Holiday Wine Gifting Guide

Nov. 21, 2014

Holiday shopping is in full swing and customers are searching for the perfect gifts. When nothing but the best will do, these premium wines are sure to impress. Find tasting notes, media, and details below!

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2011 GEORGES DE LATOUR PRIVATE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has been widely recognized as the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford since its inaugural vintage in 1936. Terroir expertise comes from more than 100 years of creating rich, classic Napa Valley wines. The wine's legacy honors the marriage between state-of-the-art technology and gentle, traditional winemaking methods, a combination that enhances the expression of BV's remarkable vineyards.

Learn more at bvwines.com

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2011 BEAULIEU VINEYARD RESERVE TAPESTRY

The low-yields of an exceptional cool vintage gave BV 2011 Reserve Tapestry its refined elegance, while five Bordeaux-heritage varietals contributed layer-upon-layer of flavor complexity. This is a wine that shows the artistry of the winemaker. Jeffrey (see video) chose Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc for the wine's core of briary blackberry and cassis expression and its firm tannin structure. He then added Merlot for plush mid-palate texture and a hint of cherry. Petit Verdot and Malbec complete the blend with nuances of ripe plum, rose, forest loam and graphite.

Learn more at bvwines.com

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2011 HEWITT VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON

With elegance and suppleness from the persistently cool 2011 growing season, our Cabernet Sauvignon captures the award-winning character of Hewitt Vineyard. The wine's dense core of blackberry, Satsuma plum, black Bing cherry and cassis reveals gorgeous notes of bittersweet chocolate, violet, sarsaparilla and forest earthiness. The firm entry turns plush on the expansive midpalate, while balanced acidity brightens the intense dark-fruit flavors. Warm caramel and mocha notes from new French oak barrels permeate the inviting aromas, richly textured flavors and lengthy finish. The long hangtime of 2011 slowly ripened and softened the grape tannins, making this wine marvelously approachable, yet cellar worthy.

Learn more at hewittvineyard.com

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KENDALL JACKSON CHARDONNAY VINTNER'S RESERVE

America's #1 selling Chardonnay for 22 years and counting! It's no wonder Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay is our most popular release. Handcrafted in small vineyard lots throughout the entire winemaking process, our grapes are from California's cool, coastal growing regions of Monterey County, Santa Barbara County, Mendocino County and Sonoma County. Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay is fruit-forward, divinely complex, approachable and exceptionally food-friendly.

Learn more at kj.com

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ST. FRANCIS ZINFANDEL

There are strict criteria in the vineyard for fruit to qualify as old vines Zinfandel. The vines must be at least 50 years old (many are as old as 100) and they must be dry farmed and head trained without the benefit of trellising. These ancient, head-pruned vines tend to produce small quantities of exceptionally concentrated fruit. The grapes are handpicked, crushed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. After pressing, the wine is pumped into French and American oak barrels for aging, with additional bottle aging before release. Deep aromas and flavors of ripe black cherries are laced with spice and toasted oak notes in this full-bodied wine of velvet tannins and a long finish. St. Francis Zinfandels pair well with barbecue are charbroiled red meats.

Learn more at kobrandwineandspirits.com

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CLOS DU VAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Cool temperatures allowed a long hang time of fruit on the vine, contributing to ripe, yet elegant aromatics. It has notes of chocolate, blackberry and fresh black pepper on the nose. The textures are far silkier than recent vintages, creating a vibrant wine with flavors of toffee, vanilla, blueberry and currant. The tannins are well integrated, creating a wine for which Clos Du Val is known; balanced, elegant, and classic.

Learn more at closduval.com

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WHITEHALL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013

Whitehall Lane is known for its fruit forward and crisp Sauvignon Blanc. 70% of the fruit was fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and 30% in new French oak barrels.The barrel-fermented portion was aged for only six weeks. Utilizing both tank and barrels for fermenting accentuates the crisp fruit flavors and increases complexity. The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is full of zest with loads of citrusy lemon, lime and grapefruit aromas and flavors. It is nicely balanced with some tropical notes of pineapple and kiwi. This is a refreshing wine with a clean finish. (NOTE: Video showcases 2011 Release)

Learn more at whitehalllane.com

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PROVENANCE RUTHERFORD CABERNET 2012

As the name suggests, the pedigree of Provenance wines is of utmost importance. Going straight to the source for the highest quality fruit in the Napa Valley and forging enduring relationships with the region's top winegrape producers. Winemaker Chris Cooney is a purist, relying on the finest winemaking traditions to extract elegant, powerful wines that express their premium vineyard origins rather than the winemakers' interventions.

Learn more at provenancevineyards.com

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ALMAVIVA 2011

The wine is a deep, intense ruby red. The nose, complex and subtle, reveals delicate and clean aromas of ripe cassis, fig and blackberries, accompanied by vanilla, cacao and toffee notes. The wine fills the mouth with smooth, well-refined and silky tannins, leaving an overall impression of balance, finesse, persistence and freshness. This is a pure, elegant and layered wine, harmoniously balanced by a great acidity.