There is a certain festive nip in the air and if there ever was a need for multiple reasons to raid the home stash, or to enhance it with new additions, no better time than now. Here are seven sinfully sumptuous sips for the season:
1 Chandon: No fizz caused a stir quite like this. Probably, the most anticipated launch of the year, it has far exceeded expectations and showed just why a big champagne giant would be so keen to start a wine-producing operation in India. The crowd at the launch was split down the middle between liking the brut or the rose. Here?s my take: The brut is a great aperitif, while the rose will hold up brilliantly besides food.
2 Fratelli Sangiovese Bianco: This has been a big year for India?s leading premium wine-producing house: silver and bronze medals at international wine competitions, about three-four new launches lined up and a very successful vintage with Sette, their iconic red, which further raised the bar for other winemakers. The Sangiovese Bianco is quite the quirk then: a white wine from a red grape. What you have is a white wine that is crisp and aromatic and yet shows considerable weight on the mid-palate. Try it, even if just to quench your curiosity of such an unprecedented wine.
3 Zampa-Grover?s Chene: La Reserve has remained the Indian staple red for the longest time (although I much prefer the produce coming from Bangalore than from Nashik) and now, after many years of much anticipated waiting, they are finally launching another definitive blend, one that plays along the lines of La Reserve, but further concentrates all that we liked about the latter in the first place. Confused? So was I? best then to go ahead and try it and see for yourself.
Chene means oak in French, so you can be sure that this wine will pack notes like vanilla, smoke, toast, cinnamon and other spices, pretty much all that is linked with a festive season.
4 Charossa Tempranillo: This house has been on the radar since last year and the first sip of their wines was perhaps the most astounding and unexpected taste of a first attempt with this Spanish grape?that?s quite a few firsts right there. Tempranillo is Spain?s star and Charossa has done a good job interpreting it here for Indian soil. Understated and elegant are the two words that mark the house philosophy, and their wines will definitely do well in the long term.
5 Paul John Indian Single Malt Edited: Wine done, time for India?s favourite tipple. India now has not one, but two commendable single malt producers, and Paul John Distillers have managed to make a superbly-crafted blend of peated and unpeated malts. The whiskies have already garnered much accolade abroad and the only reason they remain inconspicuous in India is because all the production is exported and sold out almost as soon as it is released!
6 Amrut Fusion: The original Indian single malt remains a great sip and although they have more than a handful of variants, this remains a classic favourite. Once again, availability can be an issue as it is a highly sought after award-winning blend.
7 Desmondji 100% Agave spirit: I would call it tequila, but Mexican law prevents me from doing so. But this is as crazy and as good as it gets: A very pure spirit made in Goa, a great add to any bar for the party season. Can be enjoyed over ice as well.
If you noticed, I stuck with all Indian choices. The reason was simple: Indian wines (and other beverages) are finally coming of age. Indians have long been imbibers and now as we make the transition into an equally reputed producer of fine alcohol, it is reason enough to cheer and celebrate.
The writer is a columnist with FE
