california wine holiday stock

20 California Wines to Gift this Christmas

Three French hens? Two turtle doves? A partridge in a pear tree? Hmmmm…is there a gift receipt? Give friends and family what they really want this holiday season: a truly fabulous bottle of California wine that they would normally not splurge on for themselves. Here are some best bets.

2019 Chimney Rock Tomahawk Cabernet, Stags Leap District

Forget a bouquet of roses. Amp up the romance this holiday season with this aromatic masterpiece. Expect the room to fill with a rich cherry scent, followed by layers of tobacco leaf, and dark berries upon opening. Once it breathes, pour a glass of this California wine and delight in every seductive, full-bodied note on the palate. $165

TOR Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A true Napa Cab made from the finest fruit across three Oakville vineyards – Tench, Double H Ranch and Renteria 360 – it deftly offers savory flavors like mushroom while still letting cocoa, sweet blueberries and warming winter spices to shine in every sip. $110

Skipstone 2021 Preface Proprietary Red

A Bordeaux blend for the ages with luxuriously silky tannins, it opens with aromatics of ripe black fig and blackcurrant jam, tempered with a kiss of hibiscus, cranberry and lavender. To the taste, things really get interesting as a symphony of candied plums and black cherries roar on the palate, followed by roasty coffee beans and, finally, a kick of spice during the grand finale. $85

Signorello Padrone 2019

A throwback to the best of Old-World winemaking, Signorello’s vineyards are located entirely on the hillside and are hand harvested with careful precision, ensuring a truly authentic expression of the unique terroir. It envelops one’s sense of smell first, teasing with notes of dark chocolate, espresso and blackcurrant. When taking a sip, sit back and let the waves of licorice, lavender and epic spices glide slowly and rhythmically across the lips and onto the palate. $275

Merriam Vineyards 2019 Windacre Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

There is just something about a wine that has a whisper of vanilla on the nose and to the taste. Enjoy it here along with aromatics of berry and some vegetal spice for balance. There is also a hint of cedar on the palate and a touch of cherry toward the end. $100

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Emeritus Pinot Hill Cruz

There is a tart berry fragrance to this beauty with just a pinch of floral and wood that perfumes the room once the bottle is decanted. On the palate, expect a bright, concentrated berry flavor and a surprisingly long finish. $115

Trefethen 2019 Reserve Cabernet

Is that…nutmeg? One of the true scents of the season is present on the nose in this stunning Cabernet Sauvignon made from select, ultra-prized lots within the vineyard. The nutmeg is intermingled with notes of blueberry and boysenberry and a touch of earth for balance. To the taste, juicy plum and bold cherry jump to the lips, followed by just enough pepper to add a layer of complexity in every sip. $130

Dry Creek 2019 50th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon

This collector’s edition of wine honors the five decades that the Stare family has worked the land and created sensational Bordeaux-style wines in the heart of Sonoma. The blackcurrant and cherry really sing on the palate with this wine, but do not sleep on the lovely notes of dark berry or pepper present as well. $100

Jeff Cohn Cellars 2019 Buffalo Hill Syrah

I only want to see you…laughing in the purple rain. Purple rain. Purple rain! The deep, hypnotic purple color of this wine is utterly intoxicating. The spell only deepens upon enjoying the California wine, first taking in its chocolate, crème de cassis and black cherry aromatics and then indulging in its rich chocolate, lavender and black fruit flavor notes. $175

Papapietro-Perry 2021 Founder’s Blend, Pinot Noir

To celebrate the brand’s 25th Anniversary, the winemaker created a true work of art with this vintage. The red fruits in this Pinot are utter perfection, as is the hint of earth and just the teeniest touch of cola. $95

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2018 Croquet Vineyard Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Every sip of this luxury Cabernet feels festive, almost like winter in the glass. On the nose, there are dark fruits, herbs and an oaky warmth. Upon tasting, all who drink it will be dazzled with way the notes of plum, blackberry and blueberry play off of each other, complemented by a kiss of tobacco. $170

2019 J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon

Initially made from specially selected vines and blended to honor the 80th birthday of founder Jerry Lohr, each bottle of this wine is embossed with his actual signature and, according to Lohr, is the culmination of his three decades of winemaking all in one bottle. $100

William Cole Vineyards 2016 Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon

Named after founders William and Jane Ballentine’s daughter, Claire, this structured and smooth offering is a lovely tribute to the family, not to mention a bucket-list Cabernet for any connoisseur. Vanilla, oak, tobacco and dark fruits dominate the nose and palate, with every sip better than the last. $215

2018 Transcendent Black Stallion Estate Winery

Whoa, Nelly! Sourced from vineyards both at higher elevations and in the Valley, Transcendent is a trip for every single taste bud. It opens with plum and chocolate-covered berries, complemented by cigar box, and then makes way for notes of black cherry, graphite and a luxurious, lingering finish. $155

Rombauer 2018 Le Meilleur Du Chai

The jewel atop the crown that is the Rombauer brand, this Cabernet with just a touch of Petit Verdot lets black cherry and crème de cassis serve as the stars of the show, with supporting players including green olives and oak on the nose and winter spice and vanilla bean on the palate. It is a showstopper. $175

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Francis Ford Coppola Winery Archimedes

A wine that actually has notes of…grapes! Well, there is a distinct aroma of sweet raisins in this stunner, paired on the nose with chocolate and toffee candy. To the taste, flavors of espresso, cocoa nibs and winter spices come in ever-so-welcoming waves, and there is some sexy tobacco for just a blush of the moment on the palate at the finish. $120

Longboard 2021 Duke’s 42 Blend

Cabernet, Syrah and Malbec…oh my! This inspired red blend began as the winemaker’s personal quest to take his Syrah to another level. Here, the Cabernet and Malbec are used to allow for a longer aging process for the Syrah, giving it deeper layers of fruit and complexity, especially dark fruit, a touch of vanilla and definitely chocolate. $135

Capo Creek 2019 Cabernet Franc

Get this one fast as it is only available for a limited time and, once the ultra-small production is gone, it is gone! This particular vintage has a lovely bouquet of raspberries, and to the taste its perfectly balanced combination of spice, bell pepper, vanilla and fruit will have the mouth watering for more. $135

Barnett Vineyards 2021 Rattlesnake Cabernet Sauvignon

Like the mighty rattlesnake itself, this varietal is exceptionally powerful yet elegant and impressively intense. Caramel, espresso and raspberry jam dominate the nose but then give way to a surprising minerality and slight floral aromatics. It erupts on the taste buds, offering rich dark chocolate and cherry notes that linger seductively on the tongue. $225

ONEHOPE Iconic Cabernet Sauvignon

Expressive and indulgent, just as it should be from time to time and especially at the holidays, every aspect of this California wine evokes shock, awe and all sorts of yum. Vanilla and spice are intermingled here with finesse, as are blackberry jam and bright red fruit. $200

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