| jcantanixon |
I know that this topic is like a ghost town, and the odds of getting any help from here is minimal...but I thought I should give hp.org a try.
A longtime friend of mine is getting hitched this weekend. He's a successful lawyer in the bay area, so my standard wedding gift of a couple hundred dollars in cash doesn't work. They've registered at a bunch of places, but it's all the standard household stuff...and that's just lame.
So I figured I would buy them something he would appreciate and wouldn't normally buy for himself. A fine bottle of wine seems like a great gift. Problem is, I don't know the first thing about wine. I've heard that Costco has a moderately decent selection, but without any recommendations, I would just go in there and buy something that was expensive in the hopes that translated into "good." There are also a few Beverages and More locations around me if that helps.
He's a red meat eater...so I was thinking a red wine. Port? Cabernet? Does the country of origin matter? French wines tend to be more expensive, but is that because they're better or just because they're far away? What about year? Does older mean better? Would a 99 be more appreciated then a 2001 from the same winery?
Thanks in advance for any help and/or suggestions. Price doesn't matter - but I was thinking between 50 and 250. |
|
|
| jay |
| Just get them a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne that they can enjoy while on their honeymoon. $109 at Costco. |
|
|
| Sportymonk |
Some great wines go for relatively inexpensive prices and some expensive wines are worth the label on the bottle.
If you want to this, I would get an assortment of wines, like a case of different wines.
I would recommend a German Auslace and/or Spatlase 75 and 76 were great years. These are white wines and slightly sweet. He probably eats fish and other things too so he would enjoy these.
I would recommend a good Merlot and and a Zinfendel (Red, not White Zinfendel).
Since wine sales are limited as to where they can be sold and transported, you might want to check with the local newspaper and see what they recommend. We cannot get a lot of good wines out east due to the laws governing wine shipment.
Not much help, hope this gets you started. |
|
|
| jay |
quote:
Originally posted by Sportymonk
Some great wines go for relatively inexpensive prices and some expensive wines are worth the label on the bottle.
If you want to this, I would get an assortment of wines, like a case of different wines.
I would recommend a German Auslace and/or Spatlase 75 and 76 were great years. These are white wines and slightly sweet. He probably eats fish and other things too so he would enjoy these.
I would recommend a good Merlot and and a Zinfendel (Red, not White Zinfendel).
Since wine sales are limited as to where they can be sold and transported, you might want to check with the local newspaper and see what they recommend. We cannot get a lot of good wines out east due to the laws governing wine shipment.
Not much help, hope this gets you started.
But this takes work, whereas the Dom Perignon will be appreciated (not something they'd buy for themselves) but takes the same amount of effort as "the usual couple hundred dollars in cash.":p
BTDT, but in my day it was plush towel sets.;) |
|
|
| robrecht |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
He's a red meat eater...so I was thinking a red wine. Port? Cabernet? Does the country of origin matter? French wines tend to be more expensive, but is that because they're better or just because they're far away? What about year? Does older mean better? Would a 99 be more appreciated then a 2001 from the same winery?
My favorite red for steak is Chateauneuf du Pape. It is well appreciated among my European friends becaue it has a reputation for being a good vintage every year, which removes some of the wine snob hassle. That being said, older is generally seen as better--there's that snob factor rearing it's ugly head again. I like to give a red and a white together. Cakebread is a very good Chardonnay. |
|
|
| jay |
quote:
Originally posted by robrecht
My favorite red for steak is Chateauneuf du Pape. It is well appreciated among my European friends becaue it has a reputation for being a good vintage every year, which removes some of the wine snob hassle. That being said, older is generally seen as better--there's that snob factor rearing it's ugly head again. I like to give a red and a white together. Cakebread is a very good Chardonnay.
It's been a long time since I enjoyed a nice B&G Chateauneuf du Pape with a juicy steak. :p Thanks for the memories, and welcome back, Banjo Man!:4: |
|
|
| robrecht |
quote:
Originally posted by jay
It's been a long time since I enjoyed a nice B&G Chateauneuf du Pape with a juicy steak. :p Thanks for the memories, and welcome back, Banjo Man!:4:
Almost summer--time to start grilling some ribeyes again. And I just checked--two bottles of Chateauneuf du Pape sitting in my bass cello wine rack waiting for a nice summer evening. Thanks for the welcome. :7: |
|
|
| ramirami |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
So I figured I would buy them something he would appreciate and wouldn't normally buy for himself. A fine bottle of wine seems like a great gift.
why dont you drive down to a good So. Cal winery and pick a wine ...rather than from costco |
|
|
| ictvuser |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
So I figured I would buy them something he would appreciate and wouldn't normally buy for himself. A fine bottle of wine seems like a great gift.
How about arranging a private wine tasting tour in Sonoma or Napa? |
|
|
| iglesias |
If you are driving up to the SF Bay area, you'll be passing thru some really good wine areas - the Santa Ynez Valley north of Santa Barbara, and the Paso Robles area. You could pick up a nice assortment of wines (like Sportymonk suggested) in those areas, and if you have time, try out some of the wines at the wineries. You'll get a nice wedding present for your friend and learn something about wine at the same time.
If you don't have time for that, BevMo has a pretty good selection of wines. Get some whites and reds, and a bottle or two of Champagne. Ports are typically a dessert wine.
If you want some specific recommendations, I can look thru our list and give you some ideas. |
|
|
| jcantanixon |
I just want to say how much I appreciate everyone that has chimed in. I've read through every post twice, and they were all very helpful. Unfortunately I don't have the time to go wine tasting, so I'm going to research some of the wines mentioned above and buy both a white and a red.
