Four wines to jump-start the new year

OK, let’s all take a sip of Prosecco, refresh the palate and get ready for a great 2016 wine adventure.
Seven days into the new year, I’ve already sampled two reds and two whites for my personal Wine Log.
But first … looking back on the pages from 2015, I had the good fortune, along with the Wine Goddess, Wine Butler and other vino amici, to drink 236 different bottles. And that’s not to mention the countless others I sampled at tastings near and far.
The breakdown is interesting: We drank 148 reds and 88 whites. The latter were dominated by Italian wines, principally Barbera and Super Tuscan blends; French wines from the Rhone Valley; California and Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; and Oregon Pinot Noir.

The whites were weighted heavily toward U.S. Chardonnays and sparkling wines, and the ever-growing number of domestic and foreign blends.
I’ve made a resolution to sample more Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and white Bordeaux during the coming year.
That said, here are four great buys to get you off to a good start in 2016.
• 2013 Cambria Chardonnay Katherine’s Vineyard, Santa Barbara, $22 — We served this at holiday parties where it was a big hit. It’s got a weightier mouthfeel than other Chardonnays, allowing the bright, clean fruit a real chance to coat the palate. Golden apple, mango and peach flavors abound in this gem. The grapes are from mature vines and select clone plantings in sand and granite soils. Vineyard owner Barbara Banke named the wine after her eldest daughter. The Wine ConneXtion was selling Cambria for $13.99 prior to Christmas, and there’s still some left.
• 2014 Illahe Viognier, Oregon, $21.99 — This small, family-owned Willamette Valley vineyard and winery is known for its beautifully crafted Pinot Noir bottlings, however, its white wines are all the rage. The problem is getting them. The small lot Pinot Gris, Gruner Veltliner and Viognier are all sold out, according to the Illahe (pronounced Ill-UH-hee) website, but I was lucky to find the Viognier at Andover Classic Wines in the Shawsheen Plaza on Route 28. The wines are imported to Massachusetts from an independent Haverhill distributor who travels America seeking unique, excellent wines from small operations, according to Andrea DiFiore, the store’s manager and wine buyer. For Viognier fans, this vintage is uplifting both on the nose and palate. Fresh tropical fruit with a long, mostly dry finish. Newcomers to the varietal will find it impressively appealing to the senses.
• Cirø Rosso Classico Solagi, Calabria, $16.99 — This dark, ruby red wine from the Caparra & Siciliani winery is made from 100 percent Gaglioppo grapes. Gaglioppo grapes? Each new discovery is what makes wine so enjoyable, and this truly genuine red from “Solagi,” located in Cirø Marina overlooking the Ionian Sea, is remarkable. Gaglioppo needs time in the fermentation vat to bring out its dark colors and intense flavors of black cherries, rustic herbs and other complexities. This achieves the result. The near perfect acidity makes it a wonderful choice to accompany thick gravy dishes and succulent roasts. Smooth on the palate.
• 2103 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Allomi Vineyard, Napa Valley, $19.99 — Whenever you can buy a wine of this quality from Napa for $20 or less, it’s magical. This was another of my holiday specials from the Wine ConneXtion. It poured purple fusion in the glass and opened like a blackberry jam parachute, with gentle touches of vanilla extract. The texture was elegant across the palate, leading to a lingering finish. Grapes from 35 blocks in the 235-acre Allomi Vineyard go into this bottling, adding to its complex flavor profile.