Hello Prince Albert! Most of us remember the little calendars we would receive as children during the holidays (typically during Christmas) and the delight we felt when we opened the tiny door to reveal a small chocolate or toy. Most of the fun was in the anticipation of what would be behind the door even though it was often a simple trinket or a cheap chocolate; it was about the adventure and the unexpected. Now as adults, we can relive some of this excitement by buying one of the many types of booze advent calendars found in liquor stores. With everything from rum, scotch and whiskey to liqueurs, beers and wines, there is a calendar for almost every type of enthusiast.
I dug a bit further into the Festive Cheer wine advent calendar again this week and was excited when I pulled out the Ciel Bleu (Blue Sky) sparkling wine from France, and a bottle of Carmenere from Chile called Cielo d’Oro (Golden Sky). It must have been fate that both wines refer to the sky this week, but the real question is: are the wines any good? I am happy to report that yes, both of the mini bottles of wine (375 ml) are tasty and decently balanced and have a nice flavor profile. I was especially pleased with the French sparkler Ciel Bleu for its crisp character and delicious balance of acidity, crackling carbonation and simple, fruity flavors with a touch of bread.
The Ciel d’Oro is even simpler but what stood out was the initial scents coming from the glass immediately after the wine was poured. This Chilean red had a sweet, fruity, baked bread smell which brought up memories of hot-cross buns with the icing and butter crust swirling together with dark fruits. A red that smells like baked buns? It makes sense if you consider that all wines are created by the conversion of sugars into alcohol by yeast which sometimes (especially with cheaper wines) remains in the phenolic compounds of the wine resulting in bread-like, yeasty aromas or flavors.
Both of the mini wines from the Festive Cheer calendar are much tastier with a bit of food on the side and I find them to be perfect for quick appetizers with a friend or fellow wine enthusiast as one 375 bottle will yield approximately 3 glasses of wine (1.5 for each person). Although many of the boozy advent calendars are on the expensive side (especially the scotch options), they are generally worth it for the surprise factor and the fact that the choices are already made for you. So far, this advent calendar has had a good variety of international wines, and the quality has landed in the “Good” category.
Finally, since our family had turkey and ham last weekend, I had to bring a bottle of white, so I chose the Jackson Triggs Reserve Riesling/Gewurztraminer blend (750 ml) which is a VQA wine from the Okanagan Valley in BC. This type of wine is traditionally fruity and floral with an excellent amount of balanced acidity and sugar. This specific bottle/vintage is a bit on the sour side, but some turkey and stuffing sorted it right out. Here are my wine picks of the week!
Cielo d’Oro Carmenere 2024: (D.O. Central Valley, Chile). Dry red, deep ruby color. The medium-intense nose is fruity with aromas of sweet vanilla and clove spice, black grapes, blackberries, dark cherries and freshly cooked buns. To the taste, the wine is medium-bodied with medium acidity and a smooth mouthfeel which leans a bit on the thin side. Simple flavors of blackberry, dark cherries and black currants mix with a touch of green pepper. Tannins build slightly with each sip but don’t exceed medium and leave a fruity taste at the back of the tongue while the medium finish sticks around with warming spice notes (cloves, vanilla and pepper). This is definitely a simple wine, but it is nicely balanced and will compliment foods like BBQ chicken pizza or pan-seared pork chops. Good! $14 (375 ml), 13% ABV
Jackson Triggs Reserve Riesling Gewurztraminer 2023: (VQA Okanagan Valley, BC). Off-dry white, pale lemon color. The scents on the nose are simple and straightforward with honeysuckle, floral jasmine, tangy citrus, honey and fresh apples. The first sip reveals a light-bodied wine with a tangy, slightly bittersweet blend of honeyed fruits (green apples and grapes) with refreshing medium-plus acidity and zesty citrus. The fruit flavors have a medium intensity with medium-minus concentration meaning the flavors are there but tend to fade away rather quickly. Some of the floral touches add complexity behind the fruit flavors with honeysuckle and sweet jasmine but the acidity overtakes the delicate flavors of the wine, ending on a sharp, somewhat sour note of mineral slate/stone. A tasty choice for white meats or delicate appetizers but foods of higher intensity or sweetness will wipe the wine out. Good! $24, 12.8% ABV
Ciel Bleu French Sparkling NV (Non-Vintage): (Product of France). Dry to off-dry sparkling wine with a pale lemon color and multiple strings of small bubbles. The bouquet is simple with fresh spiced dough, citrus and tropical fruit (pineapple). On the palate, the wine surprises with excellent intensity and vibrant citrus flavors with medium-plus acidity. There is a good amount of carbonation which equates to frothiness on the tastebuds and a light body, making the wine crisp. After the frothy bubbles subside, the tropical (pineapple, mango) and clean citrus notes jump from the mid-palate with intensely bright flavors. After the fruity mid-palate, the medium-length finish settles on hints of mineral and buttered dinner rolls, bringing the dough/bread notes full circle. The bubbles of this sparkler really pop and tingle, adding a pleasurable layer of complexity and texture. Pair with stuffed mushroom caps, spinach dip or artichoke leaves with citrus/butter for dipping. Very good! $14 (375 ml), 12% ABV
Cheers and thanks for reading!
