The Vinous 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for that perfect gift for the wine lover in your life? We’ve got you covered with a selection of gifts ranging from new books, to glasses, maps and much more in Antonio Galloni's article The Vinous 2021 Holiday Gift Guide . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zwiesel - Sensory Glass Roberto Conterno has established himself as more than just an elite winemaker. In just over a dozen years, he has expanded his family's estate in Serralunga by adding significant holdings in the Cerretta and Arione crus. He then purchased the historic Nervi winery in Gattinara and gave it a huge face lift, which includes a new restaurant. He has done all of that while also raising the quality of all his wines. Along the way, Conterno also found time to create the Sensory Glass in collaboration with his son, Gabriele, a trained engineer who took his father's designs and created the first computer models for a glass that has quickly become a favorite of those in the know. I have mostly used the Sensory Glass with Piedmont reds and Burgundy reds and whites, and have found it to really accent a wine’s aromatic presence and persistence. The Sensory Glass makes for a great splurge this holiday season. ($99). - For the past six years I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Alessandro Masnaghetti on a number of projects. During that time, I have seen his attention to detail first-hand, on a nearly daily basis. What Alessandro has done for Barolo and Barbaresco in mapping the vineyards and geologies and collecting all sorts of historical data is truly groundbreaking work that forms the core of what will one day be regarded as one of the most important legacies in wine. The significance of his contributions to our field can't possibly be overstated. Barolo MGA Vol. II by Alessandro Masnaghetti - Includes a Free Annual Subscription to Barolo 360 Barolo, with its ability to produce complex, multi-dimensional, ageworthy reds, is one of the world’s most fascinating wine regions. For years, Alessandro Masnaghetti has enchanted us with breathtaking books and maps that explore the vineyards of Barolo to a degree that has never been possible before. But one piece of the puzzle in understanding Barolo has long been missing: a thorough study of its geology and soils. Leave it to Masnaghetti to shed light into this complex and fascinating subject in Vol. 2. I can’t recommend the Second Volume of Barolo MGA enough. It is absolutely essential for anyone who wants to discover all the nuances that make Barolo and its wines so special. Purchase of the book includes a free annual subscription to Masnaghetti's site, Barolo 360. ($90; 55€) Barbaresco MGA, 2nd Edition The Encylcopedia of the Great Vineyards of Barbaresco by Alessandro Masnaghetti Alessandro Masnaghetti takes the same approach he has used with Barolo and applies it to Barbaresco, its vineyards, producers and wines, shedding light on this endlessly complex and fascinating region. Barbaresco MGA is must-have book for all Piedmont aficionados. ($90; 50€) - VineMeUp: An Activity Book Celebrating The Melanated Wine Enthusiast Sarita Cheaves is one of the most dynamic figures in wine today. She co-hosts the popular wine podcast The Swirl Suite and also recently published her book, VineMeUp: An Activity Book Celebrating The Melanated Wine Enthusiast, a collection of crossword puzzles and word finds. Cheaves conceived the book during the lockdown, after she had completed all of her usual crossword puzzles and found there were no equivalents in wine. A single page quickly became many pages and then a full-fledged book. VineMeUp is fun and entertaining, for both experienced oenophiles and those who are just beginning to explore wine. Sarita Cheaves is one of the recipients of the Vinous BIPOC Mentorship. ($25) - Coravin Sparkling What to do with that unfinished bottle? Should I open something? But I only feel like having one glass of wine tonight. These are dilemmas that have long frustrated the wine loving consumer. Coravin founder and inventor Greg Lambrecht solved the problem for still wines with his revolutionary Coravin wine preservation system years ago. But what about Champagne and other sparkling wines? Well, Lambrecht and Coravin are back with a new creation that takes care of that too. Coravin Sparkling gives wine lovers an invaluable tool for opening a bottle of sparkling wine tonight and finishing the rest over the next weekend, or at any time over the following few weeks. It's another game-changing concept from Greg Lambrecht and Coravin. ($399) - Vinous Napa Valley Vineyard Maps Created in collaboration with renowned Italian cartographer Alessandro Masnaghetti, Vinous’s Napa Valley Vineyard Maps are the most detailed vineyard maps that have ever been produced in the history of Napa Valley. The Collection presently includes seven maps: St. Helena & Conn Valley (poster format only), Oakville, Pritchard Hill, Rutherford, Stags Leap, Howell Mountain (poster format only) and Yountville. Vinous Maps are available in a handy, folded format, full-size poster format suitable for framing and special autographed Collectors’ Edition. ($25/folded map, $50/rolled map) - The Durand Corkscrew The Durand Corkscrew is a must-have for wine lovers who enjoy opening older bottles. Two blades work alongside a conventional corkscrew to extract even the most fragile, brittle corks with ease. Quite simply, the Durand is an essential tool for the serious wine lover and collector. ($125). - Vinous Classic Gift Subscription Give the gift of (wine) knowledge this holiday season with a Classic subscription to Vinous. Our team of critics spends months of the year on the road to bring Vinous readers the most up to date and in-depth insight into the world's major wine regions. Just as Vinous is the go-to destination for wine enthusiasts around the world, a Vinous gift subscription can make it become so for the wine lover in your life. A Classic subscription gives full access to the Vinous website and the apps, where you can look up reviews on the go. And if you use any of these services, you can also link your account to Delectable, CellarTracker and WineOwners. Give the gift of Vinous, and we will extend your own subscription by 3 months (offer ending January 6th, 2022). Tip: the gift subscription email is sent immediately to the recipient. You can send the email to yourself to get the gift link that you can pass on whenever you like. ($140).

