Chateau Puygueraud, Dunn Vineyards, Mount Eden Vineyards, Ridge, Bouchard Pere et Fils
Finding the right present for your pops year in and year out can be daunting. You may have already bought him enough socks to cover the feet of a small battalion or presented him with enough ties to circumnavigate the globe a couple times. Even with those gifts, you still might have lingering questions from your more thoughtful attempts. Does he ever use that fancy espresso maker you bought him? Why does he still hook most of his drives even though you got him a batch of private golf lessons?
Personally, I defer to whiskey and wine as perfect gift ideas for a few people in my extended friends and family sphere. Of course this doesn’t work for everyone but we all have an oenophile in our midst and if that person is a father, here is a list of some really great wines that could make that guy’s day pretty incredible:
Bouchard Pere et Fils, Clos de la Mousse, Monopole Premier Cru, 2012 $68.99
Bouchard Pere et Fils can trace its roots back nearly 300 years and over those centuries it has amassed one of the largest landholdings in the Côte d’Or. They produce terroir reflective wines of incredible value and reliable quality at various price levels. This Monopole offering from a small plot in Beaune, the Clos de la Mousse, intrigues with a nose expressing deep cherry and raspberry sauce, forest floor, violets and new oak. The finish is incredibly long. This is a wine that would be pleasing for any wine drinking father and could be a great idea for a person who hasn’t explored Burgundy.
Chateau Puygueraud Cotes de Francs, Bordeaux, 2010 $34.99
Let’s get straight to the point. 2010 was an epic vintage in Bordeaux and the wines from this year are becoming harder and harder to find. This is a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Malbec from the small Cote de Francs producer Chateau Puygueraud on the Right Bank. The clay and limestone soils help the fruit develop deep rich flavors and ample structure. This cuvee has deep generous plummy fruit with tobacco, spice and vanilla notes. Super enjoyable with anything grilled and at this price it’s a fantastic bargain.
Ridge, Monte Bello, 2014 $224.99
There are very few bottles in the pantheon of American wine that have garnered as much praise or reverence as Ridge’s Monte Bello. This vintage was blended from 75% Cabernet, 18% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot and drinks almost more like a Bordeaux than a Napa Cab. Due to the intense water stress from 2014’s severe drought, Ridge had the earliest harvest of Monte Bello fruit in it’s history. While all the grapes reached physiological ripeness, the winemaking required agility and thoughtfulness so as to not extract too much tannin and maintain that characteristic balance which we expect Ridge to deliver. The nose is characteristic Ridge with American oak, blackberry, juniper, and earthy spices. This is an investment that would pay off hugely with a few more years of bottle age and true to form, this wine received upper 90 point scores from all the major publications.
Mount Eden, Chardonnay, 2011 $69.99
In 2011, Mount Eden didn’t make a reserve Chardonnay. All of the juice from what would have been in the reserve line was channeled into the regular Chardonnay line. After careful sorting, this wine saw extended lees aging and plentiful french oak and later received high praise from critics. This is pure California Chardonnay opulence with buttery, oaky flavors balanced by an almost Meursault like minerality and lemon oil quality. A glass of this makes it easy to see why Mount Eden is so highly revered. This wine is in its peak drinking window at the moment and is mesmerizing in it’s complexity, power, and nuance.
Dunn Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, 2012 $169.99
This is pure estate-grown mountain fruit made in Dunn’s uncompromisingly structured manner. Aged in all new oak for nearly 3 years, this wine will age for the foreseeable future but it is also accessible now with a little decanting. 2012 was a milestone vintage in Northern California and this shows every bit of what we expect to find from such a blockbuster year. This is a fantastic option for a cellar stocker for a wine-drinking dad.
Thanks for reading and we hope to see you around the shop soon,
D. Hultgren