Wine is the perfect stocking stuffer, and not just because a 750ml bottle often fits snuggly in a stocking. When you’re shopping for the oenophile in your life this holiday season, you’ll want to peruse our selections of wines and holiday gifts for the wine enthusiast.
LVE: Legend Vineyard Exclusive Collection
The newly-introduced LVE Collection by John Legend and Raymond Vineyards is the perfect harmony of passion, eloquence and Napa Valley tradition. A unique series of rich, soulful and complex notes inspired by true love, and made in collaboration with Jean-Charles Boisset and the esteemed winemakers of Raymond Vineyards. This combo Includes one 2013 LVE Cabernet Sauvignon and one 2014 LVE Chardonnay. $114 each / $99 each for Wine Club Members. http://raymondvineyards.com
HALL Wines
Photo Credit: Courtesy HALL WinesHALL Wines offers the Ultimate Cabernet Collector, a six-bottle set with HALL Cellar Box consisting of:
- 2012 HALL “Bergfeld” Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2012 HALL “Diamond Mountain” Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2012 HALL “Exzellenz” Red Wine
- 2012 HALL “Kathryn Hall” Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2012 HALL “Stags Leap District” Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2012 HALL “Mount Veeder” Cabernet Sauvignon
Pre-selected gift sets include gift box and shipping. $1060 | $954 member http://hallwines.com
VGS Chateau Potelle Wooden 4 Pack
Photo Credit: Courtesy VGS Chateau Potelle
The darling VGS Chateau Potelle tasting house and garden in St. Helena offers a customized wooden box containing one bottle each of VGS Chardonnay 2010, VGS Zinfandel, 2010, VGS Syrah 2009 and VGS Cabernet Sauvignon 2010. This beautiful box set is the ideal gift for your wine-loving friends and family. Retail price $350 / Club price $275 http://vgschateaupotelle.com
St. Supéry 90+ Points Past and Present 12 Pack
Photo Credit: Courtesy St. Supery
We were already fans of St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery long before fashion house Chanel’s recent purchase of the Rutherford winery. Here are a dozen more reasons to love their wines: the St. Supéry 90+ Points Past and Present 12 Pack. Six critically acclaimed wines, times two. Includes two bottles each of St. Supéry’s 2012 Napa Valley Estate Elu (94 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate), 2012 Dollarhide Elevation (94 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate), 2012 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (91 points, Wine Enthusiast), 2012 Rutherford Estate Vineyard Cabernet Franc (92 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate), 2012 Rutherford Estate Vineyard Merlot (90 points, Wine Spectator; 90 points, Wine Enthusiast), and 2005 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (95 points, Wine Enthusiast). $980 retail / $760 Wine Club http://stsupery.com
2011 Alexis Wine & Bonbons
Photo Credit: Courtesy Swanson Vineyards
The perfect gift and guaranteed to make anyone squeal with delight is this discerning duo of one 750ml bottle of 2011 Alexis, Swanson Vineyards’ flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, and hatbox of dark chocolate bonbons. The vibrant keepsake box makes an unforgettable impression while the treasures encased within may just inspire a lifelong love affair. Striking in appearance, with its dark ruby, violet-edged color, the 2011 Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon is immediately seductive. Very focused macerated black cherry, graphite, vanilla and forest floor aromas balance each other nicely. Round, opulent, sweet, ripe tannins surface quickly on the palate, where flavors of ripe blackberry and espresso bean are present throughout the lingering finish. This wine will continue to age gracefully for a minimum of 12 – 15 years. Try pairing with tournedos de boeuf, a prime fillet of beef or your favorite triple-cream cheese. $125. To purchase please contact the winery: Salon@swansonvineyards.com or call 707-754-4018.
California Wine Country F&W Gift Set
Photo Credit: Courtesy K. Laz Wine Collection
Kerrin Laz, the former wine director of Dean & DeLuca, recently opened K. Laz Wine Collection, a new tasting room and retail shop in Yountville. Considering her 12+ years of tasting, sourcing and bringing to market the best wines for Dean & DeLuca, she’s the perfect person to put together food and wine gift sets that pair some of her favorite wines with snacks from local food purveyors. She offers several gift sets through her website. One of our favorites is this California Wine Country F&W Gift Set, which includes one of the best local Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Grove 45, paired with Clif Family Farms’ small-batch Red Pepper Jam, Tomato Chutney, Roasted Pistachios & Almonds in Rosemary, and Smoked Paprika Almonds. There is also a bottle each of Gentleman Farmer Napa Valley Red 2013, The Paring Red 2011 and Three Clicks Grenache Blanc 2014. Next-day shipping is available until Dec. 23. $185 http://www.klazwinecollection.com/
MCIII
Photo Credit: Courtesy Moet & Chandon
New this holiday season is Moët & Chandon’s MCIII. Unlike any other champagne and incomparable to even other prestige cuvees because of its unique composition, MCIII is a rare blend of multiple vintage Champagnes spanning a decade in age. This limited release Champagne represents over 10 years of leadership by Moet & Chandon chef de cave Benoit Gouez, composed not only of numerous vintage champagnes, but of wines aged in 3 distinct environments – stainless steel, oak and bottle – delivering an assemblage that is unique in the wine world. A statement of ultimate pleasure from the world’s most beloved Champagne house, MCIII will be a must-have for the champagne connoisseur and luxury collector. We also love the vessel: a sleek, untraditional bottle, incorporating steel, glass and wood. $450. http://moet.com.