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

La Grande Dame Brut Champagne Blend 2008

Alder Yarrow
9.1

Dunno, I guess the color of the label seemed thematically appropriate for Halloween, but does one really need an excuse for opening a nice bottle of champagne! This one showed up alongside a demo unit of the latest Coravin Sparkling Wine Preserver @coravin, which I’m putting to the test over the next couple of weeks. It’s been a few years since I’ve had La Grande Dame, and my memory of it was richer and more autolytic than this 2008 was this evening. Precise and taut with a nice balance between crisp apple fruit, citrus pith and a more saline and brioche quality barely scented with marzipan. — 2 years ago

Shay, Keith and 14 others liked this

Bryant Family Vineyard

Proprietor Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Soft cork, so I used the Durand just in case,
This was pop & pour even though its a Mag🤷🏼‍♂️
Had a bottle 234 weeks ago, that was not P&P
— 4 years ago

MaJ, Severn and 36 others liked this
Paul T- Huntington Beach

Paul T- Huntington Beach

Barolo needs a few more days standing upright.
Paul T- Huntington Beach

Paul T- Huntington Beach

It’s a Mag @Tom Garland , leftovers for tomorrow
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Mmm Barolo

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

La Grande Dame Brut Champagne Blend 2008

Boulder Burgfest Paulee. From Magnum and accessed via the new Coravin Champagne gadget! — 2 years ago

Jamie, Josh and 15 others liked this

Château Troplong Mondot

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

33 years old and still rockin... also the wine was great! @Tim McCarthy for the Durand, cork came out perfect, fresh and aromatic right out of the bottle, continued to open and evolve over 4 hours! Forest floor and leaves, little smoke and dark cherries, really great! — 3 years ago

Laura Tanghal McCarthy
with Laura
Jan, Tim and 15 others liked this
Tim McCarthy

Tim McCarthy

Great Birthday wine.
Hope you had a good one.
Sharon B

Sharon B Influencer Badge

Beautiful setting. Is this in Germany?

Giacomo Conterno

Riserva Monfortino Barolo Nebbiolo 2013

Tasted from bottle with Roberto Conterno. Nice to compare the wine in Zalto glass vs the Zwiesel Glass that was designed to the wishes of Roberto Conterno.
This Monfortino is very structured, multi-layered and rich. High phenolic ripeness. Lots of nuances. And the good thing is that there are 20000 bottles, 3000 magnums and 500 double magnums. 98-100
— 5 years ago

Craig, James and 13 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1992

Very special Monte Bello, best I’ve had, rich and layered with age, nose was redolent of old leather and soft spice, smokey red fruit. Silk on the palate. Finish never ended. Superb. Could go a few more years easily but cork (not the one pictured) required the Durand so likely drink soon. — 3 years ago

Diane, Shay and 30 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Coming off the heels of the 91. This 92 is sensational. Cheers to you.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

Shay A
9.7

WNH virtual Insignia Tasting. Vintages featured were ‘95, ‘96, ‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘09, ‘13 and ‘14.

This was the Wine Spectator wine of the year and received a 100 point score from Wine Advocate (for those interested in accolades and scores).

Knowing the pedigree here, I knew to expect some fireworks and tried to prepare accordingly. I gave this 24hrs upright after pulling from the cellar, and then decanted about 90mins, before consuming from the decanter over the course of the evening. The cork came out perfectly via the Durand and had absolutely zero seepage up the cork. My glass of choice was the new Glasvin Expression. Really like their glasses.

My first sip after opening had me looking at my wife saying “this is 18yrs old and is insanely youthful”. When hearing from my friends about their mid/late ‘90s, and for the ‘01, those offerings had basically zero merlot. The ‘00 had a similar amount to this (14%), and I think that component really elevated this to a more “elegant” style. The oak here comes across as a mix of French and American (though it’s all French)...the oak has such a distinct sweet note to it that I associate with American oak on Cali wines, yet isn’t full on coconut. Aromatically, it’s a beautiful display of cherry tobacco, black cherry cordial, violets, and elevated heady notes of black cherry pie. On the palate, there is creme de cassis, espresso, cocoa powder and mellowed red fruit before a finish that has surprisingly grippy tannin. This drinks like a bigger style left bank Bordeaux with how wonderfully integrated it is. Zero chance I’d call this 18yr old Napa cab if tasting blind. This easily has 5+yrs in this drinking window, and another 5-10 in the next evolution journey before really starting to slide. If opening now, decant 1-2hrs. One of the best expressions of aged Napa cab I’ve had this year.
— 3 years ago

Mike, Eric and 68 others liked this
Betsy Schermer

Betsy Schermer

@Shay A great notes. I have a bottle of the ‘02 that I’ve been saving.
joe leatherwood

joe leatherwood

Only 9.6 for this? You’re tough!
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@joe leatherwood : In fairness, it was supposed to be a 9.7! I guess I fudged the number. I think this could actually get a little better in the next 2-3yrs, so it’s definitely capable of 9.8-10!