It's NYE...and time to drink Champagne!

It's New Year's Eve and the perfect occasion to pop a bottle of bubbly. I’ve been on a bit of a Champagne kick recently, partially because I have a new job at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco. Cheers to me!

To familiarize myself with our inventory, I've been trying lots of new Champagnes (tough job, I know!), but I haven't had enough time to write about each of them in detail. So here is a compilation of “tasting note tweets” in 140 characters (more or less) to help you pick out the perfect bottle of bubbles to ring in the new year. The following wines are all in stock at FPWM:

Monthuys Brut Reserve, NV ($33/bottle) is an excellent value! The nose offers a very pleasant perfume of crisp green fruit while the palate displays complex notes of caramelized pear, quince paste, and lightly browned butter. Absolutely delicious!

Philippe Gonet Grand Reserve Brut, NV ($69/bottle) is a gorgeous blend of 30% Chardonnay, 60% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier. It smells like white flowers and freshly roasted hazelnuts. The palate is rich and nutty with notes of juicy stone fruit and toast. It’s both sexy and simply scrumptious!

Pierre Moncuit Blanc de Blanc Brut, NV ($46/bottle) is very easy to drink with an elaborate flavor profile of hazelnut, Asian pear, white peach, and citrus. Mandarin orange lingers on the finish. I will definitely buy this wine again!

René Geoffroy Premier Cru Brut, NV ($50/bottle) is round and full-bodied; it smells a little like really ripe triple-cream cheese. One sip introduces flavors of almond skin, fresh-baked bread, and green apple. Finishes with a citrusy note.

Jose Dhondt Blancs de Blancs Brut, NV ($65/bottle) is decadent and well worth the price. This is the wine that I will be celebrating NYE with!

Check out more of my sparkling reviews of the sparkling wines we featured at last month’s wine seminar and tasting.

Whether you celebrate New Year’s Eve with Champagne or not, I hope it is a truly festive occasion. Cheers to a fabulous and wine-filled 2013!

Buccella Merlot, a wine fit for the holidays

If a bottle of Buccella Merlot went to a party solo, let’s just say that it would be the most revered guest. Everyone would be clamoring for an introduction! With its simple oval-shaped label, dark red wax seal, and broad shoulders, it’s a very handsome bottle. No one would dismiss this wine for being a Merlot and it would certainly leave a lasting impression on the other guests.     

With an elegant, gift-wrapped appeal, the 2009 Buccella Merlot ($90/bottle) has special occasion written all over it. And thus, perfectly appropriate for this time of year...whether you take it to a party or enjoy it at home!

 This wine opens with an attractive perfume of violets, plum, and dark berry fruit. The dark hue and concentration in the glass are telltale signs of its firm tannins and rich texture. Sure enough, the mouthfeel is powerful and complex, with layers of ripe fruit, spicy oak, and cocoa. Cherry cola, cassis, and a hint of blueberry harmonize on the palate, supported by a tight tannins and good acidity.

Yes, you read that right. It’s a Merlot that drinks like a Cabernet Sauvignon (in fact, 4% of the final blend is Cab from Yountville vineyards). I enjoyed it with friends and a perfectly prepared steak; it would also be terrific with pork roast, seared duck breast, or lamb. The Merlot grapes are sourced from Hyde Vineyard in Carneros and its aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak (no wonder!). Just over 300 cases produced.

Delicious wine. Super sexy packaging. Too good to pass up!

Available online at Stash Wines. The 2010 vintage is available from the Buccella website. Cheers!