As girls are known to shop, I decided to compile my own personal wish list from Vinfolio’s wine store. Over the coming years I would like to considerably expand my collection so that it represents a diverse selection of wine regions and vintages. Although I have a tendency towards the Old World, I also favor many wines from Oregon, cool-climate California and New Zealand.
My favorite wines tend to have high acid (Champagne, Riesling, Chablis, Brunello) and reflect a sense of terroir (Burgundy, Bordeaux). I especially enjoy the influence of chalky soils in Champagne (from oyster fossils in the Kimmeridgian soil), the role of limestone and clay on Merlot in St. Emilion, the mineral notes of slate in Mosel Riesling, and the ripe, rustic quality imparted to Aglianico or Galioppo grapes by volcanic soils in southern Italy. I also love the concentrated flavors of wines whose vines have had to struggle, whether grown on a mountaintop or by restricted yields (perhaps through a
green harvest).
High altitude climates (Argentina), coastal breezes and ocean currents (the
Benguela Current near South Africa, the
Humboldt Current off Chile, and the
California Current along the Pacific NW) also bring clarity and intensity of flavor. There are so many factors to producing great wine that it makes the discovery process (through tasting, of course) all the more fun!
I think a good cellar should have a mix of every day wines (albeit tasty ones) and special event, collector bottles that benefit from aging. Here is a start to my wish list, beginning in France (to be continued in later posts):
Champagne –
The ideal aperitif and palate stimulant, whether white or rose.
Good value, every day favorites:
NV Lafitte, Charles Brut Rosé $35
NV Ruinart Brut Rosé (375ml) $35 –
one of the original Champagne houses NV Jean Vesselle Brut Oeil de Perdrix $38 –
with a beautiful salmon color NV Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition $54
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé $66 –
a classic roséLuxury bubbles for special events (1990 and 1996 are especially good vintages):
NV Krug Grande Cuvée $127 –
a Champagne staple 1998 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne $129 –
the 1990 is also amazing 1990 Heidsieck, Charles Brut Blanc des Millénaires $135
1996 Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill $159 –
so classy and brilliant NV Bollinger Brut Special Cuvée (1.5L) $225 –
creamy and big for parties 1990 Möet & Chandon Dom Perignon (1.5L) $850 –
everyone must have Dom! 1996 Krug Clos du Mesnil $1,065 –
yes, we can dream of the ideal Grand CruWhite Burgundy – Where Chardonnay reveals minerality, clarity, and complexity.
The values:
2005 Long-Depaquit Chablis Les Vaillons 1er Cru $25
2005 Daniel et Martine Barraud Pouilly-Fuisse La Verchère $36
1996 Latour-Giraud Meursault Narvaux $39 - one with some age
2004 Long-Depaquit Chablis Blanchots $42 – a Grand Cru at an amazing price
2000 Henri Germain et Fils Meursault Les Charmes 1er Cru $59
The collector items:
2004 Raveneau Chablis Les Forêts 1er Cru $75 -
another classic producer 2004 Marc Colin Corton-Charlemagne $79 -
this made a friend become a Burgundy believer 2002 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne $94
2004 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1er Cru $133
2004 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet $196 -
gotta love Leflaive 2004 Comtes Lafon Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru $349
1998 Ramonet Montrachet $599 –
a true life experience 1996 Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet $950 –
ditto 1989 Ramonet Montrachet $1,899 –
we’re at the pinnacle here!I see that my thoughts stayed with the high acid whites; next time I’ll peruse the reds. Cheers and happy collecting! What’s on your list?
