Drink a toast to Daddy

We’re sure you’ve thought of wine, but must it be cabernet sauvignon? Pinot noir would be so much cooler – literally, if you go coastal with the 2006 Pinot Noir ($40) from Wildcat Mountain Vineyard in the southwest corner of Carneros, a very cool spot, indeed. It’s pretty much without fault, a dense ruby-colored gem as smooth as silk and as tasty as black cherry and mocha. Only a couple thousand six-bottle cases were made, so you might have to visit the winery on Eighth Street East to find any. First check the Web site at macrostiewinery.com.
If your dad likes to be the first to try something new, look into El Grado Tequila, an ultra-premium spirit. It won’t be widely available in California until next month, but you can order ahead via the Web site, elgradospirits.com. Handcrafted from 100 percent pure Blue Weber Agave plants,
El Grado’s tequilas are available in three classic styles. El Grado Blanco showcases the agave flavors with an aroma of mint and hints of pineapple and black pepper. El Grado Reposado, after resting in select Tennessee whiskey barrels for six months, emerges with distinct vanilla and caramel fragrances. El Grado Añejo, which is aged for a minimum of 15 months, gets additional flavors of honey and butter. All the tequilas come in French-made bottles featuring a glass-topped closure. They will retail for $45 to $50 for 750 ml bottles; a 375 ml offering will follow later this year.