If you're planning to serve any kind of game or even a roast duck or goose over the holidays, Tablas Creek Vineyard's 2012 Côtes de Tablas could be your wine. A blend of organic estate-grown 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and a touch of Counoise and Mourvèdre, this gorgeous, rich, spicy red has plenty of character and a fine balance. Call it lush but fresh. It tastes of cherries, plums and wild herbs, with a licorice kick. Pair it with venison loin, roast duck or goose, or a pork roast.
Region: California's Central Coast
Price: $30 to $34
Style: Rich and spicy
What it goes with: venison, duck, goose, pork
Where to find it: K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood, (323) 464-9463, http://www.klwines.com; Lincoln Fine Wines in Venice, (310) 392-7816; http://www.lincolnfinewines.com; Mission Wine & Spirits in Pasadena, (626) 794-7026, and Glendale, (818) 242-0683, http://www.missionwineandspirits.com; Total Wine & More in Brea, Laguna Hills, Thousand Oaks and Tustin, http://www.totalwine.com; the Wine Club in Santa Ana, (714) 835-6485, http://www.thewineclub.com; and the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, http://www.winehouse.com.
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