Bidding 2020 Adieu
As this unusual year draws to a close, some may take time to pause and reflect, while others quickly usher it through to its end, looking only towards the new year ahead. Fires and floods notwithstanding, many of us still find the greatest solace in nature—perhaps gazing up to the stars at night, feeling not the insignificance of life on earth, but instead the miracle of all that lies unknown. Or walking amongst centuries-old trees, receiving a glimmer of their ancient wisdom while a winter sun rims bare branches forming halos of light. Maybe in uncertain times, we lean inward towards the familiar, seeking what we know and what brings comfort.
We at Basic Necessities have always been a little bit odd; therefore, we’d like to offer the following unusual wines for your holiday tables, to compliment an unusual year. And because we revere the natural world, we seek to nurture not only each other this holiday season but also the earth, which sustains all life. To that end, we carry organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines. This way we help our planet and those who depend on it—all of us.
Domaine Labbe, Vin de Savoie, Abymes, 2018 (sustainable) – Made from 100% Jacquère, this wine is a good one to begin a meal with. Lively, crisp, and dry, yet it packs surprising weight for such low alcohol. There’s a viscous mouthfeel with saline and mineral notes, Meyer lemon, and pear. Great match with alpine cheeses.
Calabretta, Cala Cala, NV (organic) – Nerello Mascalese with 5% Nerello Cappuccio. Nerello is often described as somewhere between Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo. Cala, Cala means “gulp, gulp,” and owner Massimiliano says you should do just that because the wine is so delicious. Notes of dried cherry, allspice, and orange zest. Pair with tomato dishes, white meats, or simply gulp, gulp down on its own.
Planeta, Frappato, 2018 (practicing organic) – Another Sicilian producer, but Vittoria not Etna. Frappato is a feminine grape, exhibiting finesse and softness. Fresh and floral with aromatics of cherry, strawberry, and rose. Tart cranberry on the palate with a silky texture and light tannins.
Jean-Marc Pilot, Bourgogne, Les Grandes Terres, 2018 (organic) – It never hurts to have a bottle of Burgundy at the holiday table, especially one drinking as well as Pilot’s Grandes Terres at an affordable, un-Burgundian price. Round, upfront fruit, elegance in a bottle.
Domaine Rolet, Arbois, Tradition, 2015 (organic) – The light, amber color belies the wine’s spicy flavor. Soft, lightly fruity notes of Pinot Noir combine with earthy Poulsard and Trousseau. Pairs especially well with salmon.
And since the sun sets early, slip inside and pop a cork. Pause and raise a glass of this pale nectar. Bid the year adieu, and catch the twinkle of Christmas tree lights or the flicker of candle light. Happy Holidays to all. May you know peace and good health.
Kay Pfaltz