A Perfect Case
Twelve bottles of wine that can turn any occasion, no matter how ordinary, into a celebration
JEFFREY LINDENMUTH; PHOTO BY JONATHAN KANTOR
TO SWEETEN VALENTINE’S DAY Château d’Arche Sauternes 2005, France, $34 Forget the restaurant madhouse. Pair a home-cooked meal with several wine courses instead. Cap things off with a rich dessert and this full-bodied dessert wine. “It’s a home run,” says Vaynerchuk.
TO WARM UP, MIDWINTER Spencer Roloson Palaterra 2003, California, $20 You could reach for a classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape with a hearty winter meal, but this wine delivers the same grapes and similar flavors at half the price. “These guys totally get it, and their only agenda is to overdeliver. It’s an awesome wine,” says Vaynerchuk.
TO QUIET A WINE BULLY Noblaie Chinon Rouge 2004, France, $18 “Most wine bullies are looking for huge, fruit-driven wines, so serve up this Loire Valley red that tastes more vegetal than V8 juice,” Vaynerchuk says. “Tell him that when you go back 100 years, Chinon wines like this one cost more than first-growth Bordeaux, and more discerning palates still gravitate toward this style.” [[page credits]] Jason Statham by ART STREIBER, stylist: Brian Boye and Samantha Rubin, groomer: Helen Robertson for Redkin/celestineagency.com
FOR A HOT BEACH DAY Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006, New Zealand, $12 “Summer wines should be crisp, clean, zingy, and refreshing, and should measure up even when you’re sipping them from a plastic cup,” says Vaynerchuk. This one meets his requirements and comes with a screw cap, meaning even a seagull could get the bottle open.
TO KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR Castell Roig Brut, Spain, $14 Most men overspend on their New Year’s Eve toast, says Vaynerchuk. “You don’t want to drop serious cash on bubbly that just sits around until midnight.” This Spanish cava stacks up against true champagnes three times its price.
FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER Nora Albariño 2006, Spain, $15 Nora is one of the first small-scale producers in Spain to focus on the Albariño grape, which yields aromatic, vibrant wines. “The smaller producers often give more care to the harvest,” Vaynerchuk says. “This wine will transition well from aperitif to turkey. The strong fruit finish will blend nicely with sweet potatoes, stuffing, and vegetables.”
