Welcome, 2024! For many, this month is about abstaining from wine and other alcoholic beverages as part of what is now officially known as Dry January. When anything that means something to you is given up, it shows you how much you take it for granted and what its real value is to you on many levels. I’ve given up drinking before, and I learned that what I miss most is the association of wine with the full enjoyment of a meal shared. I learned that, for me, moderation is best, and that includes what I eat, too. Wine will be at my table this month as it always is and will be throughout the year, and I will enjoy every sip.
My choice for the first Wine of the Week for 2024? A French Cotes du Rhone, the Domaine du Clos Sixte Lirac. The Cotes du Rhone region is famed for its varied terroir and bountiful sunshine. The wines are made with varying blends of four grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault. Each of these grapes brings unique flavor notes, and their combination is a conversation that you want to be part of with every sip. This particular offering is 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 15% Mouvedre, yielding wine with lovely floral notes, juicy red fruit on the palate, and a smooth, lengthy finish. Cotes du Rhone wines pair well with just about anything you’re serving for dinner, from leftovers to roasts. Happy New Year and A Votre Sante!
