When you acquire your first d'Yquem, you're entering the gilded age of wine drinking. Worth it's weight in liquid gold, Chateau d'Yquem has the Midas touch for Sauternes and has been the absolute icon for the French varietal for more than 400 years. The renowned house makes opulent and highly selective vintages only in years good enough to be cellared for future generations, and critics called the 1997 a particularly fine vintage: full-bodied and syrupy sweet with candied lemon and tropical fruit flavors. Open this nectar of the gods on your 5-year anniversary and experience its benevolent sorcery with a board full of stinky French cheeses and pates.
When you want a solid white from a legendary winemaker but don't want to take the whole wine thing too seriously, Conundrum is your wingman. A blend from the famed Wagner Family in Napa Valley (of Caymus fame), this is the kind of wine that winemakers drink when they're off duty: playing with their wine, rather than playing with their food, mixing different bottles together to see what they can come up with - "the heck with the rules," says the legend himself, winemaker Chuck Wagner. And we're all big winners from that kind of earnest rule-breaking, because this light and juicy white blend celebrates everything that's best about California whites from the family that wasn't afraid to bring white blends back to the table. This non-traditional "mystery" blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sémillon and Muscat Canelli has been charming both casual wine drinkers and serious critics every single year since its introduction 1989.
This pocket sized can of red wine from The Drop combines Old Vine Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah with a little spritz. It's perfect for a fireside gathering or tossing into your purse for an outdoor concert all cuddled up on a blanket. Each can equals 1.5 glasses of wine, no bottle service necessary.