By Christine Salins.
Homefullness Grenache
Wine is an excellent go-to gift for a wine-loving friend or someone you are having trouble buying for. It’s a great opportunity to present them with a variety or wine style they might not previously have considered or tasted. And if it doesn’t hit the spot, it’s still a useful gift because the recipient can share it the next time they’re invited to dinner.
Here’s a list designed to cater for a wide variety of tastes and budgets that you might like to consider while shopping for Christmas gifts.
Patina 2018 ‘Sticky Tea’ Riesling, $25: This is a delicious and intriguing wine from Orange which Patina’s Gerald Naef created by happy accident. Miffed at the amount of juice left in his Riesling pressings that would otherwise have been thrown out, he added some yeast to see how it would ferment. The result is a delectable, light sticky, redolent of lemon and stonefruits with a gentle sweet palate of apple sorbet and green tea. It could be enjoyed as an aperitif with a starter like chicken liver parfait, a dessert wine with fruit sorbet, or for a match made in heaven, blue cheese and slices of pear.
2019 Eileen Hardy Chardonnay, $125: Put a bottle of this under the tree for me and we’re sorted, thank you very much. I’ve always loved this flagship from Hardys, even though it’s had various incarnations over the years. Whereas once it was quite buttery, these days it’s leaner, flintier and more elegant, with the creaminess in the background. Made mostly from Yarra Valley fruit, there’s a 1.5 litre magnum available for $200 if you want to really spoil someone.
Jansz Jamin
Tahbilk 2021 Grenache Mourvèdre Rosé, $21.50: From a Victorian winery with an extraordinary history (family owned for 162 years) comes this gorgeous Rosé full of youthful verve. With a beautiful floral/musk nose, it is fresh and delicate with a dry, savoury finish. Perfect for summer drinking, try it with antipasto or a charcuterie board.
Yalumba Homefullness Grenache 2017, $120 for a case of 12: Here’s a great gift idea that will not only please the recipient but help others. Best served lightly chilled, it has crunchy red apple and pomegranate notes, with a hint of pepper. It’s super easy to drink and pairs with a wide range of dishes. Packs of 12 are available from Yalumba Wines for $120, half of which goes to Forage Built to help people experiencing homelessness. www.yalumba.com/shop/gifts/homefullness
JOSEPH ‘Moda’ Cabernet Merlot 2019, $90: Primo Estate winemaker Joe Grilli uses the amarone method to make this wine, air-drying the grapes for a week to concentrate the flavours. And what flavour! It packs a punch, with mouth-filling notes of blueberries, chocolate and raisins, and a silky finish that lingers. One to cellar for a good while yet.
Jansz Tasmania Late Disgorged Vintage Cuvée 2013, $56: This special wine has had a lot of care lavished on it. In years where the quality is outstanding, a few bottles are held back to age for an extra four years, creating this Late Disgorged Cuvée. Those extra years have given it a nutty, brioche character along with amazing depth and complexity. It’s wonderfully elegant with a fine mousse and notes of strawberries, lemon zest and nougat.
Millon Wines sensory tasting pack Photo credit Ying Lim
Jansz Tasmania Premium Rosé NV, $30: One of Tasmania’s best known street artists, Jamin, created the label especially for the festive season. It’s a vibrant label for a joyful wine, one that speaks summer with its enticing strawberries and cream aromatics, bright notes of hibiscus and Turkish delight, and crisp refreshing finish.
JOSEPH Sparkling Red NV, $90: All your Christmases will come at once with these opulent, velvety bubbles. Sparkling red is an Australian icon and they don’t come much better than this, made with a blend of premium museum vintages going back 50 years. With two years on lees and the addition of some aged fortified wine, it has layers of complexity, brooding notes of chocolate and spice, and a super fine bead. Try it with the finest dark chocolate you can find.
Millon Wines Impressionist Sensory Pack, $85: For someone starting out on their wine journey, here’s a great idea for introducing them to a few different varieties and enhancing their knowledge. Millon Wines has put together a Christmas gift pack which includes four varietals from their range, ‘The Impressionist’, including an Eden Valley Pinot Grigio, Eden Valley Riesling, Barossa Tempranillo and Barossa Shiraz. It costs $85 for the pack and includes a VR headset and video to view the vineyards, a ‘cheeseboard’ tea towel, educational guides and pairing tips. More information on the Millon Wines website. https://www.millonwines.com.au/products/impressionist-sensory-pack
