What Is The Best Red Wine To Buy Someone Who Knows Their Wine?

[Gromit33]

Hi all, Merry Christmas.
If anyone else is a bit bored waiting for their lunch, can you help with a question? I would like to buy a bottle of red wine for someone who knows his wine. I have no clue whatsoever and wouldn't know where to start. Don't mind paying a bit of money for something decent as it's a birthday present.
Many thanks.

[shoota]

Search out a bottle of Minervois (some of the big supermarkets do one) which is from the South of France and is wonderfully fruity, hint of pepper and sometimes liquorice, but is relatively unknown. Goes well with beef, game and cheeses but is OK to drink on it's own. 2010 vintage if you can find one but any will be good.

[jeffa]

Can't go wrong with a decent Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

[NoMercy]

Brazil Lodi Zinfandel from Waitrose - £12.99.

Superb! Smooth, complex layers, rich and decadent. I've introduced many people to this wine and they've all raved about it. At 15% it's not to be sneezed at.

It's great with all meats and cheeses but can also be drank alone.

[NoMercy]

*Brazin*

[Sqad]

\\\What Is The Best Red Wine To Buy Someone Who Knows Their Wine?\\\

Chateaux Margaux 2000................I prefer the 96 personally.

[shoota]

Your pension is too bid Sqad....
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-10/chateau-margaux-s-mature-luxury-liquidity-comes-pricey-at-2-400-a-bottle.html

[237SJ]

I like Meerlust Rubicon although the years can vary a bit. It depends how much you want to spend though. I would probably get a decent Argentinian Malbec.

[Sqad]

shoota.........naaaah"...you can get a 2000 Margaux for about £400.

[DTCwordfan]

1990 Margaux for me, you cheapskate, Sqad! - Happy Christmas.

[NoMercy]

You can spend a fortune on a bottle of carp xx

[Sqad]

LOL.....Harpy Xmas DT........I am just a pensioner.

[diddlydo]

A Rioja Gran Reserva.

[ChasonetteH]

Besides the already mentioned "Châteauneuf-du-Pape", I can also recommend a "Saint Émilion Grand Cru". Both are like dewdrops from paradise...;).

Merry X-Mas EVERYBODY!

[Buenchico]

I'll add my support to a Saint Émilion Grand Cru.

[Sqad]

^^^^.agreed but avoid the 1991 and 1992........use only for adding to chips.

[Gromit33]

Thanks all. At least I've got somewhere to start. Happy Christmas y'all!!

[DTCwordfan]

Personally I would be delighted to receive a nice Rioja around the purple note range; there are some really good ones out there.

[DTCwordfan]

And I would recommend Majestic as a good start for sourcing a bottle, if you have one reasonably near you.