Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir

The Wagner family behind Caymus has a Pinot Noir side, and this is its best-known bottle. Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir is made by Joe Wagner, fifth-generation Napa winemaker, who named the label for his grandmother Lorna Belle Glos Wagner, the Caymus co-founder who loved Pinot Noir above all. The vineyard sits at the corner of Clark Avenue and Telephone Road in the fog-cooled Santa Maria Valley, planted in 1972 to own-rooted vines of the rare Martini clone. The wine is Pinot at full volume, black cherry, blackberry pie, cocoa, and a plush texture, which makes it a holiday wine gift that reads generous the moment it's poured.

Right for year-end client lists, holiday thank-yous to partners and vendors, and recipients who find Cabernet too heavy but still want a rich red.

• The family name carries it. Recipients who know Caymus will connect the dots, and the grandmother story gives everyone else something to ask about.
• Rich Pinot is the great compromiser, big enough for Cabernet drinkers, silky enough for people who don't like tannin.
• The vineyard fact is a good one. The vines went in back in 1972 on their own roots, a rarity in California.
• It fits the season's table, turkey, ham, duck, salmon, which is exactly when holiday gifts get opened.

Make Clark & Telephone your December send; Prime Wines wraps every bottle and delivers across the US and Canada with a single invoice.

Is Belle Glos Clark & Telephone a good holiday wine gift?

Yes. It comes from the Caymus family's Wagner winemaking line, named for the grandmother who co-founded Caymus in 1972, and its rich, silky style suits nearly every holiday table. Prime Wines delivers it gift-wrapped with your message across the US and Canada.

What should I write in the gift message with Belle Glos?

Lean on the family angle without a history lesson. Try "A wine made in honor of a beloved grandmother felt right for the season. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday," or keep it simple: "A family wine for the family season. Thank you for a great year."