Nebbiolo, Piemonte, Italy

Sometimes the classics just hit. Whether looking for an elegant gift or pretending you are dining with Stanley Tucci in a beloved Piemontese trattoria, fancy Italian red is simply never a bad idea. Barbaresco is the delicate, earlier drinking sibling to broad-shouldered Barolo, made a stone’s throw away from the famed full-bodied, mega-ageable grape Nebbiolo. People are always saying Nebbiolo tastes like roses and leather, which is sexy and also usually true. This Cortese is made by a small family winery in the extra-prized region of Rabajà. This is structured, full-bodied, but beautifully balanced. Think Adam Driver’s wardrobe in House of Gucci, spooky, elaborate 6-day old floral centrepiece, deep dark fruit, hand-rolled tobacco and homemade jerky. Forget in your cellar for years or pour into a decanter, which can be a milk jug, to open this up in its youth. Bonus points for opening it up the day BEFORE you’d like to drink it, seriously!