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Vail Wines: You can celebrate these holiday wines

Sean Razee
Vail, CO Colorado
Special to the Vail DailyVail Wines: This pink champagne retains Veuve Clicquot's signature soft palate and drinkable style and is supplemented by notes of wild strawberry and brioche
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VAIL, Colorado – The perfect wine can create a truly memorable experience in Colorado’s Vail Valley. Ideal for winter get-togethers, these selections will help create a wonderful holiday memory. Below, please find the first of two installments of my “go-to” wines for the holiday season, in ascending order by price. Cheers.

Dönnhoff “Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl” Spätlese Riesling, Nahe, Germany

One of the reasons that German Rieslings are so popular with oenophiles and sommeliers is they usually cost of fraction of similar quality wines from other countries and regions. In addition, their balanced acidity and sweetness make them perfect accompaniments for more ethereal preparations of seafood and shaved meats.



Retails at around $26

Selene “Hyde Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc, Carneros, California

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Virtually any wine Mia Klein is associated with is a good bet, and Selene is the personal label of this celebrity winemaker. A portion of new, French-Oak aging tames the intensity of the Hyde Vineyard fruit, and flavors include acacia honey and ripe pear combined with soft vanilla cream. This Sauvignon Blanc is a great complement to a multitude of dishes.

Retails at around $28

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Rose Brut NV, Champagne, France

I can not think of anything more festive than pink Champagne – and I mean the real stuff from Champagne, France. One of the most recognizable brands in the United States is Veuve Clicquot. Their ubiquitous ‘Yellow Label’ is certainly a party favorite, but I suggest bringing a bottle of the pink bubbly to holiday soirees. It retains Veuve Clicquot’s signature soft palate and drinkable style and is supplemented by notes of wild strawberry and brioche.

Retails at around $65

Domaine Bernard Moreau “Maltroie” Premier Cru, Chassagne-Montrachet, France

Bringing a bottle of white Burgundy is a sure fire way to add a touch of class and sophistication to any gathering, and the white wines of Bernard Moreau are best described as sensual and opulent. Moreau’s hands-off approach to winemaking and limited use of new oak allows the fresh and clean flavors of the Chardonnay grapes to show at their best.

Retails at around $75

Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Vintage Blanc de Blanc, Champagne, France

Rivaled only by Krug, The Champagne of House of Salon represents the true apogee of sparkling wine making. To add to its cult-like status, Salon only makes one wine: Cuvee ‘S’, a 100 percent Grand Cru Chardonnay Champagne, which hails from the village of Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger, France. Plus, if they deem the vintage not up to snuff, then no wine is made that year. Talk about exclusive.

Retails at around $298- $444, across vintages

Sean Razee is the beverage director and sommelier for Spago at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch on Beaver Creek Mountain. He currently holds the Master Sommelier diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Razee is one of 96 Master Sommeliers in the United States and the only person in the Vail Valley that holds the distinguished certification.


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