By Rick Riozza
As your somm-about-town, and, your friendly neighborhood wine steward over at Ralphs Market Palm Springs, one thing that keeps my position invigorating is when I get to curate a selection of wines for our clients and customers.
Requests often include recommending and selecting wines for a lesser crowd that include luncheons, dinner parties, wine tasting parties; larger crowds include weddings, social events, business forums, and bigger wine tasting venues.
In particular however, I also have a small private list of clients who have me select and purchase cases of wine for the long term—often for an entire year. This brings me to highlight a certain Hollywood celebrity, residing here in Palm Springs—who has given me permission to publish in this column, her trove of wines that I’ve curated and purchased for her—and her guests, for the coming year.
First off, she likes wines from across the board and is wonderfully interested in trying new and interesting wines. As to costs, her instructions were, “I’m happy to pay for the good stuff for special occasions—as long as it is worth it! But as always, please grab me some great deals of table wine for all the other days!”
So it’s a pretty extensive list. What we’ll do is present the excellent table wines that are available everywhere. Next week, we’ll get to the more esoteric labels we grabbed that can challenge the usual quaffers to expand their palate.
And now: A short sample list of some of the wines that are laying down in her wine cellar waiting to be summoned for enjoyment:
Starting with sparklers and bubblies, as we must, the client loves Champagne and doesn’t hold back to have them around for New Years, St. Valentines Day, Mardi Gras, Easter, First Day of Spring—well, you get it.
Although she can afford Dom and Crystal, I like to surprise her with Champagne at half the cost but with stellar results. Although it’s no surprise to present a Bollinger Champagne (for those in the know— Bollinger is the Champagne of the Kings of Europe—just saying), this rose can match any French rose that sells for two thousand bucks.
Of course this isn’t your average table bubbly, but this is how any curated selection must start off with: Bollinger Brut Rosé Champagne NV ($160) This Bollinger is the bomb! It’s got such an enticing rosé, with a core of ripe, juicy raspberry, white peach and cherry, fragrant anise, cardoman and cumin, plus accents of slivered almond, candied ginger, blood orange peel, and white blossoms. Mouthwatering with fine silky bubbles and a long, long, long finish.
Our client was so bowled over with this Bollinger rosé that she asked for two more cases after enjoying this wine at her New Year’s party. This Champagne will become her bubbly of choice for the year—until next year of course.
As to a table sparkler, when it went on sale for only $15 a bottle, we picked up a few cases of the Chandon Brut Rosé. Pretty-in-pink with wonderful intense ripe strawberry, juicy watermelon, and fresh red cherry fruit aromas and flavors. It’s probably the best in this California table category. Quite creamy and very seductive.
Great pairings with salmon and tuna sushi, grilled burgers, paella, smoked salmon, gumbo, and her favorite: duck fat fries.
As to an extremely delightful Sauvignon Blanc, one can’t beat the quality and the price of 2024 INVIVO at $18. I know it’s hard to believe—and most folks roll their eyes when we talk about a “celebrity winemaker”, but this Sarah Jessica Parker Blend 6 is one of the most tastiest Kiwi wine from down under. Our client even knows SJP and still can’t get over the quality of her wine! If you love very zesty Savvy Blanc—this is your bottle!
This opens with a very intense and fragrant tomato leaf and white grapefruit bouquet with hints of green bell pepper and cucumber rind. On the palate, this wine is light bodied with high acidity. The mouthfeel is lively, very bright, zesty, and mouthwatering. The flavor profile is green pepper and lemon blend with notes of tangy white grapefruit and white pepper. Touches of saline, ginger, and Granny Smith apple. The finish is dry, as its flavors and acidity fade away. Geez! What’s not to love here!
Okay—the suspense is over. You folks knew I’d be slipping in an Italian red sooner or later. Indeed, I am so happy we got her to love Chianti throughout the year: 2022 Tenuta Di Arceno Chianti Classico ($30). The wine reeks of Tuscany Italy. A gorgeous wine with aromas of tart cherries, strawberries, and violets. A soft and exciting structure invites notes of blueberries, cedar and red oranges on the palate. Each sip is framed by pleasant acidity and finishes with warm notes of white pepper and licorice. The Merlot softens the Sangiovese, while adding cherry, raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors.
As to excellent California table wine in both the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir category, it’s always great to have on hand delicious wines for meals:
2023 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay Central Coast ($18). We did a deep dive into this wine last December. Check it out: coachellavalleyweekly.com/good-morning-fog .
2022 La Crema Pinot Noir Williamette Valley ($28) Harvested from eight vineyards across five sub-appelations in the Valley, this wine satisfies at every meal that desires the allure of Pinot Noir with supple raspberry flavors laced with cinnamon and smoky spices.
A very nice set of wines to have around all year. Again, next time, we’ll travel all about to wine gardens we wish to get back to. Cheers!
