cent Carignan. La Pujada is a single vineyard, planted in 1927 and farmed biodynamically. The grapes are harvested by hand (350m elevation) with the help of a couple of friendly donkeys. The vineyard produces only 850 bottles each vintage. A true beauty.

Cash-strapped Friend
2016 M de Mulonnière Anjou Rouge (Loire Valley, France) $24

There is a time in the fall when my husband says ‘enough with the róse’ and my first grab from the cellar is always a Cabernet Franc. Loire Valley Cabernet Franc is the one of the world’s perfect red wines. The M de Mulonnière, a new wine from Château de Mulonnière is an inexpensive way to get acquainted with this lovely grape and region. Bright red fruits on the nose and palate, gorgeous herbacious character throughout and just enough interesting minerality (think graphite pencil) to keep it geeky. For pairing I love roast veggies and red quinoa with a smoky tahini sauce, but don’t be afraid to play with meat dishes.

Rich Uncle
Koval Barreled Gin (Chicago, USA) $95

I am in love with gin in general, but this gin is making my heart sing. Koval is using a white rye base for their gins with local botanicals from the Midwest. Couple that with second-use rye barrels and you have one of the prettiest gins in the market. This beauty is as if a great whiskey and a great gin had a magical love child. And, its organic and kosher! I feel so much better about having seconds.

Cash-strapped Friend
2018 Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 (Nova Scotia and Ontario) $25

Beautiful floral notes on the nose and the tropical notes on the palate are balanced with an energizing acidity. This lightly effervescent wine from Nova Scotia is sure to please all palates. The 2018 vintage in Nova Scotia was a disaster. To ensure there was enough Nova 7, friends and colleagues in Niagara who share the same philosophy as Nova’s winemaker Jean-Benoit Deslauriers pitched in with ripe grapes. A beautiful story of cooperation and the perfect wine for every occasion.

Rich Uncle
2017 Little Engine Platinum Pinot Noir (Naramata Bench, BC) 1500 ml, $225

This Pinot is produced with all estate-grown fruit and displays depth, layers of complexity, elegance and finish. Little Engine Wines is an outstanding winery out of Penticton, BC producing three tiers of wines from silver to platinum. The silver wines are impressive, but if you can get your hands on one of the platinum series you are in for a treat. They are usually only available to their club members, but they do release some large format bottles that would be the perfect wine for a holiday splurge.

This wine is dominated by aromas of ripe pear and orchard fruit with a hint of lemon curd. Food flexible and easy, it has nice acidity balanced by the restrained use of oak, which gives it medium body and a round finish. Tawse is a family-owned winery in Niagara committed to sustainable farming practices and producing high quality wines that reflect the Niagara escarpment terroir. I have mad respect for producers committed to farming organically and biodynamically while really paying attention to which grapes excel in more northern climates (Chardonnay being one of those grapes). Not only that, Tawse offers great value while still picking all their grapes by hand.

This estate grown Chardonnay is complex, balanced, with a lengthy finish without any heaviness. While fermented and aged in French oak barrels, the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation, preserving a linear acidity and crispness. There are slight nutty notes, apple and pear along with lemon-lime freshness and stunning minerality. An overly oaked, toasty, butter bomb it is not. Grgich Hills Estate is an iconic Napa producer for good reason. Miljenko Grgich is known mostly for Chardonnay—unseating Burgundian winemakers from their throne by winning best Chardonnay at the 1976 Judgement of Paris Tasting The estate is meticulous in their biodynamic vineyard management, barrel selection and commitment to environmental sustainability.