The Best Wines to Buy This Holiday Season

Looking for some chardonnay to get you through the winter? Try this 2018 vintage from The Hilt, a breath of spring and summer flavors in the midst of short days and cold nights. Notes of peach, grapefruit, and almond can be found, along with a bit of salinity and minerality.

To buy: $45, thehiltestate.com

Royal Slope was recently designated as a new AVA in Washington state, something that Mullan Road Cellars founder Dennis Cakebread was understandably enthusiastic about. The 2017 vintage of this cabernet sauvignon brings together the best notes of ripe stone fruit, dark chocolate, and subtle spices. Pair this with red meat, oysters, or ripe cheese all winter long.

To buy: $45, mullanroadcellars.com

The tradition of Mumm Napa is rooted in champagne, but this California sparkling wine has a unique identity all its own. The blanc de blancs is mostly chardonnay with some pinot gris in the blend as well, and is an affordable entry into the world of California sparkling. Citrus, green apple, and almond notes abound, making this a good option to pair with a strong cheese.

To buy: $24, mummnapa.com

This is a luxury bottle that was released to commemorate Mark Beringer’s role as the eighth winemaker for Beringer. The bottle comes encased in an elegant box, and the wine within lives up to expectations. This cabernet sauvignon is redolent with notes of berries, chocolate, and freshly brewed espresso, with a long finish that slowly fades.

To buy: $400, beringer.com

Sparkling rosé tastes just as lovely in the winter as it does in the summer heat. Inman Family’s Brut Rosé, made from 100 percent pinot noir, is the perfect antidote to dark, cold nights, with notes of raspberry, citrus, and a bit of acidity on the palate. Pop this open at your holiday feast, or gift it to a loved one.

To buy: $68, inmanfamilywines.com

These three bottles from Donum Estate show off the winery’s single appellation pinot noirs. The wine comes in a wooden gift box with labels created by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. 2015-2017 vintages are included here, each bottle adorned with one of Weiwei’s zodiac heads on the label. As for the wine itself, expect a range of flavors that highlight each vintage in exceptional ways.

To buy: $390, thedonumestate.com

Heitz Cellar is beloved by sommeliers and wine enthusiasts for its lucious, complex wines. The 2015 vintage of the cabernet sauvignon follows suit, with dark berry, tobacco, and baking spice notes throughout the palate. Ample time aging in wood augments this flavor profile.

To buy: $63, wine.com

The 2017 vintage of Lion Tamer cabernet sauvignon also contains a bit of petite syrah and malbec—the latter of which the winemakers use to soften the tannins. Tasting notes include blueberry, freshly ground coffee, and mocha. The flavors are bold and pronounced here, but you can still spend some time pondering the complexities in each sip.

To buy: $65, wine.com

According to Stags’ Leap, the winery chooses the most “expressive” barrels to blend together for The Leap. The wine was aged in French oak for 20 months, and the palate brings together flavors of espresso, blackberries, chocolate, and currant. Drink this bottle now, or hold onto it for a few years before opening.

To buy: $115, stagsleap.com

This champagne from Laurent-Perrier is an excellent non-vintage bottle to drink during the holidays. For Grand Siecle, the champagne house blends together three vintages of note (2004, 2006, and 2007) from 11 of 17 grand crus. Expect a subtle minerality, along with notes of candied fruit and toasted almonds.

To buy: $175, wine.com

This limited edition wine, a collaboration between Dolce&Gabbana and Donnafugata, was released in a run of just over 8,000 bottles. It’s a blend of cabernet sauvignon, Nero d'Avola, and tannat grapes grown in Sicilian vineyards. The beautifully designed box and label pay homage to the character of Il Gattopardo.

To buy: $40, dolcegabbana.com

Try this white pinot noir from California winery Maggy Hawk for something a little different this winter. Made from grapes typically used for red wine, this 2018 vintage is full-bodied and bright, with notes of peach, pear, and quince on the palate.

To buy: $50, maggyhawk.com

This wine from Copain is a 50/50 blend of pinot noir and pinot gris. The winery calls it a bridge between its rosé and red offerings, with crisp and fresh notes of summer berries and herbs on the palate. This will drink as nicely in the cold winter months as it would if you decided to save it for next summer.

To buy: $35, copainwines.com

This wine was just recently introduced by Louis Pommery, better known for its Champagne and, more recently, California sparkling wines. The 2019 vintage is 100 percent chardonnay from a single vineyard in Los Carneros. Tasting notes include flavors of flowers, fruit salad, and lemon, with a hint of acidity and whiffs of vanilla and almond on the palate. $30

Stags' Leap 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon was made from grapes from a variety of Napa Valley growers throughout the cooler southern portion of the region. Winemaker Christophe Paubert aged this wine in a combination of new and used French oak for 20 months. The results speak for themselves, with a mixture of dark berries, chocolate, and tobacco on the palate, with soft tannins underlying it all. This is a great bottle to pair with food.

