Highland Fine Wine - December Half Case Mixed 2025

REDS:

BONNY DOON, ‘LE CIGARE VOLANT’ 2023, CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA $15.99 While we enjoy Cabernet and Chardonnay from California, it is our firm belief that the climate of the state is a far better match for the Mediterranean varieties like Grenache and Syrah, especially in the warm and mild environs of the Central Coast. It is here that pioneering Rhone warrior Randall Graham released the inaugural vintage (1984) of Le Cigare Volant, an homage to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. French for ‘flying cigar’ it was their term for UFOs, which were outlawed in Burgundy in 1954 (a result of the Sputnik space craze). A blend of 69% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 14% Cinsault, 2% Petite Sirah, upfront aromas of cherry, red currants, raspberry, plum, blueberry with a light peppery spice and mint leaf. Very savory palate, fresh fruit acidity, supple tannins, licorice and plush finish. Pair with a chili, brimming with spice.

YLLERA, ‘NUEVEMESES’ RED BLEND 2022, CASTILLA Y LEÓN, SPAIN $12.99 Bodegas Yllera was founded in the early 1970s by the brothers Jesús and Pepe Yllera, fifth generation of a family of winegrowers known as ‘Los Curros’ the part-timers, it is now managed by their kids. This wine has a brilliant red cherry color with some purple highlights. It is fragrant on the nose with a great variety of fruity aromas (berry fruits, raspberries). At the same time the aging period in American oak barrels gives a touch of vanilla, blended with spices, licorice and toast coming through, and makes this wine very soft and elegant. Medium bodied with a long, clean and harmonious palate. Very round and easy to drink. It is perfect to enjoy with white or red meats, stewed meats, pasta dishes, salads and vegetables, smoked sausages and any kind of soft cheeses.

JOÃO PORTUGAL, RAMOS RESERVA 2022, ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL $14.99 João Portugal Ramos is Portugal’s most famous winemaker. Before he began making his own wines, he was a pioneering wine consultant, he almost single-handedly opened Portuguese winemaking to the benefits of modern winemaking. In 1990, he decided it was time to start creating his own wine and he began planting vineyards in Alentejo around his new winery, Vila Santa. A blend of native Alentejo grapes: Trincadeira and Aragonez plus a touch of Syrah for added body. Ruby red in color. This wine displays aromas of ripe red fruit and dried herbs. It is soft and robust with complex tannins. On the palate, the wine is spicy with a long finish. Pair with sausage and peppers, herb-roasted lamb, or beef stew.

WHITES:

BARDOS, VERDEJO 2024, RIBERA DEL DUERO, SPAIN $15.99 Located in the remote region of Páramo de Corcos, it is the coldest, highest and most remote sub-region within the Ribera del Duero, far from any roads or towns and largely devoid of any civilization. The payoff comes in the form of wines with clarity, structure and intensity unlike more fair-weatherer fruit. Their Verdejo, the signature white grape of the region, has an intense aroma of white fruits, citrus and cut grass with a light touch of balsamic and mineral notes. The taste is fruity, fresh and elegant. It has a soft texture, nice acidity and great finish.

CANTINA ZACCAGNINI, BRUT BLANC DE BLAC NV, ABRUZZO, ITALY $18.99 A bottle of bubbles is always a must during the holidays, and this interesting yet approachable offering from Cantina Zaccagnini is the perfect accompaniment to all your holiday festivities. Made from the peculiar Pecorino variety (named for the baby sheep who give the region’s famous cheese its name), it is fresh, bright and zippy. It opens with aromas of green apple, citrus, and white flowers, leading to crisp flavors of lemon, apple, and almond balanced by fine bubbles. Bright, toasty, and refined, it pairs beautifully with seafood, salads, and soft cheeses.  

CHEHALEM VINEYARDS, PINOT GRIS 2024, WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON $16.99 Chehalem traces its history back to the Ridgecrest Vineyard operations in 1980, which was the first vineyard planted on what would one day become the Ribbon Ridge AVA, northwest of Newberg, Oregon. In 1988, Bill Stoller invested in Ridgecrest, setting a course for his entry into the Oregon wine industry. Bill has been a pivotal figure in the second generation of growers in the Willamette Valley, helping to turn it into one of the best regions of producing wine in the US. His Pinot Gris is always a wonderful offering, perfect for anytime of the year. Aromatically, this wine is clean and vibrant. It has notes of fresh pear, lifted by white pollen and lime rind. The palate is juicy and bright with light mid-palate viscosity. It finishes with a long, lingering balance between crisp acidity and ripe fruit character.