Wine Gifts for Dad
Need a gift for Father's Day? Check out these wines, chosen for every type of dad
Eric Arnold
Posted: Wednesday, June 14, 2006
It's always tough to figure out what to get Dad for Father's Day. After all, every father is different, even if, on the surface, they all seem to do basically the same two things: work and nap. So, we've put together a helpful list of wines that make great gift ideas for all different types of dads. These are wines that will say to Dad that you understand and appreciate him, whether or not he's a wine connoisseur.
And since what Dad really wants is not to pick up the check for once, take a look at our restaurant database for a list of Wine Spectator Award-winning restaurants he might like you to take him to. Feel free to splurge, since he fed you for at least 18 years—and possibly more.
Happy Father's Day!
Wine Tips for Different Dads
Manly Man Dad
Manly men are all about appearances and will certainly appreciate a wine with a galloping stallion or matador on the label, as these ones have.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| IRON HORSE Chardonnay Sonoma County Green Valley 2003 | 88 | $26 |
| Rich and creamy, with supple, harmonious vanilla, honey, pear and melon flavors. The acidity keeps the flavors lively on the finish. Drink now through 2008. 10,000 cases made. |
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| RANCHO ZABACO Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Stefani Vineyard 2004 | 85 | $28 |
| Refreshing, with juicy wild berry flavors, hints of toasty vanilla and a floral talc note, ending with drying tannins. Drink now. 1,609 cases made. |
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| WILD HORSE Pinot Noir Central Coast 2002 | 83 | $23 |
| Lean and distinctly herbal, with toasty cherry flavors that lead to a tight and tannic finish. Drink now. 13,716 cases made. | ||
Racing-Fan Dad
NASCAR, Indy, Formula One—all the drivers on the big circuits seem to have their own wines nowadays. Here are some of the better ones.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| BENNETT LANE Maximus Napa Valley 2003 | 90 | $28 |
| Impressive for its concentration, depth and complexity, with tiers of red currant, wild berry, mocha, fresh earth and cedar notes. Well-focused, it gains depth and length on the finish, where the flavors fan out, ending with a firm, tannic aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2010. 3,850 cases made. |
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| ANDRETTI Chardonnay Napa Valley 2002 | 86 | $16 |
| Citrus, cedar, fruit salad and pear tones fold together nicely, with fine intensity and vanilla notes on the lively finish. Drink now through 2005. 1,300 cases made. | ||
Golf-Nut Dad
Not to be left in the dust by the race car drivers, professional golfers have wines of their own—some of them great.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ENGELBRECHT-ELS Ernie Els Stellenbosch 2003 | 92 | $87 |
| Very rich, with layers of black currant, fig, black tea, cocoa and tar that pump through from start to finish. Plenty of ripe structure adds length and depth to the dark, rich, meaty finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2008. 440 cases imported. |
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| GREG NORMAN CALIFORNIA ESTATES Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County 2004 | 85 | $15 |
| Appealing for its direct, user-friendly, up-front fruitiness, with ripe plum, blackberry and cherry notes that are rich and fleshy. Drink now. 13,782 cases made. |
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| ARNOLD PALMER Cabernet Sauvignon California 2002 | 85 | $15 |
| Supple and elegant, with a modest range of earth, currant, spice and cedar. Turns a bit simpler on the finish, though a touch of chocolate-vanilla bean extends the aftertaste. Drink now through 2009. 10,000 cases made. |
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Outdoorsy Dad
OK, we're going by labels here, ones that highlight the outdoor activities that Dad might enjoy. Not to worry, these wines are great—and probably best enjoyed indoors with a nice dinner.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CANOE RIDGE Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2004 | 88 | $19 |
| Soft and distinctive for its orange-scented pear and spice flavors, finishing with appealing richness without much weight. Drink now through 2009. 3,460 cases made. |
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| DECOY Napa Valley 2003 | 86 | $28 |
| Complex if on a modest scale, with lots of tannins to shed, but also some pleasing black cherry, anise and dried currant flavors that hang together. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2009. 4,459 cases made. |
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New-to-Wine Dad
These wines are modest in price and big on flavor. And even better, they're all sealed with a screw cap, so you can take this as an opportunity to get Dad drinking good wines without any preconceived notions about closures.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ARGYLE Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2004 | 89 | $20 |
| Light, bright and refreshing, with nice, pure dark berry and a hint of smoke mingling on the lively finish. Drink now through 2008. 19,700 cases made. |
