Going into the new year, you probably have some resolutions you’d like to keep this time around: No more fast food. Quit smoking. Start working out. If you’re looking for a resolution that’s easier to keep, however, then resolve to step out of your comfort zone and explore some upcoming trends in the beverage world.
If you want to impress a colleague after work, ask for a sherry at your local dispensary, especially if you plan to munch on olives and bar nuts. Right now, sherry es lo mejor. The most popular styles are the dry ones, typically fino or Manzanilla (my personal favorite), which is an intense fino sherry from the small town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain. Seek out the venerable Equipo Navazos, arguably the best boutique sherry maker in that country today. The wines are made by the barrel, or bota, and each batch is unique. In particular, look for No. 42, La Bota de Manzanilla.
I’ve always had an affinity for white Burgundy, which usually meant Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet. Recently, though, I’ve noticed that Chablis has caught fire among both sommeliers and the wine cognoscenti. What used to be the redheaded stepchild of the white-wine world is no longer; it’s now considered the great wine from the north of France, best enjoyed served slightly chilled. The wines from René & Vincent Dauvissat are consistently great, and the 2011 Chablis Premier Cru La Forest is special indeed.
With the recent string of great to outstanding vintages of Brunello di Montalcino, the Tuscan appellation garnered worldwide attention and praise for two epic vintages, 2004 and 2006. But in truth, between 2003 and 2008, these Italian wines exhibited a purity and concentration that rarely occurs across such a stretch of time. The wines from Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona are not to be missed. Beg, borrow, or steal your way to a bottle of its 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva.
If your predilections toward alcohol fall in the brown-spirits camp, then you’re in luck. There’s nothing hotter than bourbon at present. From the revival of ancient recipes to special rare bottlings, the famed liquor has never been more popular. Today’s demand has created a sort of cult status for brands like W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, and George T. Stagg, not to mention the impossible-to-find Pappy Van Winkle. And if you come across some Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon, buy as much as you can afford. Locating the more esoteric wines and spirits is easier at places like The Wine & Cheese Place, The Wine Merchant, and Starrs.
A former sommelier at The French Laundry, Hoel serves as a senior wine advisor for Soutirage, a Napa Valley wine merchant and advisory firm.
