Wine Lover's Gift Guide

From: ferss fer   155 days 6 hours 40 minutes ago

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When it comes to giving wine as gifts, the vinous world is so voluminous, complex, and diverse that it’s intimidating to lots of people. But that also means there’s a perfect wine for every occasion or person. We’ve made things easier for you with a number of pinpoint suggestions. —Jordan Mackay

For the Cook

Cooks are fickle creatures. They want wines that will go perfectly with their food and flex with their diverse recipes, making wine pairing a challenge. Please them with these three wines that match beautifully with almost anything.

Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Champagne ($37)
From the guys who make Cristal comes this food-friendly sparkler. It’s got some toast and richness from aging on lees but manages to be crisp and sharp at the same time. It's as good to drink while cooking as it is with whatever was cooked.

2006 Josef Leitz Riesling “Dragonstone” ($15)
The name sounds like something from the Lord of the Rings, but this wine is Lord of the (bargain) Rieslings. Quite simply, there’s not a better value in this style of fine minerally wine in the world. Extremely versatile, it goes well with any fish, shellfish, or vegetable and pairs perfectly with poultry and port—and even barbecue. Yes, it's a white wine, but just try it. You’ll be shocked.

2006 Rex Hill Pinot Noir, Oregon ($20)
Oregon has a knack for making balanced pinots with lots of fruit but also a pleasing earthiness that goes wonderfully with food. This wine has it all, from bright red berries to spices like clove, cinnamon, and pepper to an underlying loaminess. All this complexity makes it a natural pairing for anything you can throw at it, from grilled octopus to salmon to rare roast beef.

For Your Status-Oriented Boss
One of the best ways to impress your boss is to help him or her impress his or her bosses. The following three wines are certain to garner approval from even the snootiest of top-down managers. If the choices seem a little pricey, take up an office collection so that everyone can bask in the glow of a happy boss.

2004 Bouchard Pere et Fils Meursault Perrieres ($85)
In many circles the greatest chardonnays are white burgundies—from France. If your boss doesn’t know too much about this wine, make sure you tell her: “Meursault Perrieres may be only a Premier Cru vineyard, but its widely acknowledged in Burgundy that it’s first in line to be promoted to Grand Cru. And for all those who say that 2005 is the best vintage in decades? I think the whites in 2004 were better.”

2005 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir “Isabelle” ($50)
Nothing says you know your pinots better than the possession of a bottle from Au Bon Climat. Its producer, Jim Clendenen, is America’s biggest pinot noir guru, and the wines he puts out do nothing to sully that reputation. Exhibit A: This remarkable “Isabelle” from the stellar 2005 vintage—plush black-raspberry and cherry flavors highlight an awesomely well-rounded wine.

2004 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon “Gravelly Meadow,” Napa Valley ($160)
This is the Napa cab for people who have tried all the trendy Napa cult wines and are ready to return to the ultimate cult wine. In high demand for more than 30 years, Diamond Creek's cabernets are the most sumptuous and gorgeous wines that are still amazingly age-worthy. Concentrated, mineral, balanced—it's a can’t-miss wine.

For the Utterly Fashionable

Wine bottle as fashion accessory? Absolutely. Depending on who's doing the ordering and drinking, sometimes what’s outside is more important than what’s inside. Here are three selections worthy of the runway.

Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Rosé Sauvage “Viktor and Rolf” ($90)
Very Euro, very “high fashion” designers Viktor and Rolf were tagged to make a scene out of Piper-Heidsieck's champagne bottling, and they succeeded. All the paraphernalia of champagne drinking are turned upside down, from the ice bucket to the flute to the bottle, which comes encased in a clear plastic box. It's all quite a show—but the wine’s good too, especially if you have a little sweet tooth.

Voga Italia Pinot Grigio or Quattro ($11)
Talk about fashionable, these new wines from Italy are paparazzi-ready with their clear, solid cylindrical bottles that resemble Voss water containers. But underneath the plastic cap is a cork and inside is not water but Italian white and red wine. With white-hot packaging, it's dressed to impress.

Three Thieves Jug Cabernet Sauvignon ($9)
Remember John Galliano’s “hobo-chic”? Well, get ready for “wino-chic.” This California quaffer takes jug wine seriously, putting perfectly tasty, juicy cab into an easily toted clear-glass jug. People will guzzle the wine in no time, but discussion of the bottle will persist.

For the Wine Know-It-All

Finding the right wine for the ultimate wine connoisseur takes effort, but these bottles will impress even the most knowledgeable wine lover.

2004 Laurel Glen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma ($55)
Even people who think they know California cab may not know about Laurel Glen, a small property hidden away on the top of Sonoma Mountain and run by Zen Buddhist ocean-kayaker Patrick Campbell. Campbell does little in the way of self-promotion, nor does he need to. The wine speaks for itself. Always one of California’s densest and most powerful wines, it still retains a sense of balance and agility. Campbell reckons 2004 is one of his best vintages ever.

2004 Villa Bucci Verdicchio Classico Riserva ($30)
From the Marche, an unheralded Italian province, comes a wine that will wow even the staunchest white-wine experts. These types tend to like wines with minerality, and this is like drinking liquid rock. You can practically feel the fine pebbles coursing over your tongue as you sip this awesome juice, made of the Verdicchio grape.

2005 Potel-Aviron Fleurie Vieilles-Vignes ($20)
Wine snobs sneer at Beaujolais, but true connoisseurs never do. This one will bring the snootiest expert to his knees. The 2005 vintage was about as good as it gets, and this wine, made in the quintessential village of Fleurie, takes the fruit from 50-year-old vines and turns it into magical concoction of violet, roses, and wild strawberries. And it works with almost any dish.

For the Life of the Party

Ever go to parties that, while full of good people, need that extra lift to really get going? Good music can help as can games and activities. But nothing gets it rolling like the sound of a popping cork. Try any of these sparklers to spark a party.

2004 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs ($25)
This 100% Chardonnay sparkler from California’s most revered bubbly specialist is lovely. Light, citrusy, and graceful, it’s as classy and fun as anyone would want their fete to be. Buy generously: One bottle is never enough.

Laurent-Perrier Brut NV 1.5 liter ($65)
Someone smart once said, “magnums show you care.” And a magnum of Champagne shows that you really care about a rocking party. Laurent-Perrier makes one of the most consistent brut Champagnes and offers it at an incredibly reasonable price in the big bottle.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé ($90)
The only thing that might say “party” as vehemently as a magnum of bubbles, is a bottle of rosé Champagne. And when it comes to that, there’s not a more winning brand than Billecart, whose raspberry- and strawberry-tinged wine may even bring out the socialite in even the most unrefined guests.