Although The Dozen mostly features wines and spirits with wide distribution, to get maximum enjoyment of your holiday beverages take time to visit the winery tasting rooms, whether they are in your backyard or as an outing if you’re visiting friends and relatives across the country. And, unless you’re in the tropics or the polar regions, there is usually a local winery only a few minutes’ drive away.
The above photo is of the tasting room at Goosecross Cellars in Napa Valley, And if you won’t be in Napa Valley anytime soon, we also have some Goosecross tasting notes below among this week’s wines and one featured spirit.
Happy holidays.
2022 Josetta Saffirio “Rossese” Langhe Bianco ($32). Fresh apple and Asian pear flavors with notes of baking spices.
2024 George Duboef Beaujolais Nouveau ($15). Celebrate the end of 2024 with the fresh first release of the vintage – enjoyable red cherry fruits with good acidity. Serve at room temp or lightly chilled.
2021 Vietti “Perbacco” Langhe Nebbiolo ($32). Some chemical aromas that eventually blow off, but otherwise good black raspberry flavors and lots of tannins.
2019 Perla Terra Barolo ($40). Somewhat in the bargain price range for a Barolo, it is a lighter one with mild cherry flavors and gripping tannins.
2021 Goosecross Cellars Napa Valley Tempranillo ($57). California seems to be fascinated with this Spanish grape and with good reason – here with medium body, a mix of black and red fruits and somewhat lean with lots of acidity.
2019 Scersce “Cristina Scarpellini” Valtellina Superiore Valgella Riserva ($60). Enjoyable now, but will age well. It has delightful cherry flavors, but is still a little tight in the finish, so decant in advance.
2017 Josetta Saffirio “Millenovecentro 48” Barolo Riserva ($62). Dried cherries and berries with some savory oak notes – just lovely.
2020 Marchesi di Gresy “Martinenga” Barbaresco ($70). From one of the more-reliable Piedmont producers, this one is concentrated with dark fruits and lots of tannins – allow it to open in the glass (if you like to see evolution) or decant in advance.
2021 Goosecross Cellars “State Lane Vineyard” Napa Valley Cabernet Franc ($90). My favorite of our four featured Goosecross reds – very elegant and satiny with a combo of black raspberry and savory flavors with smooth tannins,
2021 Goosecross “State Lane Vineyard” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($90). Well-structured, on the lean side with spicy, lightly gamey berry flavors, a taste of oak and lots of tannins.
2021 Goosecross Cellars “State Lane Vineyard, Holly’s Block” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($185). An excellent rare steak wine, quite lean with dried blackberry fruit, some leather notes, lip-smacking tannins.
Cantera Negra Coffee Liqueur ($35). Just the thing if you like your morning coffee with a 40 proof kick to it. Lovely, creamy coffee and chocolate flavors with a light hint of tequila in the aftertaste. Drink straight, add to hot coffee or mix in cocktails
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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