To buy: $60, wine.com

This new vintage from Robert Mondavi highlights the reason cabernet sauvignon has been the backbone of the winery, according to chief winemaker Genevieve Janssens. Grapes were sourced from Stags Leap, Oakville, Petit Oak Knoll, and St. Helena, and the wine was aged for 16 months in French oak. Look for notes of mint, fresh grass, and cocoa, along with juicy ripe berries and stone fruit.

To buy: $45, wine.com

The new James Bond film No Time to Die is coming out next month, so Champagne Bollinger has put together this limited edition gift set to commemorate the occasion. Bollinger has been featured in 14 Bond films so far, so presumably this is his second favorite drink after a shaken martini. The gift box features imagery of Bond and his Aston Martin, with a bottle of Special Cuvee within to pop during a screening of the film, or any other time you’d like.

To buy: $79, empirestateofwine.com

Hamel Family is a recent entry into the wine world, having opened just six years ago. But the family-owned business is making some excellent wines, including this 100 percent cabernet sauvignon. Look for notes of spice, cherry, and lavender, overlying soft tannins and culminating in a long finish.

To buy: $225, hamelfamilywines.com

Far Niente is known for its cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, but its Dolce winery is devoted to producing one single late harvest wine. This type of wine is made from grapes picked a month or two after regular harvest, concentrating flavors and sweetness. The 2013 vintage is bursting with orange and caramel notes, along with gentle spice flavors and a soft minerality.

To buy: $85, wine.com

Dom Perignon is one of the most famous Champagne houses, releasing vintages that arrive to great acclaim. The 2010 vintage is the latest, from a challenging year when many Champagne houses were buffeted by torrential rains. The nose is full of tropical fruit, flowers, and orange, while the palate expands with pepper, spice, and a hint of salinity. Save this for a special occasion, or just enjoy it with a simple weeknight dinner.

To buy: $188, wine.com

Australian winery Penfolds recently released its 2020 collection of high-end red and white vintages. This year marks the 66th release of the winery’s crown jewel, Grange, a multi-vineyard shiraz that dates back to 1951. This year’s Grange is marked by notes of fig, plum, and blackberry, with a bit of oak blending with chocolate and stone fruit.

To buy: $800, bountyhunterwine.com

According to the winery, this is the “rarest offering of Insignia in 20 years.” The 2017 vintage of Joseph Phelps’ Insignia is a blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon, with some malbec and cabernet franc, using grapes sourced from several different Napa vineyards. Deep flavors of cocoa, coffee, and berries intermingle with lighters touches of vanilla and black cherry.

To buy: $300, wine.com

Frank Family VIneyards is located in Calistoga, CA, but the winery uses the traditional Methodé Champenoise to make its sparkling Brut Rose. This wine is a blend of 90 percent pinot noir and 10 percent chardonnay, with tiny bubbles and notes of fresh strawberry, orange, and a bit of cherry.

To buy: $55, wine.com

Gérard Bertand’s focus is on biodynamic and organic wines, like the 2017 vintage of Clos de Ora. It’s a blend of syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, and carignan, with the aroma of sandalwood, pepper and chocolate on the nose, followed by blackberries and a bit of juniper and spice on the palate.

To buy: $220, gerard-bertrand.com

This is another wine from French producer Gérard Bertrand, from what is described as his favorite plot. This blend of carignan and syrah is a tribute to Bertrand’s father. Sweet and spice are harmoniously balanced here, with a bit of acidity and salt on the palate along with notes of cherry, ginger, cocoa, and almonds.

To buy: $55, gerard-bertrand.com

Lot No. 1 refers to several different Napa vineyards that Louis Martini sources from for this complex cabernet, including Atlas Peak, Howell Mountain, and Stags Leap. The wine spent 21 months in predominantly new French oak, and has juicy notes of cherry, blueberry, raspberry, and a bit of tannin and espresso on the palate.

To buy: $250, wine.com

Southeast Washington State is known for producing some excellent syrah, including this 2016 vintage from W.T. Vintners. Look for notes of berry, ripe stone fruit, and a hint of earthiness underneath with floral flavors. Also, the Les Collines vineyard is certified for sustainable farming and salmon safe, keeping with the commitment to environmental awareness.

To buy: $49, wtvintners.orderport.net

Gary Farrell has an extensive single vineyard collection, including this lovely 2017 vintage chardonnay. The Rochioli Vineyard is located about five miles from the winery, and is still run by the Rochioli family. This is a bright, vibrant wine, with notes of citrus and peach, with a creaminess and subtle oak flavors that expand across the palate.

To buy: $85, garyfarrellwinery.com