Thanks again for your suggestions. I never imagined a post in the "Wine and Cooking" forum would get more then a couple replies!!
:29: |
|
|
| ramirami |
your fiend is a lawyer right....
give him a dick chaney statue :runaway: |
|
|
| jay |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
...snip
... so I'm going to research some of the wines mentioned above and buy both a white and a red.
...snip
:29:
A bottle of red, a bottle of white,
That song'll play in my head all night...
Billy Joel :D |
|
|
| jcantanixon |
Heh...I've already planned on a lawyer joke or two in my toast.
:2: |
|
|
| ramirami |
quote:
Originally posted by jay
A bottle of red, a bottle of white,
That song'll play in my head all night...
Billy Joel :D
Red Red wine...
UB40 |
|
|
| jay |
quote:
Originally posted by ramirami
Red Red wine...
UB40
Wine colored Roses
George Jones |
|
|
| jcantanixon |
I don't mind the threadjack, but I'm lost on the George Jones reference.
I've done some searching on BevMo.com and they only have a Cakebread 04, they have an '01 Chateauneuf du Pape's for $40, I also saw a Spatlese '04.
These is great! If there are any other specific recommendations, let me know. |
|
|
| ramirami |
quote:
Originally posted by jay
Wine colored Roses
George Jones
Please bring me my wine, he said 'We haven't had that spirit here since 1969'
Eagles... |
|
|
| jcantanixon |
Here's what I've come up with so far:
Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve '99
Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve '04
I figured it was kinda cool to get both wines from the same winery. Both of these are highly rated and only total $110.
Any opinions? |
|
|
| Tim |
quote:
Originally posted by jay
A bottle of red, a bottle of white,
That song'll play in my head all night...
Billy Joel :D
He was singing about Long Island Wineries ...............:crazyeye: |
|
|
| CMasten |
Wine.com has up to 40% off on selected wines in their Spring Clearance Sale. Several gift baskets are also on sale using the coupon codes below.
Gift Basket: Crowd Pleaser 10% code CROWDPLEASER10 [Exp 5/15] = $90
Gift Basket: Cider Treasures 10% code CIDERTREASURES10 [Exp 5/15] = $36
Gift Basket: Especially for You 10% code FORYOU10 [Exp 5/15] = $32 |
|
|
| robrecht |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
Here's what I've come up with so far:
Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve '99
Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve '04
I figured it was kinda cool to get both wines from the same winery. Both of these are highly rated and only total $110.
Any opinions?
Personally, I'd still go with the Chateau neuf du Pape & Cakebread--too me that says more about discriminating taste than picking 2 wines that happen to come fom the same vineyard.
Have fun! |
|
|
| ramirami |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
Here's what I've come up with so far:
Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve '99
Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve '04
I figured it was kinda cool to get both wines from the same winery. Both of these are highly rated and only total $110.
Any opinions?
my personal opinion is that Beringer is too big a winary... I would try to get a good wine from a smaller winery... |
|
|
| jcantanixon |
quote:
Originally posted by ramirami
my personal opinion is that Beringer is too big a winary... I would try to get a good wine from a smaller winery...
Both of the personal opinions above are welcome and will be taken into consideration. The problem is that I have no discriminating taste, so it's hard to show it...and it's difficult to get a good wine from a smaller winery if I don't know what constitutes a "good" wine.
I was just using the rating system on BevMo, which I think gives ratings from several different sources...also mentions when a paticular wine has won an award. To me, it's kinda like shopping for tires on tirerack. I read the reviews, check out the ratings, and try to find something respectable.
I'll keep looking :4: |
|
|
| Jet-Pilot-64 |
quote:
Originally posted by robrecht
Personally, I'd still go with the Chateau neuf du Pape & Cakebread--too me that says more about discriminating taste than picking 2 wines that happen to come fom the same vineyard.
Have fun!
Cakebread with some sweetbread. MMMMMMM MMMMMMMM |
|
|
| jcantanixon |
I found a Cakebread Cabernet '02 in West Hollywood BevMo. I guess it's worth fighting all of that traffic to make sure I get a nice bottle for a good friend, eh?
New shopping cart:
Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape '01
$38.99
Cakebread Cabernet '02
$64.99
Opinions? |
|
|
| mgorbsk |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
I know that this topic is like a ghost town, and the odds of getting any help from here is minimal...but I thought I should give hp.org a try.
He's a successful lawyer in the bay area, so my standard wedding gift of a couple hundred dollars in cash doesn't work. .
Personally, I don't get caught up in all that. My recent Feb 06 Bro-in-law is a Corporate Attorney in NYC and knows lots of partner buddies scraping by because of their lifestyle with ridiculous debt and so called worth 2.2 million.. He could take 5 years off easily because his rent is a low $1200 and sleeps on a futon and eats tuna out of the can daily.
So anyhow..... Everyone likes to grill, how bout some Waterford glasses to go with the fine bottles of wine his lawyer buddies will get him, juicers are pretty big now. I like to give nice wind chimes. You'd be surprised at the impact. 1st their like... oh, a wind chime, how nice. Then they have people over and it sounds awesome and pretty soon everyone is asking where they got it. Trust me. I have this one in Mezzo-Soprano Japanese by my front door I can here softly right now. Click on the sound file and you can hear what I am hearing right now.
http://www.musicofspheres.com/chimesizes-mezzo.html |
|
|
| flyinggeek |
I'm a big fan of the Far Niente and Nickel and Nickel (Sullenger) Cabernets. My big splurge each year is to pick of a case of each and lay them down to rest. The Silver Oak and Chimney Rock cabs are also very pleasurable.
I take part of the two year old inventory and use them as gifts each Christmas for the various oenophiles that I know. |
|
|
|
