Food & Wine USA - (12)December 2018

DECEMBER 2018 81

BOTTLE SERVICE

Ring in the

Old Ye a r e

perfect gift?

Try a birth-

year bottling.

STOCKING STUFFERS

THERE’S A CLASSIC WINE-BUSINESS joke that

suggests you should buy a case of wine for your

child’s birth year. You cellar it away, then, when

the kid finally goes off to college, you breathe

a sigh of relief, sit back, and drink it all your-

self—every last bottle. But, cynicism aside, buying

someone a gift that speaks to their birth year is a

lovely, generous thing to do. And what better gift

than great wine or aged spirits? Here are a few

suggestions, by decade.

GIFTS FOR

People in eir 20s

Look for top Bordeaux from

the Médoc in 1990 and 1995

or Pomerols from 1998.

Napa’s 1994 and 1997 vin-

tages shone; so, still, do

many of the underrated

1998s, like the fragrant 1998

Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon

($179). Or for someone on

the scary border of their

30s, consider the spicy,

seductive Glenmorangie

Grand Vintage Malt 1989

(from $600)—a dram or

two, served neat, certainly

ought to soothe their alarm.

GIFTS FOR

People in eir 30s

If the birth year matches

up, great Bordeaux from

1982 or 1985 is an excellent

choice (the 1985 Château

Lynch-Bages, with its evoc-

ative graphite and black-

berry notes, is about $300).

Or Madeira: he toffee-rich

1987 Cossart Gordon Bual

($210) and the zesty 1980

Blandy’s Terrantez ($245)

and are both sublime. Or

ballpark your loved one’s

decade with a bottle of

Graham’s luscious 30 Year

Old Tawny Port ($120).

GIFTS FOR

People in eir 40s

and 50s

Kopke recently released a

string of beautiful, very old

single-vintage tawny ports—

though never refer to some-

one in their 40s or 50s as

“very old,” unless you enjoy

icy looks. Vintages from the

1950s and ’60s are avail-

able, such as the hauntingly

aromatic 1966 Kopke

Colheita ($240). Or, for that

special person turning 50

this month, hunt down he

Last Drop Distillers’

Glenrothes 1968. It runs

$6,250, but if your recipient

is a single-malt lover,

they’ll be utterly thrilled.

(Of course you’ll be utterly

poor, but what the heck!)

GIFTS FOR

People in eir 60s

and Older

For folks in their 60s and

beyond, consider Château

de Laubade’s remarkable

vintage Armagnacs—bottles

are available dating back to

1893. hat year is, admit-
      tedly, stupendously expen-
      sive, but if anyone you
      know is 125 years old, they
      deserve it. More realistically,
      vintages from the 1940s
      and ’50s can be found for
      around $1,400. Or consider
      something like the honeyed
      Hine Triomphe Cognac
      ($1,000), a sublime blend of
      different barrels aged 50 to
      60 years. Alarmingly pricey,
      true; but if you’ve got a big
      family and everyone kicks
      in $50 or so, you’re there.
      Just make sure you have a
      glass ready when your Gran
      opens that bottle.
      ILLUSTRATION: ELVIS SWIFT