Choose wisely when gift of wine is for the boss

Picking a gift wine for the boss can be a tricky process for you are investing (gambling) that he or she will like one bottle of wine.

So you should know what you are buying if you want to please the boss.

It is generally easier to find good reds than whites when giving a present, especially when you want to spend $25 or more.

I asked the wine-tasting group to sample five different wines they might give to their boss. We picked wines in five different price categories, ranging from $24.99 to $75.

Here are our tasting notes:

- 2001 Biale Monte Rosso Zinfandel at $39.99. This wine showed sweet fruit and tobacco leaf in the aroma. In the mouth, it tasted of ripe fruit and a hint of pepper, all supported by a stout backbone. The Biale had a lush texture, full of spice and black cherry fruit, but the finish dropped off a bit quickly.

- 1999 Mariah Zinfandel at $29.99. This wine was full of tannins, those chemicals in grapes that give wine structure over time but in their youth can make your mouth pucker. Not only did our mouth pucker, but it had enough "splinters" to figuratively pick from our teeth. Yet this wine contained a lot of fruit -- almost a fruit bomb. It was a good wine to drink immediately. It had a long but slightly thin finish.

- 2000 Paul Hobbs Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at $59.99. This was a big wine with a meaty aroma, complex and showing cedar, leather and jammy red and black fruit. In the mouth, it had a soft, lush texture that played gently around the tongue. On the finish, it had subtle but supple (pleasing) tannins.

- 1999 Ilona Howell Mountain at $74.99. Tasters described this wine as "sexy," "earthy," "dusty" and full of black fruit. In the mouth, we tasted vanilla and mint. The tannins stuck to our teeth, making them gritty and promising this wine would be long-lasting. The finish was medium-long.

- 2002 Two Hands "Angels Share" Shiraz at $24.99. Two Hands is making some of the best shiraz from down under these days, and this wine was an extraordinary value. We found cedar, eucalyptus, menthol and rose in the aroma. It was very herbaceous in the mouth, along with dark, red fruit and hints of juniper.

Surfing the wine shelves:

- 2001 Markham Chardonnay at $15.99. This wine had an aroma of Granny Smith apples, lemons and minerals. In the mouth, the texture was creamy with vanilla that continued onto the finish.

- 1999 Burgess Enveiere at $70. This was a classic Meritage blend primarily from cabernet sauvignon. Dark purple in color, the wine had a spicy nose full of dark fruit that carried all the way to the finish. This was a lush wine that should be satisfying for several years.

- 2002 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio at $17.99. This wine had a larger-than-usual body for a pinot grigio. It had plenty of fresh citrus and tropical fruit, with hints of spice. The finish was long and crisp.

- 2002 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay at $17.99. Traditional chardonnay aromas arose from the glass, with apple, pear and citrus fruit. In the mouth, it was rich with ripe fruit and a bit of oak.

- 2002 Hope Estate Chardonnay at $10.99. The aroma offered melon and citrus fruits. This Australian wine had a creamy texture and lively citrus fruit.

Questions can be sent to Frank Sutherland, editor, The Tennessean, 1100 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 or e-mailed to editor