Image via Complex Original
Picking anything out for a woman is a vexing task. See: gifts, engagement rings. Luckily, picking a wine for a woman, while not quite science, is an art that Raoul Segarra, General Manager & Wine Director at North Square Restaurant, has down pat.
Let Raoul show you the way to make your girl smile this holiday, and feel free to "borrow" his eloquent reasoning as to why each is so well-suited to her. Mission wooing her, accomplished.
Raoul Segarra has been working with spirits for over 15 years. A seasoned sommelier, Segarra has worked at Keens, Judson Grill, and Jean-Georges, under the direction of great sommeliers-mentors who noticed and nurtured his talent. In 2004, he joined the Beanstalk Group (The Red Cat, The Mermaid Inn, The Harrison, Pace) as Wine and Beverage Director, where he put his creativity and love for finding a lesser-known region or wine at a great price to work. Raoul brings this philosophy to the wine list at North Square, which features over 110 wines from 15 countries, 65 priced at less than $50.
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Vincent Dauvissat Chablis “Les Clos”
Price: $50
Best for: The Type-A
Chablis is often described as intense and nervous, which may be an odd descriptor for a wine, but taste through a few and you may start to understand why. Chablis’ firm mineral backbone and zippy acidity can make the wine come across rather high-strung. Vincent Dauvissat’s “Les Clos” is aged in barrels, which softens up some of the wine. And, hopefully, your lady.
St. Innocent Pinot Noir
Price: $45
Best for: The Health Buff
Oregon Pinot Noir manages to strike a balance between the earthier style often associate with France and the fruit-forward style often associate with California, it is the Pinot Noir yogi, and St. Innocent is the Zen master of the Willamette Valley. These wines have the pedigree of an athlete and their Pinot Noirs have always been standouts.
Les Pallières Gigondas
Price: $40
Best for: The Seductress
Gutsy and elegant, warm and intoxicating, Les Pallières is the consummate Gigondas, and there is no wine more seductive than Gigondas. Les Pallières has undeniable charisma, as the wines are deep, dark, smoky, spicy, and completely alluring.
Kalin Cellars Sémillon
Price: $35
Best for: The Bookworm
There are many great minds in the wine world, but biochemist turned winemaker gets my vote for bookworm wine. Terry and Frances (owners of Kalin Cellars) own no vines but rather find and purchase grapes from vineyards that produce fruit with unique character. These wines are pinnacles of craftsmanship and creativity.
Angelo Gaja Barbaresco “Sori Tildin”
Price: $400
Best for: The Matriarch
Named after Angelo Gaja’s Grandmother Clotilde Rey (aka Tilden), it’s said that she was a sharp witted and perceptive woman who ran the Gaja cellars. Her dedication to the principles of quality and diligence helped build the Gaja brand into one of the finest wine estates in the world. The wines of Sori Tilden are deeply complex, textural, and, like a true matriarch, they continue to improve with age.
Luc Massy Dézaley Chemin de Fer Chasselas
Price: $40
Best for: The Snowbunny
Dézaley is the prestigious and dangerously steep Swiss wine appellation overlooking Lake Geneva. The alpine wine that comes from the grape Chasselas (which is not especially known in other parts of the world) is ideally situated on these steep vineyards. The final product is a lithe, fruity, and floral wine with tons of personality and charm.
Angiolino Maule “I Masieri”
Price: $15
Best for: The Independent Thinker
One of the pioneers in the natural wine movement, Angiolino Maule makes wines that are pure, raw, and fiercely individualistic. You may not always agree with them, but you have to respect their strength and steadfastness.
Cold Heaven Voignier
Price: $30
Best for: The Vixen
With a heady aroma reminiscent of perfume and its full body, Viognier is definitely the Marilyn Monroe of the wine world. While most well-known versions of this grape hail from France, Cold Heaven located in Santa Barbra California produces classic lush and sensual versions that are rich, aromatic, and hedonistic.
Schlossgut Diel Riesling Kabinett “Goldloch”
Price: $25
Best for: The Sharp Wit
Caroline Diel’s wines are much like her: clear, determined, and sophisticated. The juicy, fruity nature of Riesling is tricky and playful, and those who can appreciate it come to discover one of the most fascinating wines in the world. The wines of Goldloch are particularly known for their power and finesse; wines with backbone, personality, and wit.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé
Price: $85
Best for: The Dime Piece
Champagne is always a good idea, but few Champagnes deliver quite like Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose. It's the Audrey Hepburn of wines; it displays such grace and purity. From its lovely pink hue, to its delicate bubbles and focused flavors of berries and exotic spices, this is a timeless Champagne that I would call a natural beauty.