Looking for wines for gifts or holiday meals. Check out these four new releases.
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Much of the country – heck, all of it – has been struggling mightily with the pandemic. That includes winery tasting rooms and wine country businesses.
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This morning I was reading a newspaper article about a three-week stay at home mandate in Los Angeles County. Thankfully there is wine – not just to ease our frazzled nerves, but the purchase of which support the wineries, staff and related businesses.
A memorable pre-COVID wine country trip included a stop at Dry Creek Vineyard, one of our favorite wineries. We’ve just tasted through four new releases. They came not a moment too soon. The holiday season is upon us and these Dry Creek Vineyard wines are perfect for holiday meals, gift giving, or just unwinding.
2019 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County
This wine is one of our “go-to” bottles for entertaining. It is reasonably priced at $16 and is a crowd-pleaser that delights wine aficionados as well as wine novices.
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DCV has been producing Fumé Blanc for 48 years. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel to preserve the bright, refreshing flavors. Lemon and peach notes align with minerality and a pleasing minerality.
2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley
While the Fumé Blanc echoes the Loire Valley aspirations of the winery’s founders, the second generation of this family winery has produced a more contemporary take on Sauvignon Blanc. The 2019 vintage blends 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Musqué, and 7% Sauvignon Gris.
This wine has multiple layers of cool. Not only with the added grape varieties, but aging is in chestnut, acacia and French oak barrels. Add to this the wonderful terroir of Dry Creek Valley and you have a winner for only $20.
We suggest this for a nice holiday meal where seafood or poultry is highlighted. The palate has tropical fruit and a slightly creamy texture.
2019 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg
Chenin Blanc is plentiful in South Africa and in France’s Loire Valley, but may not be a familiar sight at your wine shop. This is a rich white wine that is perfect as an aperitif or pairing with a light meal. At $16, it is also light on your wallet.
Please not that this is dry Chenin Blanc. Chenin can also be produced as a sweet or semi-dry wine, as is often the case with Vouvray. The flavor palette includes lime and candied lemon mingled with tropical mango notes. It’s fresh and lively and is finished in 100% stainless steel.
Like the other wines produced by Dry Creek Vineyard, the grapes are sustainably farmed. The wines are made with minimal intervention and without any animal-based fining agents or products containing gluten. Put your feet up and recover from the holiday chaos with a glass of Chenin Blanc.
2017 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley
The Mariner, Dry Creek Vineyard’s powerful yet elegant Meritage, has been one of our favorite wines for more than a decade. It’s a blend of the five noble Bordeaux varieties. The 2017 vintage, retailing for $50, is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot.
Aging is 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, 42% new oak. The grapes come from a hillside vineyard with gravelly, iron-rich soil.
We paired The Mariner with a grilled sirloin steak. On the nose there is cocoa and blueberry. On the palate it is luxuriously smooth with deep raspberry and notes of smoke. There is an earthy complexity.
The Mariner continues to top the charts of our wine favorites. As with other DCV wines, the value is outstanding. It drinks like a much more expensive bottle. As such, we recommend The Mariner as a perfect holiday gift for the wine lover on your list.
Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.
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