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| SPY VALLEY Chardonnay Marlborough 2004 | 88 | $24 |
| Toasty, spicy and polished, balancing juicy acidity against the creamy pear and nutmeg flavors, finishing with persistence. Drink now through 2010. 4,700 cases made. |
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| SCREW KAPPA NAPA Zinfandel Napa Valley 2003 | 85 | $14 |
| Round, with deft vibrancy to tangy berry, plum, spice and oak tones. Lively structure keeps the beat through the finish. Drink now through 2007. 10,000 cases made. | ||
Napa Dad
If Dad is serious about wine, here are some seriously good Napa Cabs he's sure to enjoy.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| LEWIS Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003 | 94 | $70 |
| Combines richness and concentration with a sense of elegance and finesse, as the layers of currant, blackberry and wild berry fruit are joined by tobacco, sage, cedar and tar, firming up nicely on the finish, where the tannins give it a sweet fruit edge. Best from 2007 through 2012. 1,500 cases made. |
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| CAYMUS Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003 | 93 | $70 |
| Smooth, rich and seductive, with impeccable balance, great depth and lots of finesse and flavor. The layers of plum, black cherry, mocha, spice and wild berry flavors unfold gracefully, keeping a tight focus and fanning out, giving it a long, supple aftertaste. Drink now through 2012. 32,650 cases made. |
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| BUEHLER Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003 | 90 | $25 |
| Excellent balance and purity of youthful Cabernet flavors. Rich currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit is well-defined and oak plays a supporting role, with a dash of espresso bean and hazelnut. The tannins give it firmness and depth. Terrific price, too. Best from 2006 through 2013. 5,500 cases made. |
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Hard-to-Impress Dad
If you've got the budget, Dad can't help but be impressed if you get him one of these wines. He might even think you have something major to apologize for.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CHÂTEAU D'YQUEM Sauternes 2001 | 100 | $400 |
| The greatest young Yquem I have ever tasted from bottle. Yellow, with a golden hue and an almost green tint. Intense aromas of botrytis, spices and blanched almonds follow through to honey, maple syrup, dried apricot and pineapple. Full-bodied, sweet, thick and powerful, with layers of fruit and a bright, lively finish. Coats the palate yet remains exciting. So balanced and refined, showing the pedigree that only this Sauternes estate can deliver. Best after 2012. 10,000 cases made. |
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| PENFOLDS Shiraz South Australia Grange 1998 | 99 | $205 |
| Powerful, aristocratic and impressive in the way it gathers up its flavors and lets them hang on and on. The range starts with black cherry, blackberry, exotic spice and mineral, and moves on to dark licorice, pepper and subtle gamy notes. Then it all comes together and picks up speed on the lingering finish. Best after 2007. 9,000 cases made. |
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Art-Collector Dad
All of these wines have artist-series labels, so Dad can enjoy what's on the outside of the bottle as well as what's on the inside.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CHÂTEAU MOUTON-ROTHSCHILD Pauillac 2003 | 94 | $325 |
| Blackberry, cherry and currant with just a hint of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a lovely combination of ripe fruit and vanilla character. Goes on and on. Long and very stylish. Balanced and refined. Best after 2011. 23,330 cases made. |
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| BETTS & SCHOLL Grenache Barossa Valley 2003 | 90 | $29 |
| Supple, silky and almost airy. Open-textured, with lovely pomegranate and red cherry flavors wafting on a strong breeze of ultrafine tannins, lingering on the finish with delicacy. Drink now through 2009. 700 cases imported. |
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| CLOS PEGASE Chardonnay Napa Valley Carneros Mitsuko's Vineyard Hommage Artist Series Reserve 2003 | 90 | $36 |
| Classic toasty oak, roasted marshmallow style and very well done, with layers of ripe, creamy apricot, fig, pineapple, nutmeg and hazelnut flavors that unfold gracefully, especially given its depth and dimension. Drink now through 2009. 383 cases made. |
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Funny Dad
Wines for the Dad with a really good sense of humor about the wines he drinks—and himself.
| Wine | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| KAESLER Shiraz Barossa Valley Old Bastard 2002 | 94 | $120 |
| A skyscraper of a wine. Dense, powerful and rangy, with raw-edged cherry, blackberry and cedary spice flavors competing for attention, persisting impressively on the long, vivid finish. Give it time to integrate its tannins. Best from 2007 through 2017. 150 cases imported. |
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| GABRIEL MEFFRE Chardonnay Vin de Pays d'Oc Thierry and Guy Fat Bastard 1999 | 82 | $12 |
| Straightforward, with tropical fruit flavors and a nice touch of richness. Drink now. 35,000 cases made. |
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