Having experienced the very best of pinot noirs, it’s hard to warm up to new ones. Not only did I warm up to this wine, but it also actually impressed me. I found the aroma and the flavor to be complex and multilayered. The aroma is an ever-changing display of black cherry, blackberry and plum with leather, coffee and clove in the background. The finish is as expansive as the aroma, concentrating on plum, blackberry and boysenberry with oak in the background.

There is a lot going on in this premium-priced pinot noir. Ripe cherry, tart cranberry, cola and spice contribute to this wonderful package. Very good now but should age well for several years at least.

Gran Moraine, Yamhill-Carlton District (Oregon) Brut Rosé NV: There is quite a bit going on here for a Brut Rosé, with strawberry, rose petal, cherry, mixed citrus, stone, and a little yeasty note not often present in the pink sparkler spectrum. I count that as a plus, as it makes the finish quite long, with a nice zesty cherry push coming up from underneath. Very nice!

Wine Recommendations for the Holidays - Mt. Brave 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon recommended

What To Drink Now: Bold Reds For The Holiday
For anything poultry-wise on your holiday table, Pinot Noir is always ideal. Copain Estate North Coast Trousseau is elegant and easy, opening with layers of wild raspberry, boysenberry, and lilac, with a mellow, delicate palate of red fruits, warm spice, and soft herbs.

What To Drink Now: Bold Reds For The Holiday
I am a huge fan of Right Bank Bordeaux, heavy on Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and the latest vintage of Chateau Lassegue St. Emillion Grand Cru Bordeaux verified why. Consistently, even in inconsistent years, the skilled hands of seventh-generation vigneron Nicolas Seillan showcases the elegance of the region and the historic Lassegue property. Following in his father’s, master vigneron and winemaker Pierre Seillan, Nicolas highlights the terroir filled with predominantly clay soils, mingling with limestone, to craft the traditional Right Bank blend heavy in Merlot, giving red and blue fruits, graceful character, and spice, with aromatic Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon giving power and structure to the tasteful blend.

This is a supremely glamorous wine – the winery's inaugural and eponymous Merlot, before it was renamed La Muse. Beautiful maturity on the nose of old rose petals, incense and something sweet. The palate becomes a lesson in textural purity – all cashmere. There are roses, violets and a whole flower garden in the mouth, hedonistic in its plushness and abundance but remaining elegant, charming and lightfooted. Enjoying it over a number of hours was a particularly delicious experience. It still has an innate power amid all that cashmere texture and fruit finesse.

Aromas of fresh Asian pear, Meyer lemon, and hints of bread dough are followed flavors of Granny Smith apple, lime, and hints of pie crust. The 2016 vintage from Saralee’s Vineyard presents balanced acidity and a mouthwatering finish.

Mt. Brave: Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
My love for wine was born in California, when I was 21. I’d often take weekend trips an hour north of San Francisco to discover the gems of Napa and Sonoma. Suffice to say I fell head over heels in love, and I’ve visited every year since to get my fill. Mount Veeder is one of the iconic regions within Napa Valley, famed for us big boisterous chocolate smothered fruits. This estate produces tiny yields, focusing much more on quality over quantity, which makes me love it even more. Incredibly complex, you’ll find violet, espresso, baking spices and blueberry on the nose. The palate is super ripe, think sticky black fruits with a sweet vanilla, tobacco and freshly dusted cocoa. For me, this is the kind of wine that creates memories, where you sit back and really appreciate life with each sip you take. Which is just what this time of year is about.

Probably best known for their chardonnay, La Crema Sauvignon Blanc is also a star with tropical fruit aromas followed by delicious zippy acidity and a long finish.

Cherry, raspberry, spice and earth. Good plus.

Dark cherry fruit, slightly meaty, just a dash of dark soil, and maybe some rose petal highlight the nose. The palate is laden with fruit–this is not shy or understated–but the acidity works hard to keep that fruit in check. Very Good.

With rugged hillsides that get cooled by ocean breezes and fog, the Sonoma Coast has long been considered a prime region for the best Pinot Noir grapes.
No wonder La Crema considers its Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir its signature wine.
The 2018 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, of which I received a sample, is fruit-forward with a strong backbone of earthiness.
A Pinot Noir that tastes more expensive than it is.
Think pomegranate, plum, juicy blackberries, and violet candy with a touch of vanilla.
This is a lush, full-tasting Pinot that offers a lot of bang for the buck for $20 or less. Find it at Vivino, BuyWinesOnline, and Wine.com.
Cheers: Enjoy with roast duck, roast pork, veal or quail, especially if it’s glazed with a lush, dark berry-infused sauce.

Red Wines for Turkey, Duck or Goose
Verite La Muse 2017
Is this California’s greatest red? It’s certainly a strong contender – La Muse is a blend of the finest merlot and smaller amounts of other Bordeaux varieties.
Produced in the Sonoma region, La Muse is a very polished and sophisticated wine, with explosive aromas of graphite, plum, Christmas cake, lemon and blueberry. Basically, this is wine of immense depth, opulence and richness.
Expensive? Oh yes. But an incomparable wine treat for Christmas 2021.

Rich and expressive, with concentrated dried red cherry and berry flavors that are filled with beef carpaccio and allspice notes. Fine-edged tannins support the mineral-infused finish that also features cedary and loamy nuances. Drink now through 2026.

Refined, with well-honed dark fruit and dried flavors that are supported by racy acidity and fine-grained tannins. Offers rich forest floor notes midpalate, with a finish loaded with Asian spice and minerally accents. Drink now through 2026.

Well-structured, with a lush spiciness to the red berry and cherry flavors. Juicy richness midpalate, with underbrush notes backed by fine-grained tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2025.

Well-knit, with a rich core of dark cherry and plum pastry flavors that are accented by cocoa powder and wild spice accents. The loamy finish lingers with notes of forest floor. Drink now through 2025.

Concentrated pear tart and apple pastry flavors are rich and well-framed in this offering. Displays sage cream and orange zest accents midpalate, with a plush and open-textured finish. Drink now through 2025.

Powerful and structured, with plenty of crushed white stone notes to the crisp green apple and Asian pear flavors that are backed by crunchy acidity. Minerally richness fills the fresh, focused finish. Drink now through 2026.

Zesty and well-spiced, this is filled with vibrant acidity to the raspberry and red cherry flavors that feature hints of paprika, while the juicy finish lingers with accents of forest floor. Drink now through 2025.

Crisp and minerally, with a savory snap to the fresh-cut green apple and Key lime flavors that are packed with rich acidity. Sea salt nuances line the finish. Drink now through 2025.

Delicate and pretty, with appealing cherry, black tea and spice flavors that glide on a sleek finish. Drink now through 2029.

Big and richly-spiced, with plenty of custardy accents to the baked apple and ripe pear flavors that are bound to ripe acidity. Lemon grass and shiso leaf notes line the finish. Drink now through 2024.