OK, let's have some good ol' fashioned fun spending your hard-earned money on bottles of
some of the most luxurious juice on the planet. Don't worry about the other things you could
do with the money, like pay bills or save for retirement. This is all about enjoying yourself
and drinking wines that you'll truly never forget.
And, hey, if you're at a business dinner on the company dime, you can order these
without the guilt! Now, it's another story if you get caught by your boss...
Let's start with a couple of suggestions for indulgent whites :
Grand Cru Chablis
When it's time to spend some dough on Chardonnay , you're going to have to look past California
and head to France, where Chablis produces wonderfully clean and citrus flavored Chardonnays
that come with mineral undertones. An absolutely magnificent selection if you're also
indulging in fresh lobster. Go for Raveneau or Fevre (not to be confused with the QB of
the Green Bay Packers) and you'll be spending around $150-$300, though here's a much less
expensive Grand Cru Chablis from Domaine Laroche.
White Burgundy from Puligny-Montrachet
More exquisite Chardonnay choices, as many consider Puligny-Montrachet as the world's best white
wine producing region. In these wines you'll find some very distinct tastes such as pear,
coconut and other tropical fruits. Premier Crus from the renowned Domaine Leflaive will cost
you several hundred dollars, or you can go for a wine from the world-famous Le Montrachet vineyard
and hit four figures. However, for a more affordable bottle, try this Joseph Drouhin.
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé
Although most of the Sauvignon Blanc eschews the use of oak to keep their wines as grassy and
pungent as possible, Didier Dagueneau employs oak aging to bring some creaminess and vanilla
to the table. His wines are wondefully complex and layered, offering up a perfect match to
dishes such as salmon or seabass. The Silex bottling is especially popular, and can be ordered
at a restaurant for usually under $200.
And now, let's talk about reds , where there are plenty of options:
Red Burgundy from Vosne-Romanée
This is the home of what many consider to be the best wine on the planet, Domaine de la
Romanée-Conti (DRC). It may sound kind of silly, but those privileged enough to drink
DRC from famous Grand Cru vineyards such as Richebourg, Romanée-Conti and La Tache
call it a life-altering experience. Seriously, that's how good the wine is. Unfortunately,
given its $1,000-$2,000 price tag only a fortunate few will ever get to sample DRC.
There are, however, plenty of other choices within Vosne-Romanée, including more
reasonable but still magnificent Grand Crus around $300, such as those from Echézeaux.
If you're got a big table with a variety of different dishes being ordered, nothing will
satisfy and amaze like a Grand Cru Burgundy . We're talking heavenly smells of strawberry,
raspberry and cinnamon with a silky smooth texture and almost unbelievable complexity. Oh,
and then the finish? Tantilizingly long and special. Here's a list of the
Burgundy wines featured at wine.com.
"Right Bank" Bordeaux from St.-Emillion or Pomerol
Above, we suggested that DRC is considered by many as the best wine on the planet. Others might
suggest that the title should go to Château Pétrus, made almost entirely of Merlot
and definitely the title holder for the world's most expensive wine. We're talking over $10,000
for really old vintages, while 20-30 year old bottles will go for around $2,000-$3,000.
Pétrus comes from Pomerol, while St.-Emillion has its own superstar to boast about,
Château Cheval Blanc (much less expensive than Pétrus).
These "right bank" wines are all Merlot-based, offering the plummy flavor and velvety texture
of American Merlots along with the French earth tones that the cooler climate there commands.
You'll definitely need to look at bottles that have at least a decade behind him, and preferably
two or three. And note that these wines are truly bank-busting even when you're not talking
about Pétrus - most will be at least $500 and go up from there.
You can purchase a bottle of the legendary
Château Cheval Blanc or the remarkable Château Lafleur from Pomerol online.
Super Tuscans such as Sassicaia or Ornellaia
An alternative to Bordeaux or Cabernet, the creation of the Super Tuscans is an interesting story.
Basically, some rebel winemakers in Italy chose to start using non-traditional grapes and different
techniques in an attempt to generate new aromas and flavors. The result turned out to be superb
wines that combine the best of Italy and France into singular, multi-layered powerhouses.
Naturally, these intense wines pair up beautifully with heavy duty Italian meals, especially
those with thick red sauces.
Probably the most famous of the Super Tuscans is
Sassicaia,
composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon and priced from the hundreds to almost $1,000 at restaurants.
For slightly more relaxed flavors, go for
Ornellaia or Solaia for about half as much.
Penfolds Grange
Bottom line, this is the world's best Shiraz. You're going to get the delicious berry character
delivered by those luscious, ripe Australian grapes, but with far more complexity and the introduction
of leather and earth (there is some Cabernet Sauvignon mixed in to help bring out these flavors).
Funny enough, but Grange started off as an experiment in 1951, and after winning a boatload of
awards it became a true force in the world of wine. A bottle of Grange will set you back
around $250 a bottle at the store or double that in a restaurant.
Finally, nothing speaks of indulgence like the best dessert wine around:
Chateau d'Yquem. This Sauternes is such sweet perfection that it deserved
its own article. Let's just say nothing represents
end of a meal indulgence like this golden, honey masterpiece.
Purchase a bottle today!
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