Drink Up!
By David Setley
This time of year, I like to anticipate the coming months while looking back on the past twelve with gratitude. First, allow me to express my appreciation to you for reading these articles. Many have reached out or stopped in with kind remarks and thoughtful questions; I am truly humbled by your continued interest and support. Second, a big thank you to my wife and editor, Gwen. Trust me, without her, these articles would not read as well as they do. And third, I’d like to thank those in the wine world: those who enjoy wine, those who sell wine, and of course, those who make wine.
December is the month of Top 10 lists: top news and sports stories, top movies, top music, etc. For this week’s article, I’ve prepared my Top 10 list of new-to-me wines in 2024. Though last year I did it later in the month, I thought it might help to have it earlier for wine gifting and event planning.
- OZV Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi, California)
I love a good Zinfandel, and the OZV is a very reasonably priced and excellent example. This wine is bold and intense with the fruit flavors of ripe blackberry and strawberry with notes of tobacco leaf, smoke, and spices. It is a food-friendly wine that is full-bodied with medium acidity. It is approachable and smooth with a rich mouthfeel and notes of vanilla bean and cinnamon. Zinfandel is among California’s best varietals. Try this one and find out why.
- Tokoeka Estate Pink Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand)
Yep, I said Pink Sauvignon Blanc. This unique wine is a light ruby pink color with hints of tropical fruits, raspberry, and cherry on the palate. The soft minerality leads to a lovely rounded and smooth finish. This is a delightful, year-round wine.
- Ramirez Piscina Selevcion Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain)
This wine is made from 100% hand-harvested Tempranillo. After fermentation, the wine is racked into American and French oak barrels where it spends 18 months aging in the winery’s underground cellars. The wine is then transferred back to the tanks for five months of natural settling before filtering and bottling. Then, it spends a minimum of 18-24 months in the bottle aging in cellars before being labeled and released for sale. This is a classic Rioja Reserva with flavors of balsamic wood and red berries with a long finish.
- Balletto Russian River Pinot Noir (Russian River, California)
Vineyards of the Russian River Valley arguably produce California’s best Pinot Noir; Balletto is a perfect example. This family-owned and operated vineyard is dedicated to sustainable agriculture and environmental responsibility. The wine opens with dark fruit and spice and continues through a velvety mid-palate that maintains its balance with light tannins and acidity at the finish. Pinot Noir is one of my favorite varietals and I love this wine. A must-try.
- Prà Otto Soave Classico (Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy)
Soave Classico is made from Garganega grapes and is refreshing with aromas of juniper and honeysuckle and flavors of ripe apricot with an excellent minerality. Graziano Prà had a calling to become a vine grower. This is one of Italy’s finest white wines and is getting tons of praise from respected wine critics.
- Monte da Ravasqueira Encantado Red (Alentejo, Portugal)
This awesome wine is a Portuguese red blend of Syrah, Touriga Franca, and Alicante Bouschet. If we have had a wine conversation, you likely know that I love Portuguese wines with Alicante Bouschet. Encantado is a rich, full-bodied, well-balanced red wine that is smooth and intense. You will be shocked at how inexpensive this wine is! The art on the label makes this an awesome gift for the red wine lover on your list.
- Botter Corte Ottone Brindisi Riserva (Cupertino, Puglia, Italy)
Negroamaro may be the best red wine you’ve never heard of. The Corte Ottone is soft and well-balanced with a bouquet of berries and cherries and a smooth, velvety palate of dark fruit and light baking spices. Again, the price is unbelievable, and the packaging makes this wine gift-worthy.
- La Gerla Poggio Gli Angeli Sangiovese (Tuscany, Italy)
La Gerla is organically farmed at a family-owned winery in Tuscany. Sangiovese is the most widely grown red grape in Tuscany and is the backbone of Chianti Classico wines. La Gerla has all the great flavor characteristics and quality of a great Chianti, is 100% Sangiovese (a higher concentration than most Chianti Classico wines), and at a lower price. Next time you have an Italian dinner, pick up a bottle of this wine.
- Château Paloumey Haut-Médoc (Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France)
This classic Bordeaux is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This wine has flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, and cherry with notes of blueberry, cocoa, and coffee. This is a red wine lover’s wine. Chateau Paloumey is also an organic vineyard.
And finally, my number one wine pick from 2024:
- Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Cuvee Silex (Vouvray, Loire Valley, France)
Gwen and I vacationed in the Loire Valley this summer and had the pleasure of visiting Vigneau-Chevreau during our stay. We tasted wine with Christoph Vigneau who, with his brother, owns and operates the winery. Vouvray has one primary white grape: Chenin Blanc. The Cuvee Silex is 100% Chenin Blanc and is an extraordinary example of why this region is world-renowned. This wine is organic, vegan-friendly, and biodynamically farmed. Vouvray wines are very dry with a wonderful floral scent. The flavors are quince, apple, and citrus with a flint-stone minerality that the region’s terroir is famous for. This is the first year I have selected a white wine as my number one. Trust me, it’s worthy of the spot!
There you have it, my top wines of 2024. I hope you consider some of these as you complete your holiday shopping or fill your wine rack before the holidays. You won’t be disappointed. As always, contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com or visit the store with questions or comments. Until next time, Happy Wining!
David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.
