Thoughtful, Valuable, Tailored Gifts

The good news is, bargains abound in BC Liquor stores. Okay, bargain may be too strong a word, but prices are softening and if you have the time to prowl the shelves you will discover a number of wines that are marked down. The challenge is to keep your gift thoughtful, valuable, and most important tailored to the desires of the recipient. .

Today we have assembled some specific gift ideas in a number of price ranges complete with some book choices both new and old. As in past years I have included backup wine picks in case the main choice is sold out.

$10-$20

We begin with a delicious sauvignon blanc made for seafood that was $16 and now sells for $13. Quintay Clava Sauvignon Blanc 2007 from Chile's cool, Casablanca Valley. You will love the grapefruit, dried herbs, pepper, grassy, passion fruit flavours with balance. Other excellent wines under $20 include: Pascual Toso Malbec 2008 ($14), Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2007 ($15), Don Miguel Gascon Malbec 2007 ($17), and Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinho Tinto 2007 ($20).

Recommended Book: The Oxford Companion to Wine 3rd Edition by Jancis Robinson $45-$50

$21-$30

Piero Antinori is passing on the empire to his three daughters but he is still directing traffic and remaining a force in Tuscany. The latest Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2006 is a fine example of the new Chianti: 90 per cent sangiovese with a touch of merlot and syrah. A terrific dinner wine. Other choices to look for include: Altesino Rosso 2007, Tuscany, Italy $22, Burgans Albarino 2007, Rias Baixas, Spain $24, Liberty School Syrah 2007, Paso Robles, California $24, Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2007, Clare Valley, South Australia $29.

Recommended Book: Mangia with Quattro: Family- Style Italian from the Heart by Antonio Corsi and Patrick Corsi (Whitecap Books) $20.

$31-$50

The '06 Bordeaux are taking it on the chin mostly for under delivering for the price. They are not all dogs as evidence by the Chateau Bourgneuf 2006 from Pomerol. This merlot/ cabernet franc blend offers up smoky, coffee, meaty, black cherry, tobacco flavours with fleshy textures and a peppery mineral aftertaste. Other wines in this price range include: Insoglio del Cinghiale 2005, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy $43, Emiliana Coyam 2006, Valle del Colchagua, Chile $32, Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato 2006, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy $35.

Recommended Book: Liquid Memory: Why Wine Matters, by Jonathan Nossiter (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $26).

$51 -$70

The Ice Jacket Veuve Clicquot Brut N/V is a crowd pleaser gift and a delicious drop of sparkling wine too. Look for a bright orange cooling jacket you can keep for future use and of course the citrus, nutty, toasty, green apple, mineral flavoured fizz. The big toasty N/V brut defines its house style thanks to the use of some 25 to 40 per cent reserve wine in the blend. Backup picks include: Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rose N/V, Champagne, France $70, Catena Alta Malbec 2006, Mendoza, Argentina $61, Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon/ Shiraz The Signature 2005, Barossa Valley, Australia $60.

Recommended Book: The Finest Wines of Champagne A guide to the best Cuvees, Houses, and Growers by Michael Edwards (University Of California Press $26).

$71 -$90

Classic California blended red made to age is the Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, from Sonoma County. Rich elegant, supple with plenty of tobacco, chocolate, cassis, cherry jam and spicy licorice flavours. Other best bets include: Osoyoos Larose 2006 $85 (1.5L), Bodegas Alion 2004, Ribera del Duero, Castilla-Leon, Spain, $80.

Recommended Book: California's Central Coast: The Ultimate Winery Guide: From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles by Mira Advani Honeycutt (Raincoast Books $16)

$91 plus

One for the grandkid's cellar or grandpa is Croft Vintage Port 2007. A remarkable opulent delicious port from a sensational vintage. Other wines over $90 include: Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz 2004, Clare Valley, Australia $193, Guado al Tasso Bolgheri 2006, Tuscany, Italy $94.

Recommended Book: The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine by Benjamin Wallace (Crown Publishing $13)

Price      $15

UPC       07804613410019

Score     88/100

Remarks              Killer value at this price.

ANTINORI PEPPOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006, TUSCANY, ITALY

Price      $29

UPC       008001935001362

Score     90/100

Remarks              Classic Chianti that is ready to drink but will hold for five years.

CHATEAU BOURGNEUF 2006, POMEROL, LIBOURNE, BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Price      $49

UPC       3328150020745

Score     89/100

Remarks              Good finesse with meaty, black cherry, tobacco, mineral flavours. Great cellar gift.

VEUVE CLICQUOT BRUT (ICE JACKET) N/V, CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE

Price      $69

UPC       3049614072949

Score     92/100

Remarks              A very citrus, crisp style champagne wrapped in an orange cooling jacket.

CHATEAU ST. JEAN CINQ CÉPAGES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

Price      $90

UPC       0089819056583

Score     92/100

Remark: Fine complexity and aromatics in a youthful red to cellar.

CROFT VINTAGE PORT 2007, DOURO VALLEY, PORTUGAL

Price      $123

UPC       5602418002314

Score     94/100

Remarks              The best in years from Croft that will keep for the next 40 years.