A Wine Wish List for the Holidays

When I walked into the office this morning, one of my partners handed me a small velvet bag tied with a nice tasseled bow at the top. It was the perfect start to the day as I knew it was a bottle of wine for the holidays.

It turned out to be a bottle of 1996 Opus One, a great meritage, or blend, from the Rothschild/Mondavi Partnership. A very, very generous gift indeed, and one I will remember for years to come.

To me, wine is one of the best gifts for the holiday season. It is always appreciated, has an excellent shelf life and can create a lasting impression with friends or business associates. And it is easy to give as a gift. If you follow the tips in my last column, you'll surely find a wine that will please your friends and colleagues alike. Clearly, the wines in that column will provide joy for anyone who receives them.

Yet if you are looking for that very special bottle for that very special spouse, friend or client, here is my 2004 wish list for the holiday season.

Really Bold Reds

The winery that coined the phrase "Life is a Cabernet" -- Silver Oak Cellars -- gets top billing on my wish list. The 1999 Napa Valley Cabernet is a big yet very smooth drinking Cabernet that was limited in production because of unusual weather patterns in the Napa Valley.

The La Nina weather pattern caused a very slow start to the growing season -- a dry, cold winter followed by a long, cool spring meant a small crop with slow growth. Summer also started cool -- which caused a smaller crop as well -- but warming in August and September led to rapid maturity in the months prior to harvest. The result was a small crop, but one that was bursting with flavorful juices.