Brat Pack Holiday Six Pack

Saltare Methode Cap Classique NV Brut Nature, Western Cape, South Africa

Saltare wines are made in a small cellar along the Eerste River in the center of Stellenbosch. The grapes are from vineyards across the Western Cape where winemaker Carla Pauw has selected the best blocks. Carla's winemaking utilizes biodynamic principles. In the cellar she uses gravity rather than pumps, and wooden barrels as balancing and integration components rather than for flavor. This NV cuvée is typically aged 18-24 months to develop roundness & texture. It’s an elegant sparkling that evokes lavender & roses on the nose followed by orchard fruit and mineral finesse on the palate.

Assiduous Santa Cruz County Pinot Gris 2023, California

Winemaker Keegan Mayo says of his Santa Cruz Mountains location that “farming is done at the edge of possibility.” The vineyards are tucked into woods and peer out to the Pacific. Ripening is slow & sugar levels are kept low. Fog that lasts all night maintains acidity. Keegan farms organically and creates single vineyard/single variety, minimal intervention wines. This Pinot Gris receives 24 hours skin-contact so it takes on a bit of pink-golden hue. Fermented in used french oak, it undergoes partial malo & spends 7 months on lees. It’s stony, earthy, citrus-zesty, but also a touch peachy, salty, twangy. Hey, those are a few of our favorite things.

Domaine de Reuilly Blanc Les Pierres Plates 2023, Loire, France

Reuilly’s vineyards are set on gently rolling hills between two tributaries of the Loire—Cher and Arnon, where the sloping hillsides offer some protection from spring frosts. Domaine de Reuilly is an iconic estate spanning 17 hectares, the majority dedicated to biodynamically farmed Sauvignon Blanc, alongside Pinot Noir, and some Pinot Gris. This Sauvignon Blanc sees no oak or malolactic fermentation. It’s a full-bodied, citrus-pithy, flint and saline-driven mouthful of wine with just a touch of green around the edges. It’s formidable and demands a meal. Feast of Seven Fishes? Latkes & smoked salmon? Check and check.

Domaine Clos du Fief (Michel Tete) Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2025, France

Yes, nouveau! This is 100% Gamay from 50+ year old vines from a 4th generation producer in the hamlet of Jullie, just west of Juliénas. The vineyards are at 350m altitude, densely planted on steep slopes of crushed granite & blue stones. The wine is made semi-carbonic with indigenous yeast and in a mix of stainless & cement. It is fresh & fruity like one would expect of nouveau, but the rocky terroir offers structure & backbone.

Terras Madre de Água Touriga Nacional 2020, Dâo, Portugal

The dramatic Serra da Estrela mountains provide the backdrop for this family-owned winery. The 30+ ha estate includes vineyards set at 600m altitude, and the historic Quinta Madre de Água, an 80-year-old vineyard where many kinds of trees (olive, oak, chestnut, pine, & 100 year-old cherries) grow near glacial rock formations & water wells. This medium-bodied wine is vinified & aged in stainless steel, preserving its freshness & acidity. Red berries are complemented by subtle notes of wildflowers, and the wine finishes with a touch of bell pepper and subtle tannins.

Canon La Chapelle Canon-Fronsac 2018, France

This wine is from a 10ha family estate in Fronsac with vineyards located on a high plateau and on clay/limestone slopes. Winemaker Gonzague Maurice practices organic viticulture but is no longer certified due to expensive climate challenges. This full-bodied Bordeaux is 70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Franc. 30% is aged in barrels for 2-3 years and 70% is aged in concrete vats for 18 months. The nose is filled with sweet tobacco, blackberry, raspberry, and a hint of truffle and violet. The palate is round and velvety, a touch earthy, with a return of raspberry and blackberry, as well as notes of cocoa, cherry, and spices. Think brisket, roast beef, prime rib––or a hearty bean or mushroom casserole.