This week, the party includes a bargain Bordeaux, a trio of top Champagnes, a couple of good books, and a few sharp knives to get you ready for the celebrations ahead. Plan. You never know what you’re going to need on deadline until the time comes.
The rating system, which is applied to the drinks, use stars as shorthand. The star rating goes from five to zero:
★★★★★ five stars mean extraordinary;
★★★★ four, exceptional;
★★★ three, excellent;
★★ two, very good;
★ one, good;
and none, fair or poor.
A TERRIFIC RED, A FAIR PRICE
You could spend a lot of time and even more money searching for a first-class Bordeaux that doesn’t upend the budget, especially during the current tariff wars. So, invest in Clarendelle, a remarkably good red wine from the owner of the first-growth estate Chateau Haut-Brion. That inspiration points the way. The 2014 Clarendelle Saint-Emilion ($19.99 rated ★★★) is a fruity blend, vividly red, composed mainly of merlot with some cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. You’ll find plenty of black fruit, primarily plum, plus traces of spice, and just enough tannin. The wine is ideal with a rib roast, rack of lamb, and roast duck, maybe finished with green peppercorns.
SPARKLING
Moet & Chandon produces some of the world’s finest Champagne. Here are three to be poured year-round, but especially so from now to New Year’s. Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut 150th Anniversary ($39.99 ★★★) refers to the year it was created. The artful, limited-edition bottle pours a bright, round, and supple sparkler, with notes of peach and plum. Toast away or try it with seafood. Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2012 ($75 ★★★★) is a classic Champagne, elegant, slightly floral, concentrated, with suggestions of pear, citrus, and hazelnut. Chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier are in the essential blend. Enjoy it with sushi, shellfish, and white meat. Or on its own. Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose 2012 ($85 ★★★) uncorks as a coral-hued delight. The smooth, harmonious, balanced beauty offers hints of citrus, strawberry, and cherry, and is a versatile, food-friendly choice.
WHAT’S BREWING
After months besieged by ads with Charlize Theron for the pretty good Budweiser Reserve Copper Lager, imperially slim performers hawking slenderizing Corona Premier, and Coors Light marketing that just makes you “chill” enough to toss away a bra or pour it for breakfast, the Anchor Brewing Company comes to the rescue.
The San Francisco brewery’s 2019 Christmas Ale, ($12 six-pack ★★★) in its 45th edition, is a velvety, inviting, winter warmer. The deep-brown, full-bodied seasonal, has an aroma bridging chocolate and vanilla, and a taste with the richness of cocoa, coffee, caramel, and roasted malts. It sports an evocative Christmas-New Year’s label from Anchor illustrator Jim Stitt, with the Western Arborvitae, a northern California evergreen conifer. The brew is a match for roast beef.
STAY SHARP
Farberware adds to the cutlery collection. A 12-piece set of easy-to-grip, stainless-steel knives with a non-stick coating is solid kitchen helper. The blades range from an 8-inch chef’s knife to a 3.5-inch paring knife. They come in colors that include red, green, orange, yellow, and purple. Your call. Price: $24.99. Available on Amazon. Farberware also sells very good, forged knives with self-sharpening sleeves. The Edgekeeper knives are sheathed in sleeves with diamond-coated rods that do the work. The chef’s knife is $15.99; the paring knife, $9.99. Available on Amazon.
SEASON’S READING: BREWS AND BOOZE
“The Complete Whiskey Course” (Sterling Epicure, $27.95) by Robin Robinson is an easy read that in 10 classes gives you a high-octane education. The text combines history and production, along with an informative tour that takes in Scotch whisky and the whiskey of the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Japan, among others. There are specific recommendations, and a list of whiskey bars across the U.S. Both Kurt Weill and Jim Morrison would have approved.
Joshua M. Bernstein, who authored “The Complete Beer Course,” follows up with “Drink Better Beer” (Sterling Epicure, $24.95). Casual, chatty, and accessible advice about buying and tasting beer, beer styles, pairing beer and food, understanding labels, the best glassware, as well as beer and hop flavor maps, and places where you’ll like to hoist a pint.
ABOUT THE BLOGGER
For 34 years, Peter Gianotti reviewed wines, spirits, restaurants, and books at Newsday. He twice won Press Club of New York awards for food writing. Before he became a food critic, Gianotti was a Washington correspondent, a financial writer, and New York City reporter for the newspaper. His books include “Food Lovers’ Guide to Long Island” and “A Guide to Long Island Wine Country.” Gianotti received his B.A. from Fordham University, where he taught journalism; and his M.S. from Columbia University, where he also was a Bagehot Fellow. Harry, his Creamsicle-hued assistant, prefers the bouquets of riesling and pinot noir.
PG RATED 