SPECIAL OCCASION?

EXPERT TIPS ON SELECTING AN ULTRA-SPECIAL WINE

by JIM PETERSON, WINE ENTHUSIAST & INSTAGRAM WINE INFLUENCER

One of the most often asked questions I get has to do with splurging on a bottle of wine for a special occasion. What is a great wine to celebrate a milestone birthday? A family holiday dinner? An anniversary? A graduation? I think Champagne may be the first wine that comes to mind when it comes to celebrating, but there are so many options to consider.

To expand the options for you, I thought it would be fun to ask several other wine experts for recommendations. We will get to those, but first let’s talk about which wine regions are your best bets to find that special high-end wine.

CHAMPAGNE OF COURSE…

As part of my research for this article I posted a question for my Instagram followers to tell me some of their favorite splurge bottles, and all but one response was some type of champagne. There are many recognizable high dollar champagnes, with vintage Dom Perignon and Cristal perhaps being the most iconic. While those are always great selections, many other producers create amazing vintage champagnes. Two recent vintages that seem to have across-the-board exceptional quality are the 2008 and 2012. You can also spot 2014s on the shelves now, and it is hard to go wrong with the premier vintage cuvées from top producers.

BORDEAUX

As one of the most established and famous wine regions, known for wines that age beautifully, top tier Bordeaux is always a great option for a splurge wine. Many wine lovers list the five classified “First Growth” Bordeaux among their bucket list wines – Haut Brion, Lafite, Latour, Margaux, and Mouton. This designation comes from the 1855 classification, ranking the top estates from first growth to fifth growth. Generally speaking (with some exceptions), the prices of the first growths are the highest, followed by the second, third, fourth, and fifth. For special occasions there is nothing better than aged first and second growth wines, particularly from great vintages like 1982, 1989, 1990, or 2000.

The Bordeaux regions of Pomerol and Saint Émilion were not included in the 1855 classification, but these regions have many notable wines. The most obvious and well known from Pomerol is Château Pétrus. A couple of others to consider are Château Le Pin and Château Lafleur. A few of the best Saint Émilion Château to look for are Cheval Blanc, Angelus, Pavie, and Figeac.

Pro Tip:

I urge caution when shopping for aged wines from great vintages. As I have said before, perfect storage when it comes to wine collecting is everything. By “perfect” I mean temperature controlled around 55° to 60°. When buying aged wines, it is critical to understand the wines provenance. Who was the original buyer? How did they store it? If that is not known, you will be taking a big risk.

MORE FAMOUS WINES

There are, of course, many other regions or singular producers that deserve mention as some of the most sought-after wines. For Burgundy, the pinnacle is the portfolio of wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (more commonly called “DRC”). Some Grand Cru white Burgundy appellations like Corton-Charlemagne or Bâtard-Montrachet will sell for several hundred to several thousand dollars per bottle depending on the producer.

Down in Australia there is the iconic Penfold’s Grange. Newer vintages of Grange are usually $500 or more. In Napa Valley there are many highly prized Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux Blend style wines like Dominus, Opus One, Screaming Eagle, or Hundred Acre ranging from $300 to $800 or more. And let’s not forget the topend dessert wines like Château d’Yquem Sauternes from Bordeaux or the Hungarian Royal Tokaji Essencia. All of these can create memorable wine experiences with treasured bottles.

BIRTH YEAR WINES

I have mentioned birth year wines in previous articles, but it is always worth bringing up because a birth year wine can be a great way to celebrate a family member or a cherished friend. When my son recently graduated from high school, I pulled 2004 Champagne, Bordeaux, and red Burgundy from my wine cellar. The party guests loved it! Not long after that my oldest son turned 21, and he had his choice of birth year German Riesling, Bordeaux, or Brunello di Montalcino for that milestone. Some older vintages are not always easy to find, but it is possible with a bit of research and planning.

