Red Wine Experts?

Question

I would like to give my brother and his wife some wine for a Christmas gift. They really enjoy red wine. I'm not very knowledgable about good wine. Could someone recommend something really good, perhaps a little unusual. I would like to give them 2 bottles, maybe one on the lighter side, and one a little more robust and bold. My budget would be about $20-25 dollars a bottle. I've already bought them a nice set of the new stemless wine glasses so now I just need some good wine to go with them. I live in Vancouver so there shouldn't be a problem finding anything suggested. Lots of liquor stores and specialty wine shops in my area

* about $20-25 canadian so probably around $20 or less US. I'm not sure about exchange rate for other countries, but it doesn't matter, I'm open to any suggestions.

Answer 1

Are they very knowledgeable about wine? If so, a Merlot is a bad bad idea in your price range.

If they like good reds, I'd skip the 2 bottles and spend $40-$50 for a single bottle. My first choices would be:

Archery Summit Premier Cuvee - $35
Boroli Barolo 2000 - ~$45
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir - $40
E Guigal Chateaunuef du pape 2001 - $40
Icardi Barolo 2000 or 2001 - $60


If you really want to do 2 bottles, I would look for any of these bottles:

Yangarra Estate 2004 Grenache-Shiraz blend. $25 A top 100 wine on Wine Spectator
Shotfire Ridge Barossa Shiraz 2004 $20 91pts Wine Spectator
Lengs & Cooter "The Victor" Shiraz 2004 - $18
Raymond Napa Valley Cabernet any vintage - $25-$40

Syrahs and Shirazes from Australia are some of the best deals out there right now. Keep an eye out for these.

Good luck in your search!

Answer 2

My suggestions:

For the lighter red, try the King Estate Pinot Noir from Oregon. Always a good wine for its price.

For the fuller red, and another great value, try the 2003 Chateau Pey La Tour from Bordeaux. Both the regular bottling as well as the Reserve du Chateau will be great. This is a popular wine on restaurant wine lists right now because of its good value, quality, and ease of availability. If they plan to have either of those right away, be sure to decant for an hour or so.

Both are widely available. I'm not sure if it's the 2002 or 2003 vintage of the King Estate that's on the shelves right now.

Answer 3

For your reference: The May, 2006, issue of "Decanter" magazine - the world's best wine magazine - has a list of its tasters judgement of the world's 50 best wine values. Check it out. But many of them cost less than $ 20 - $ 25 dollars (whether you are referring to American, Canadian or Australian dollars). One of them, the Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon (MUCH less than $ 20)
was selected last week by the local newspaper's wine writer (in the city from which I am writing - a major city famed for its gastronomy in a culture that is a very much a wine drinking one, though little wine is grown) as absolutely THE best red wine value.

Answer 4

One robust wine we enjoy is Beringer Knights Bridge cabernet sauvignon.

Columbia Crest's reds are a real value. We like the cab, but the merlot is very popular.

One recently re-appearing white varietal that's a bit different is Viognier from California. It can be a bit sweet, so ask your wine merchant for a good choice. Also, the better chardonnays from Carneros (California) are nicely spicy.

Answer 5

There is no accounting for taste. Before you buy then wines they do not like, and waste your money, ask them what thier preferences are. I like Merlot's but some people detest them.
Better safe than sorry.

Answer 6

a good shiraz and a good bottle of merlot, or cabornay, go to liquer store and ask what is the best, they are usually very helpful.

Answer 7

great gifts! to my knowledge I recommend Sauvignon. hope you find it.

Answer 8

very good for you ,, if you dont over drink ok ..