WINTER WEIGHT WINES

Chefs look to the season for inspiration as do sommeliers. Traditionally, in winter, menus tend towards heartier dishes and the wines follow suit. If this is your house style, or you are looking for some nice, smaller production selections, here are the top ten picks from Planet Grape Wine Review. All prices are standard retail.

2016 Jermann Vintage Tunina Venezia Giulia Italy $66
Silky, fresh, spicy and dry white blend with notes of tangerine, honeydew, honeysuckle and nutmeg. Lux Wines, Hayward, CA

2017 Dutton Goldfield Chardonnay Walker Hill Green Valley of Russian River Valley Sonoma California $50
Smooth, dry, light and lean with notes of mandarin, apple tart, and buttered biscuit. Winery Direct.

2017 Roar Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands California $35
Soft, plush, silky and dry with notes of lemon curd, grilled pineapple, vanilla, toast and butterscotch. Winery Direct.

2014 Tenuta Regaleali Rosso del Conte Contea di Sclafani Sicilia Italy $78
Lusciously fruity, chewy, lemony fresh and dry with notes of black cherry, black plum, fennel seed, truffle, carob, vanilla and cedar. Vegan. Winebow, Glen Allen, VA

2016 Chateau Malescasse Haut Medoc Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux France $22
Full and supple Merlot-based blend with notes of plum, cassis, blueberry, cedar and tobacco. Masciarelli Wine Company, Weymouth, MA

2015 McIntyre Merlot Kimberly Vineyard Arroyo Seco Monterey California $25
Full, supple, tart and dry with a fine chewiness and notes of mulberry, blueberry, cassis, sage leaf, fennel seed, vanilla, cedar and nutmeg. SIP Certified Sustainable. Winery Direct.

2017 Merisi Petite Sirah Diener Vineyard Lake County California $60
Full, spicy, ripe and gripping with notes of cherry, blueberry, blackberry, bacon, sage leaf, cinnamon and chocolate. Not your typical Petite Sirah. Winery Direct.

2016 Black Stallion Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California $28
Rich, ripe and plush then chewy with notes of cherry, cassis, black olive, brown mushroom and cedar. Winery Direct.

2016 Sleeping Giant Cabernet Sauvignon Inglewood Napa Valley California $90
Powerful, bold, ripe and dry with youthful chewiness and notes of cassis, mulberry, shitake mushroom, cumin, dark chocolate and vanilla. Winery Direct/Dearden Wines.

2009 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Veneto Italy $130
Rich, supple, balanced and dry with notes of cherry, red plum, raisin, dried fig, sage, brown mushroom, chocolate and cedar. The Tesla of Amarones. Taub Family Selections, Port Washington, NY

If wine staff training in on your to do list, check out my latest book, Ten Grapes to Know – restaurant managers and wine directors across the country are using it and making it mandatory reading for all front of the house staff.

Ten Grapes to Know, The Ten & Done Wine Guide

http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Grapes-Know-Done-Guide/dp/1682682536