EXPERT SELECTIONS

For a variety of opinions on this topic, I reached out to some wine experts for a few of their top recommendations when it comes to selecting special occasion or splurge wines. I can tell you we all agreed there is an amazing variety of wines for this and picking two or three bottles or producers can be quite difficult. With that said, here are their responses. Jeff Leve – Publisher/Wine Writer, The Wine Cellar Insider

For a holiday splurge there are always more choices than money. I prefer older wines, and two red Bordeaux wines from the same vintage come to mind. Look for the 1990 Château Pichon Longueville Baron. It is drinking perfectly today with all the power and refinement you’d expect from Pauillac. The second wine is the 1990 Château Clinet Pomerol with its sensuous display of silky plums, truffle, and chocolate.

Gina Lyons – Founder/CEO of “A Vine Affair” and Champagne Specialist This is so difficult to choose, but a great bucket list bottle is the rare 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé. Every time I taste this sexy and luscious rosé, I fall in love all over again. The 2015 Philipponnat 1522 is the perfect champagne for a celebratory season. The 1522 cuvée commemorates the year the Philipponnat Family settled in Aÿ. I was impressed by the elegance, complexity, and balance of this wine. Finally, the vintage Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvée is pure pleasure in every sense of the word. The newly released 2014 has great tension with a freshness and richness that is unforgettable.

Nicole Muscari – Wine Advisor, Wine Influencer, and French Wine Scholar

I would start with the 2008 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, a breathtaking wine that is opulent and balanced with a raciness that stuns the palate. The 2018 Château de Pommard Cuvée Simone Pommard red Burgundy is from a small single parcel in the Clos Marey-Monge vineyard. This astonishing wine has a core of red fruits supported by silky tannins with hints of spice. Having recently visited Tuscany, I also recommend the 2016 Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino. It is simply one of the best representations of Sangiovese you will ever taste.

Chelsey Gonzalez – Manager, JS Fine Wines (a boutique wine store in San Antonio, TX)

For splurge bottles I would default to some favorite wines I have tasted, and the white Burgundy Meursault wines of Domaine des Comtes Lafon come to mind. They are simply exquisite examples of Chardonnay at its best. Also, you will never go wrong with Krug champagne. Whether it is the entry level Grand Cuvée, the rare Krug Rosé, or the vintage Krug, they truly are some of the best champagnes you will ever taste.

William Kelley – Deputy Editor, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

I would say a good vintage of Domaine de la RomanéeConti La Tâche red Burgundy, which at its best is just such an extraordinary intense, perfumed, and carnal wine. And for a white, a Corton-Charlemagne from Domaine Coche-Dury is such a benchmark for white Burgundy of structure and plenitude. These are obvious choices, but sometimes the classics are the classics for a reason.

Jim’s Personal Picks

I limited my picks to wine.com (which ships to Texas) and Total Wine because their premium wines are stored in a cooled cellar. Several others mentioned above can also be found locally (like Krug champagne) but ordering online may be the only option for some of the rarer bottles. I recommend ordering a few weeks early to allow the bottles to rest, and only ship when temperatures are below 80°. • 2016 Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac, $950, received four 100-point perfect scores (wine.com) • 2008 Dom Perignon Rosé, $500, a rare wine from the classic 2008 vintage (wine.com) • 2010 Château Pavie, $550, Saint Émilion, two 100-pt scores and some age (Total Wine) • 2013 or 2016 Hundred Acre Wraith, $650, Napa Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon, both scored 100-points (Total Wine) • 2014 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, $740, Graves Bordeaux, an exclusive but classic white Bordeaux just coming into its own (Total Wine)

Follow Jim on Instagram, @tx_wine_pilot, for more wine tips and reviews.

Jim Peterson is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who mainly flew the A-10 fighter jet. He has ties to the wine business going back over 20 years and is an avid wine collector. His extensive wine knowledge includes travel to many wine regions while living in Europe, many tastings led by sommeliers and wine professionals, and ongoing personal wine exploration and self-study. He has cultivated a large following on his Instagram account, @tx_wine_pilot, where he tastes and reports on wines from vintage to value. He now works in marketing and resides in San Antonio, Texas.

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