Wine gifts for friends—and yourself

Hold the mink toothbrush, said Raymond Sokolov in SmartMoney. If you really want to send me a holiday greeting, make it a bottle of Screaming Eagle, the great California Cabernet Sauvignon that sells for $1,775 a bottle and up. Of course, most of those are already reserved for chic restaurants and privileged friends of the winery. For the rest of us, there are still plenty of wonderful wine gifts tailored to every income level.

Foxglove Edna Valley Chardonnay 2006 ($10) This sturdy homage to Chardonnay’s Burgundy roots will be prized by anyone “tired of the cream soda” that many California vintners produce by fermenting Chardonnay grapes in too much oak. “At this price, send a case.”

Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 ($29) This mellow “red to remember from Argentina” rivals many Bordeaux, and will still be drinkable seven years from now.

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Zind Humbrecht Riesling Heimbourg 2004 ($43) This Alsatian winery “produces truly dazzling whites” quite different from the very sweet Rieslings too often produced in Germany. Complex palate, “floral aromas.”

Embruix Vall Llach Priorat 2003 ($30) This Catalonian red wine has a hard-to-pronounce name and is made from the lowly Granacha grape. “Big nose, deep structure.”