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My sister called from Florida last year when her husband Ed was turning 50. He had been dropping hints that he’d like a wine gift.

She wanted advice on a half-case (six bottles) that would average $100 or less. I didn’t want to include anything as obvious as a Bordeaux first-growth from the affordable 1999 or 2001 vintages, or even a second-wave cult Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa. Ed could suss out those for himself.

But this was a 50th birthday, after all, so it also wouldn’t be appropriate to fill the gift box with underrated Chablis and best-buy Dolcetto. I needed skyrockets, marching bands, that sort of thing.

After much careful consideration, I suggested the following options (which you can apply to any upcoming landmark or holiday events in your life, too):

1. Like most wine lovers, Ed regards Bordeaux as the world’s benchmark region. The 2002s are the most reasonably priced recent vintage, but let’s splurge on a 2000 for him, though we might have to dig to find it. How about Margaux’s silky Chateau Kirwan ($75), which is at the forefront of that appellation’s recent revival? It won’t be drinkable for a few years, but that’s fine. He’ll be reminded of this gift each time he looks in his wine cellar.

2. Italy next. Few wine lovers give proper appreciation to Barolo, and I don’t think Ed has any in his collection. Good ones are expensive, but we’re under budget. So let’s buy a Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc 2001 ($105), one of the best Piemontese bottlings from a deservedly hyped vintage. Tight now, it’ll open with a few hours in the decanter, or three more years in the bottle.

3. To Burgundy. Maison Joseph Drouhin’s Vosne Romanee Les Petits Monts ($110) is made by the engaging Veronique Drouhin – who also runs the family’s Oregon property – from grapes grown in her own small vineyard. I haven’t had the 2003, the current release, but the 2001 and 2002 were gorgeous. And in Burgundy, I always trust the producer and the terroir more than the vintage.

4. Spain’s Pago de los Capellanes Reserva 2001 ($50) is the perfect gift for a true wine lover. This Ribera del Duero ranks among my favorite reasonably priced reds anywhere in the world. It’s balanced and elegant, but has the seriousness of purpose to be drunk on a milestone birthday. I’d be tempted to buy two bottles.

5. I’ve written before about Christophe Baron’s single-vineyard Cayuse Syrahs, but if you’re not on the Cayuse mailing list, they’ll be hard to find. Instead, Ed would enjoy a K Syrah Cougar Hills 2003 ($45), which tastes like plums and blueberries.

6. This leaves one wine gift for Ed to go, so I’m heading back to Italy. Though the ultra-ripe Fanti Brunello di Montalcino 1999 ($90) is made in a California style by Stefano Chioccioli, the Tuscan sun shines through the velvety fruit and new oak. It isn’t as restrained and beautiful as the ‘99 or ‘01 Sesta di Sopra, or as balanced as the ‘01 Ciacci Piccolomini Vigna di Pianrossa, but if you like that full-throttle approach, it might well be the most exciting wine in our gift repertoire.

Bruce Schoenfeld is a HinsdaleCellars.com columnist, author and nationally published magazine writer on wine, travel and sports.

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 27th, 2007 at 11:43 am and is filed under Bruce Schoenfeld, Vintelligence Archive. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.