Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

With the holidays coming, CBSBoston wanted to find a wine suitable to serve some of our most sophisticated dinner guests (box of wine wasn't cutting it). TJ Douglas, Mike Paquette, Kaitlin Alayan, Evonne Wetzner, Chelsea Bell, and Noah Feldman -- a.k.a. the expert staffers at The Urban Grape on Boylston Street in Chestnut Hill were kind enough to offer up a list of their favorites - and explain what they love so much about each one. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

A Bottle of Red: The Urban Grape's picks for Red Wines

(Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Evonne's Pick: 2009 La Cartuja Garnacha, Mazuelo, Cabernet & Syrah Blend (Priorat) - $16

I am loving this totally affordable, everyday Priorat! Red fruit with a bit of minerality and balanced oak. It is super smooth, lush and delicious. It's a perfect introduction to the Priorat region, which tends to blend indigenous Spanish grapes with traditional French varietals.

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Noah's Pick: 2009 Bodegas Ateca “Atteca”, Old Vines Garnacha (Calatayud) - $20

This insanely big Spanish Garnacha comes from 85 to 125 year old vines. It is dark purple, and inky, and on the palate it shows bold flavors of smoky plum, black berry fruit, cedar, lead, herbs, and spice. It's a 9R on the UG weight scale, so this divine bottle is a perfect companion for the cold winter nights ahead. This is undoubtedly the best $20 bottle of Grenache on the market!

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

TJ's Pick: 2009 Sottimano Nebbiolo (Langhe) - $24

Sottimano’s Langhe Nebbiolo is a serious bang for your buck coming in at $24 and rocking! This gem boasts red fruit, tobacco and vibrant mint and floral characteristics. It combines a smooth consistency with palate cleansing acidity and a finish that holds up to some of its more famous Piedmontese cousins!

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Chelsea's Pick: 2008 Azienda Agricola Sottimano “Pairolero” Barbera D’Alba (Piedmont) - $27

Sottimano’s Barbera is seriously the smoothest Barbera or even light bodied wine I have had in a very long while. This Barbera benefits from aging 15-16 months in French Oak and combines red and purple fruits with mouth pleasing acidity.

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Mike's Pick: 2000 Renaissance Cabernet Sauvignon (Sierra Nevada Foothills, CA.) - $38

The terroir is the reason this wine rocks and also that it’s small production. I just had a bottle with a Thanksgiving-themed dinner and it was out of this world. The wine is released when the wine maker deems it ready. The current release is the 2000 vintage and it drank unreal. I guarantee if aged a few more years its complexity would increase!

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Kaitlin's Pick: 2008 Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) - $62

Balance is the name of this bottle's game. With a nose of dried roses and cherry and a clove and chocolate finish, this Napa Cab won't punch you in the face, but it will make you sit down and stay a while. And that's just fine.

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

A Bottle of White: The Urban Grape's picks for White Wines

(Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Kaitlin's Pick: 2009 Clos de la Vierge Gros Manseng (Jurancon) - $20

Floral and spice and everything nice! This wine is 100% Gros Manseng and while you don't know it yet, you’ll love this wine. Refreshing and dry, yet rich and deep in flavor - there's a little something here for every white wine drinker.

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Chelsea's Pick: 2009 Dalton Reserve “Wild Yeast” Viognier (Israel) (Kosher) - $25

I never thought I would be digging an Israeli Viognier, but its rich lusciousness has won me over and is great for full-bodied white wine drinkers who want to try something different. With nuances of honey and stone fruits, the Dalton Wild Yeast Viognier Reserve is like sipping a dream that you never want to end.

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Evonne's Pick: 2009 Clos Blancheau Chardonnay (Paso Robles) - $40

I am not typically a Chardonnay girl, but this is not your typical California Chardonnay. Drinking more like Chablis with crisp minerality and wet stone, along with green apple and lemon, Clos Blancheau is worth a try.

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Mike's Pick: NV Laherte Freres Champagne Brut Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay & Pinot Noir - $49

The thing I love most about this champagne is that it is made exceptional every year and drinks like it has been aged and picked to drink right now. The Brut tradition is a subtle blending of three Champagne varieties coming from the Côteaux sud d’Epernay, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs. A fine and complex blending!

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

TJ's Pick: 2009 Patz & Hall “Hyde Vinyard” Chardonnay (Carneros) - $62

Patz & Hall, famous single vineyard producers of some of the finest California Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs strike again with “Hyde Vineyard” which offers nuances of citrus and orange peel fusing with pineapple, cinnamon and clove. Great integrated acidity and layers of cedar and smoke make this wine as complex as it is lip pleasing!

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Noah's Pick: 2007 Hartford Court "Seascape Vineyard" Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) - $70

I'm not even a chardonnay drinker, but Seascape I would drink any night, or day for that matter. Though sourced from a single vineyard, stylistically this wine oozes Meursault influence. Orange blossom and citrus oil aromas give way to flavors of fresh lemon, tangerine, minerals, and spice, balanced harmoniously by French oak woodiness. The acidity is crisp and zippy and vibrant. This is, simply put, a chardonnay for the wine drinker, even if you think you don't like chardonnay.

Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

Have a favorite fancy wine that's not in the list? Want to recommend it? Tell us in the comment section below.

(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)