2011 gift guide: A wine for everyone on your list(4)
For: Beer lovers with notions of tradition.
The plan: An oversize classic from a San Francisco landmark.
The details: It's been a few years since we tapped the magnum-size bottle of Anchor's 2011 Christmas Ale ($15, 5.5%). Even though the landmark brewery changed hands last year, the quality in its seasonal efforts hasn't wavered. So go there. It's as festive a time as you can have for under 20 bucks.
For: Your cousin who has a crush on Pinot Grigio.
The plan: A slight expansion of horizons, in the minerally white realm.
The details: In that gap between rich Chardonnay and tweaky Sauvignon Blanc lies a third option for white-wine fans, one too often occupied by wines masquerading as water. The solution to fill this third way is Picpoul, the southern French grape that combines bracing minerality with rich fruit. And the 2010 Chateau Font-Mars Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet ($12, 12.5%, Weygandt-Metzler) is a focused, pitch-perfect example, full of waxy apple and mandarin, with great salty and floral accents. This sort of balance in an everyday white makes it the fail-safe hit to bring along to any gathering.
For: The barbecue/kalbi/hot pot holiday party.
The plan: A pepper-smoke red that's a perfect house gift.
The details: If your friends prefer a bit of spice to their winter menus, Cabernet Franc from the Loire is your great solution. And while there's no shortage of options (go to sfg.ly/u6HCNG), in this case it's hard to beat the simplicity (or price) of the 2009 Cave de Saumur Lieu-dit Les Epinats Saumur Rouge ($12, 12.5%, Grape Expectations) from an outstanding co-op in Saint Cyren Bourg. Its red is thirst-quenching and finessed, with a pleasant dusty edge to dried-chile spice and tart, fresh plum fruit. A thinking man's party wine.