2008 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Library Selection
Photo Credit: Courtesy Silver Oak
Personalize your holiday gifts even more with a 750ml bottle of Silver Oak’s Library 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that has been etched with “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Each etched bottle is encased in Silver Oak’s custom-crafted holiday gift box to make for a beautiful presentation. $125, shipping included. http://silveroak.com
2012 Somerston Estate Winemaker’s Signature Magnum
Photo Credit: Courtesy Somerston Estate
Just in time for the holidays, Napa Valley’s Somerston Estate released a special edition 1.5L bottle of the 2012 Somerston Estate Cabernet Sauvignon signed by Winemaker Craig Becker. This Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% estate grown from Somerston’s expansive 1,615 acre estate in the eastern mountains of Napa Valley, and comes packaged in a special gift box. $275 http://somerstonwineco.com/
Cain 5 Vertical Box
Photo Credit: Courtesy Cain
Since 2000, Napa Valley’s Cain Vineyard & Winery has held back wines for a library-edition program. They are currently releasing a vertical of 2002, 2003, and 2004 Cain Five nationally to select retailers and restaurants, as well as to their customers. Cain 5 is built to last, so these wines have evolved beautifully and still have long lives ahead. Cain Five comes from the Cain estate on Spring Mountain and is comprised from the five classic Cabernet varietals. $635 http://cainfive.com
2012 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Photo Credit: Courtesy Paul Hobbs
Paul Hobbs’ hand-crafted wines are great for giving as a gift due to Hobbs’ meticulous winemaking and attention to detail. This is a full-bodied, velvety Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley that tastes of Santa Rosa plums, sweet spices and earth – evoking images of winter and the holidays with each sip. $55 http://paulhobbs.com
2013 Martinelli Zio Tony Pinot Noir
Zio Tony Ranch is a monumental vineyard in the Martinelli’s history because upon Zio Tony’s passing, Lee Sr. chose to dedicate his life to farming full time rather than teaching, solidifying the Martinelli family’s path as farmers in the Russian River Valley. This Pinot Noir is wonderful for pairing with holiday meals due to its plum fruit, violet and earthy notes. SRP $60 http://martinelliwinery.com
2012 Inman Family Wines OGV Pinot Noir
Photo Credit: Courtesy Inman
Kathleen Inman uses sustainable winemaking practices to craft low alcohol and nuanced wines from the Russian River Valley. The 2012 Inman OGV Pinot Noir is a light bodied, low-alcohol Pinot Noir made with fruit from her organically farmed Olivet Grange Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. $68 http://inmanfamilywines.com
2012 Frank Family Vineyards Winston Hill
Photo Credit: Courtesy Frank
Winston Hill is Frank Family Vineyards’ flagship wine, and comes from Rich and Leslie Frank’s hillside estate vineyard in Rutherford. Winemaker Todd Graff crafts this blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon into a bold and complex bottling that is both ready to drink now, but also built to age. SRP $150 http://frankfamilyvineyards.com
Mumm Napa’s 2008 DVX
Rich and elegant for a long-lasting finish, this sparkling wine is a great selection for dinner parties with wildly flavorful dishes. This prestigious tête de cuvée honors the visionary work of Mumm founding winemaker Guy Devaux. The grapes for DVX come from a half-dozen of Mumm’s very best vineyard sources. The rich and complex aromas are accentuated by the natural ripeness of our grapes with hints of red apple, wild strawberries, golden apple and apricot, as well as spicy tones of roasted nuts, white chocolate and honeysuckle. On the palate, it is an explosion of berry flavors, with layers of fresh fig, cherry and vanilla beans, underlined by a refreshing acidity. The lasting finish is dominated by biscuit, toast and nutty flavors.$60 http://mummnapa.com
Haute Cuisine
December 1, 2015Eat, Drink & Be Merry This Holiday Season at STK
