Great Wines For Family And Friends

Are you a wine bibber or do you take a little wine for the stomach sake?

Christopher Reckord Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast, writing for the JamaicaObserver.com, has an interesting take on wines that go well dinner listed the following as his recommendation for the holiday season.

Motto ‘Gung Ho’

On tasting this wine, he said his first thought was “light for a wine called Gung Ho”. The 14.5% alcohol content made him rethink “elegant wine” and focus more on the contrasts in this bottle. Made with 60 per cent Zinfandel, 23 per cent Petit Verdot, 17 per cent Petite Sirah. The tasting notes on the bottle said: “This red blend is full of contrast. It is rich, yet delicate; fruity, yet structured; and soft, floral aromas give way to flavors of blueberry pie and pomegranate with hints of jasmine tea and spice.” One of the more accurate notes he said he has read in a long while — a very pleasant wine, he noted.

Primal Roots

Made with Merlot (49 per cent), Syrah (42 per cent), Zinfandel (9 per cent); on the nose this wine reveals layers of ripe, opulent black fruit with dominance by black currants. On the palate there’s an immediate sweet lush crush of black and red berries with blueberries. A crowd pleaser!

19 Crimes

19 Crimes is mainly Shiraz with Pinot Noir, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. Deep, with dark red in the glass, on the nose are aromas of new wood, some smokiness and light red fruit. Give it a few minutes after opening the bottle and your guests will be clamouring for more.

Apothic Red — Goes well with almost all types of food!

A bold blend of primarily Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Apothic Red leaves a lasting impression of flavour and texture on the palate. Zinfandel offers bold, dark fruit flavours and spicy notes, complemented by the soft mouthfeel of Merlot. The Syrah adds layers of smooth blueberry, while the Cabernet Sauvignon delivers ripe fruit flavours and a firm structure. This decadent blend is framed by hints of black cherry, vanilla and mocha.

His white wine recommendations —

Why they work? He said they are very fruit forward with balanced acidity — this makes them all crowd pleasers.

Menage A Trois California White

The Menage A Trois white marries Chardonnay, Muscat, and Chenin Blanc. He noted this is undeniably fruity and unabashedly easy.

It’s meant to be quaffed, not analyzed. The white blend brings together citrus and tropical fruit flavors with crisp acidity. It’s refreshing!

Apothic White

Apothic White is an approachable blend that combines Chardonnay, Riesling, and Moscato to create a luscious, vibrant wine in the bold style of Apothic. Intense flavors of peach, pineapple, honey, and vanilla spice make this smooth white blend unforgettable.

He also noted that if one is not in the mood to splurge, then one should go for the Conundrum Red and the Conundrum White. He posited that generally these are both more complex and structured version of the other red blends and they are both very delicious.