With aromas of orange sorbet, cardamom, and lemon verbena-flavored syrup, this icewine provides a decadent perfume that could be dabbed on various pulse points. With a creamy texture that can be described as mouthfilling goodness, the wine’s flavors of honey butter spread on blood orange-flavored olive oil cake glide across the palate in glorious fashion. If you think you need a special occasion to open this bottle, change your ways or make one up, stat

A forest-like scent of pine needles bursts from the glass, joined by aromas of candied orange segments and a wisp of apricot. Bright acidity offers a sense of balance to the icewine’s caramel, maple, and quince jelly flavors. The texture is rich, but not thick, with each sip feeling like silk sheets draped across the palate.

Whoever first decided to make icewine with Cabernet Franc grapes should be given a medal. Inniskillin’s latest version is a holiday aroma extravaganza of spicy plum pudding and a bowl of earthy wild strawberries. The wine’s peach pie, sweet rhubarb tartlet, and rose water flavors feel right at home slipping and sliding all over its lubricious texture. Somehow, someday, I will find the perfect dark chocolate to pair with this crimson-colored treat.

The nose is both tart and ripe, showing Morello cherry, pomegranate, and rhubarb, framed by heady rose aromatics. The palate has pleasing texture, opening with white pepper, moving through floral tones at the midpalate, and finishes on a lingering light cherry note. A charming choice for charcuterie night

The 2018 Cristal opens a new chapter for Roederer. The Cristal estate is composed of 45 parcels. In better vintages, most of the 45 parcels are used for the blend. The 2018 vintage brought with it elevated ripeness and generally low acids. Longtime Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon was forced to cast his gaze wider, to look for parcels that offered a touch of freshness. Lécaillon expanded his palette to 57 parcels. The result is a Cristal unlike any other I have tasted. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, spice, chalk and herbs.