2011 gift guide: A wine for everyone on your list(5)
For: Collectors of older wines with imperfect storage.
The plan: A gadget that combines the best of two cork extraction methods.
The details: Lovers of older wines will be familiar with the so-called "ah-so," a two-pronged thingie that can, when wielded gently, pull out delicate old corks without crumbling them. But sometimes they need the added force of a corkscrew. The Durand ($125 at thedurand.com) combines the best of both methods with a device that is sure to become the new must-have accessory among the collectible set. Not for young bottles - but when that 1949 Musigny is staring you in the face, nothing but the best technology will do.
For: Party gifts for a Barolo fiend.
The plan: A simpler take on Piedmont that overdelivers.
The details: Barolo may have the magnitude, but there's plenty of possible disappointment wrapped up in Piedmont's lesser Nebbiolos. Luckily, there have been a raft of standout Langhe bottles lately. Look no further than the 2009 De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo ($20, 14%, Rosenthal Wine Merchant), a classic specimen full of tarry earth, burnt orange, rose hip and roasted cherry. It's got a mellowness, but with enough chalky depth to make it the perfect bottle to tote along to a party. You might be tempted to buy it by the case. Alternately, there's the 2010 Giacomo Fenocchio Dolcetto d'Alba ($20, 12.5%, Terrell Wines), a reminder of how refreshing the humble Dolcetto grape used to be - full of plum, blueberry and quarry dust, and light on its feet.
For: The Zinner in need of redemption.
The plan: Dig up a tribute to old-school Zinfandel.
The details: Amid all the candied, overwrought specimens of Zinfandel that have left their original partisans scowling, there's still room for hope. Look no further the 2008 Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Estate Napa Valley Zinfandel ($34, 14.7%), a savory, floral take on Napa Zin that smells like plums and tulips in a wooden window box. Jerry Seps is a master of Zin nuance, as this latest example shows. Or look for the 2009 Bucklin Bambino Old Hill Ranch Sonoma Valley Zinfandel ($24, 15.2%), a young-vines effort from one of Sonoma's oldest vineyard sites. It's not only an homage to proper field blends (Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and more appear), but it also offers that perfect mix of bramble fruit and dark pepper spice, with raspberry jam and bay leaf tones. Both are perfect choices for when holiday roasts come out to play.
