Whether you are setting out to purchase that perfect bottle of wine to gift this year, or searching for the best wine and spirits to serve at your gathering with loved ones, LuxeGetaways has done the work for you by pulling together a unique collection of 5 wines that are sure to impress (and be delicious!). We know of all the options out there today, and how overwhelming the search can be… so we hope that this bespoke collection will help you this holiday season. Cheers!!
Clos Pegase 2014 “Hommage” Cabernet Sauvignon
Location: Tenma Vineyard, Napa Valley
MSRP: $125
Clos Pegase’s estate vineyards are its heart and soul, and its Hommage wines pay tribute to the very best those vineyards offer. The 2014 Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon captures the essence of Calistoga Cabernet – deep color, intense and uniquely spicy fruit character and generous mouthfeel – and shows why Calistoga is one of the great and most personality-driven regions for Cabernet in Napa Valley. The Tenma Vineyard is in Jericho Canyon in northeastern Calistoga in the foothills of Mount St. Helena. Its rocky, well-drained terrain with sparse topsoil yields a tiny crop of exquisitely concentrated Cabernet fruit, which is a thrill to work with for a winemaker. The essence of the dramatic and wild Palisades bordering Tenma is deliciously represented in this bold yet classically styled wine. www.clospegase.com
Tamarack Cellars 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Emerald Release)
Location: Columbia Valley, Washington
MSRP: $100
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the founding of Tamarack Cellars in Washington, this special Emerald Release bottling was crafted by winemaker Danny Gordon from the finest lots that the winery uses for its Reserve wines. Columbia Valley is one of America’s premier regions for fine Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Emerald Release Cabernet from Tamarack lives up to expectations. The wine is aged 45 months in French oak barrels, which provides a beautiful flavor complement to the wine’s rich fruit character. In the glass, fragrant aromas of blackberries and spice are followed by complex, concentrated flavors with a long, intense finish. www.tamarackcellars.com
Gary Farrell Winery 2016 Pinot Noir
Location: Rochioli Vineyard, Russian River Valley
MSRP: $80
Gary Farrell Winery has long specialized in Pinot Noir crafted from grapes grown in some of the top vineyards in the Russian River Valley, and its wines are renowned as elegant, complex expressions of those vineyards. One of the premier vineyards where Gary Farrell sources its grapes is the Rochioli vineyard, just down the road. This famed vineyard has been owned by the Rochiolis since 1938, and it is one of California’s most sought-after vineyards. Gary Farrell Winery has a long-standing relationship with the Rochioli family and has been making wine from their vineyard for decades. This stunning Pinot Noir has classic aromas of cherry and strawberry and amazing textural depth. www.garyfarrellwinery.com
Inniskillin 2016 Gold Vidal Icewine
Location: Niagara Peninsula, Canada
MSRP: $80
Icewine is a signature of Inniskillin, Canada’s first estate winery and an internationally renowned leader in this distinctive dessert wine category. Often referred to as extreme winemaking, Icewines are harvested during winter months from grapes naturally frozen on the vine at -10ºC. This yields a rich, concentrated wine that is revered for its honeyed sweetness, sublime balance of natural acidity and complex flavors. Made from Vidal grapes, this Icewine has notable peach and apricot aromas with hints of toast and clove and intense, luxurious flavors. www.inniskillin.com
Robert Mondavi 2014 BDX
Location: Oakville, Napa Valley
MSRP: $65
This special release from the famed Robert Mondavi Winery is only made in the best vintages and is a blend of the classic Bordeaux (BDX) grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Sourced from the winery’s legendary To Kalon Vineyard, the 2014 BDX is a pure expression of the depth and complexity of flavor for which the vineyard is renowned. To Kalon sits on prime benchland in the Oakville region of Napa Valley, which has a long history of producing wines with rich, complex flavors and notable fruit maturity. This wine delivers fragrant aromas of blackberry and plum that give way to hints of sweet baking spice, tobacco and cocoa and a beautifully smooth palate. www.robertmondaviwinery.com