DAVIE, Fla., Dec. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For avid wine
collectors who are dedicated to keeping their cellars stocked for
the holidays, there are five luxury wines that every serious
collector should have in his or her wine cellar. Making it this
year on Santa's naughty or nice list of fine wines includes a few
standards and some surprises any collector serious about wine
should not be without. Here are the top five "must have" holiday
wines for 2014.
1. 2012 Asura Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley, California $469
Cigar & Spirits Magazine just announced that the 2012 Asura
Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder in Napa Valley, CA, was their Number One wine for
2014. It's newly released and only available in very limited
quantities. It is definitely the "must have" luxury wine for any
serious collector this holiday season.
According to Alessandra Rotondi,
the highly credentialed New York
wine writer, restaurant wine consultant and certified sommelier,
the 2012 Asura Cabernet Sauvignon has joined the ranks of the top
luxury wines in the world.
"It is the 'wine of the kings' descended from the dry vineyard
at 1,900 feet on Mt. Veeder," said Rotondi. "It brings forth the
true attributes of its namesake: divine angels to some and tempters
to others, yet seductive and alluring to all. It has an intense
ruby red color with youthful shades and bright highlights plus
aromas of intense purple lilac, followed by scents of ripe, juicy
fruit. It fills the mouth with fleshy plums and berried fruits,
evolving to sweet licorice, caramel candy and cinnamon with hints
of smoky flavors, coffee and a flint minerality that extends its
long, charming finish."
Asura is currently available for retail purchases through Wine
Watch in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Call
954-523-9463 or visit www.winewatch.com for more information.
2. Champagne Krug Grand Cuvee Champagne, France $175
Every holiday cellar should have some of the bubbly on hand for
celebrating. For this holiday season, try this non-vintage
Champagne Krug Grand Cuvee. It has a deep golden color and fine,
vivacious bubbles, predicting fullness and elegance, according to
www.wine.com. "It has aromas of flowers in bloom, ripe and dried
fruit, marzipan, gingerbread and citrus fruits with flavors of
hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied and citrus fruits, almonds,
brioche and honey."
According to the Wine Spectator, who rated this a 97, "This wine
is all about balance and the integration of power and finesse, with
finely honed acidity supporting flavors of quince paste, dried
black cherry, spun honey and candied orange zest, while rich notes
of roasted walnut, coffee liqueur and toasted cardamom resonate on
the finish. Hard to stop sipping."
3. Joseph Phelps Insignia 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California
$200
Another California Cab made the list. This 2010 Joseph Phelps
Insignia Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon,
10% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec. It has an inky hue with
layers of perfumed plum, dark berries, bergamot, mocha and graphite
aromas followed by hints of spice box, according to www.wine.com.
"The texture on the palate is ultra-concentrated and silky with
blackberry flavors and a touch of black pepper, cocoa and curry
spices leading to the lush, lingering and focused finish."
The Wine Enthusiast, who gave this wine a glowing 97, said "This
is, as always, a gorgeous wine, rich, balanced and delicious. It
shows classic Napa Valley
ripeness, with blackberry jam, plum, dark chocolate and sweet oak
flavors. Plush and velvety doesn't begin to do it justice. Despite
its fabulous lushness, this is a wine to age. Depending on your
taste, it will provide excellence from now until 2030."
4. Marchesi Antinori 2010 Solaia Toscany Italy $236
This red blend from Tuscany was
named the "Top 100 Cellar Collections of 2014" by Wine Enthusiast
Magazine. According to Kerin
O'Keefe, "Already one of Italy's most iconic bottlings, this gorgeous
2010 is already a classic. Its complex and intense bouquet unfolds
with ripe blackberries, violets, leather, thyme and balsamic herbs.
The palate shows structure, poise and complexity, delivering rich
black currants, black cherry, licorice, mint and menthol notes
alongside assertive but polished tannins and vibrant energy. This
wine will age and develop for decades. Drink 2018–2040."
5. 2010 Penfolds Grange South Australia $750
Completing the list of must-have wines for 2014 is the 2010
Penfolds Grange from South
Australia. Penfolds Grange marks the 60th consecutive
vintage of this fine Australian wine. According to
www.penfolds.com, "this once-experimental wine delivers a powerful
expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district, blending
philosophy. The 2010 Grange has already received three perfect 100
point scores from leading wine critics, including Tyson Stelzer, Andrew Caillard MW and
Nick Stock. Penfolds winemakers said
that outstanding vintage conditions produced fruit with excellent
colour, concentrated flavour development and integrated tannins to
make a fitting release for this significant 170 year anniversary
for Penfolds."
Chief Winemaker Peter Gago called it "A kaleidoscopic
sensorial unfolding. Worth the wait – after a one decade
deliberation this wine strenuously asserts Grange's positioning in
the new millennium." This release of Grange is promising as
long a life as many of the best vintages in the wine's 60-year
history.
About SCM:
SCM Beverage Brokers, founded by Samuel
C. McCartney, is a Florida-based national beverage brokerage that
focuses on beer, wine and spirits.
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