A gift everyone will love — wine! Below are well-rated, tried and true bottles to take to parties or to give as gifts, and will impress at any price point.
Wine to Gift Under $25
Bloodroot Pinot Noir 2021
A California Pinot through and through, this well-fruited wine is balanced by its grip and acidity. It’s hard to find a better Pinot for the money than this one.
Palacios Remondo Finca La Montesa 2020
This Rioja is a fantastic value for the price point — in fact, prices are starting to climb as word as out. It’s a mountainside red with bramble, blueberry and red cherry fruit with a full finish.
El Enemigo Chardonnay 2020
I’m going to sound like a broken record, but this Chardonnay is another huge value. It has amazing reviews and comes from the Catena family who has a long history with wine but has received particularly massive claim in recent years. This is a big Chardonnay — well-balanced, and will please any Chard lover!
Wine to Gift Under $35
Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
This is predominantly Napa cab with a bit of Petite Syrah and Cab Franc. This is guaranteed to land big, well-proportioned with lots of flavor and easy to enjoy. It’s packed with flavors of dark cherry, red currant, spice, leather, tobacco and cedar.
Jean Bojour Sancerre 2022
For the many Sancerre lovers, I’m with you! This is a gorgeous pale yellow color, full-bodied on the palate, with volume and freshness that carry through. If you have a Sauvignon Blanc lover in your life, treat them to Sancerre.
Wine to Gift Under $75
Bella Union by Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
You can’t go wrong with this one! Bella Union is made by Far Niente and stands up well in the family. There’s a ripe, pure fruit quality to this stunning wine with an almost-velvety texture. Napa cab fans, this is for you.
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet-Shiraz 2020
An Australian interplay between Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz providing rich length, structure and density. Ripe and intense, this has plenty of depth and is one of the strongest statements of the Penfolds style. This will age very well if you have the patience to hold it.
EnRoute Winery Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2021
I am drinking this Russian River Pinot on REPEAT this holiday season. This has been my go-to for parties, casual gatherings…or myself on a Tuesday night. Everyone who tries this bottle asks me about it. If you are gifting to a Pinot fan, this is an easy winner!
Wine to Gift Around $100
Shafer Relentless 2019
A huge, classic red that I can promise you just about anyone will love! This is mostly Syrah with a touch of Petite Sirah, aged in new French oak. This is full-bodied, tannic, and packed with fruit. It will age really well but we drank a couple of these recently as-is, and they went quickly!
Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is one of my favorite sparklings and the perfect champagne — delicate and smooth. It’s made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. This one is a lovely gift as it comes in a second skin gift-wrapped bottle, ready to go!
Cheers!
xx—BB
Thx for the reminder on the Shafer Relentless. It was so good. That is going to be my gift wine this year!
Gotta love rediscovering a classic!