Quiet luxury isn’t just a sartorial trend, but rather an entire lifestyle. And often times, nothing feels more luxurious than the first sip of a premium wine, whether it be on a special occasion, while on vacation, or just at home while you’re getting in some self-care and relaxation.
Here is a simple but solid list of wines that offer more than a taste of indulgence, both for the budget-conscious and those looking to splurge.
Codorníu Ars Collecta 2010 El Tros Nou Brut Nature
In the shadow of champagne, or even crémant, other sparkling wine varietals produced outside of France never seem to get the respect they really deserve. This applies especially to cava, a sparkling wine style produced in Spain. Codorníu is one of the oldest cava houses at more than 500 years old and counting, and the Ars Collecta label represents its range of top cavas. Aged for more than 90 months on lees after a second fermentation, the production of the 2010 Brut Nature was quite exclusive at 300 units.
Chateau d’Esclans 2021 Garrus Rosé
Considered Château d’Esclans’ finest wine, Garrus is made from a single vineyard of nearly 100 year-old grenache vines, and from rolle (vermentino) grapes. Entirely fermented and aged in new large French oak barrels for 11 months, the powerful and elegant Garrus was at the heart of the house’s founder Sacha Lichine’s vision in 2006 to elevate rosé wine—both among wine critics and the global wine industry. Today, Garrus is firmly established as the maison’s luxury rosé amid a famous portfolio that includes millennial favorite Whispering Angel. The 2021 Garrus is a concentrated rosé with a creamy finish, featuring rich and spicy notes rivaling any top white wine or prestige champagne.
The Vice Orange of Viognier, Oak Knoll District, “The Lakers”
Though popular among oenophiles in-the-know, orange wine hasn’t had the cultural breakout the way rosé has. And that could be because there are a lot of misconceptions around orange wine, namely that it’s “too funky” or always has an unusual after taste. Well, if you’re looking for an orange wine that will not only change your mind but taste luxurious, Vice Wines will change your mind. Produced in Napa Valley but partially a love letter to the founder and winemaker’s time in New York, Vice Wines aims to appeal to younger demographics who are interested in experimental but still quality wines. Low in sulfites and made from 100% unfiltered and unfined viognier grapes, this one comes with an incredibly smooth, velvety mouthfeel with notes of vanilla, toasted almond, and a bouquet of dry peach, dry apricot, and kumquat.
Double Diamond 2021 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon grapes, this vintage could outshine the preceding (and award-winning) 2019 vintage with even deeper concentration and complexity. This one is also ready to drink now, but it is suited to age in the cellar for a while too. At first blush, expect aromas of dark fruits like blackberry, cassis, black cherry, and red plum. On the palate, the black fruits shine through but with a much more vivacious blend of tasting notes such as black tea, vanilla bean, and lavender. All of that adds up with fine-grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity that lingers through the long finish, this wine is ready to drink upon release but will cellar well for years to come.
Valdemar Estates 2020 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon
Crafted by Devyani Isabel Gupta, described by the Seattle Times as one of the leading young winemakers in Washington state, this cabernet comes from vines planted in solid basalt rock, creating limited yields of small clusters with vibrant flavors. The wine spent 19 months in 25% new and 75% used French Oak barrels, and the result is a cabernet that is both powerful, polished, and a prime example of Washington cabernets. The aromas also lend perfectly to autumn and winter with notes of black currant, figs, and beets.
The One in a Million 2017 Petit Verdot
And truly nothing says real luxury than a wine shrouded in secrecy. Recently released and for a limited time only, patrons would literally need to be in the know to want to purchase this, but that’s where we can help you. Crafted to serve as the ultimate and peak representation of how evolved Napa Valley wines have become, this inaugural 2017 vintage is 100% Petit Verdot sourced from vineyards along the eastern edge of Rutherford. Aged for 22 months in new French Oak barrels, the wine’s singularity stems from petit verdot grapes being a classic component of Bordeaux blends, but they are quite rare to find on its own.
But, ultimately, what matters most is what is in the bottle: the wine has intricate nuanced notes of cherry, thyme, and dark plum linger on the nose, with tasting notes of crème de cassis swirled with compounding fruit flavors, cocoa, anise, and caramel.