A 'decent' french red wine

[GSD4ME]

I recently did a job for a friend of mine and, in return, he wanted me to buy him a case of 'decent' French red wine. I don't know anything about wine and he is a bit of a wine snob. I have asked him what type he wants and he has told me a name twice which I didn't recognise at all and am too embarrassed to ask him a third time.

Can anyone recommend a 'decent' french red wine that is not too expensive. I don't have a great deal of spare money but don't want to seem cheap in the wine I buy him.

It's up to you to qualify what 'decent' is as I wouldn't really know!

[jon1968]

I get a lot of mine from Tesco;

http://www.tesco.com/winestore/

If you�re buying by the case you can shop by price per bottle and get some real bargains - and they deliver. I�d suggest you just have a look through and you can usually find some at half price or better.

I�d suggest you try and pin him down to clarifying what he likes again and just tell you�ve lost the piece of paper you wrote it down on or something!

[waimarie]

Hi GSD4ME, Choosing wine for somebody is a bit like exchanging curry recipes or suggesting wallpaper!! By this I mean all are very much personal taste. If I buy wine for someone I have a pretty good idea of the type of wine they like, if not I would ask them. I know you have asked before but, ask again, and this time ask your friend to write the name down. It's better to get it right than spend the rest of your life wondering. I might add that I have been on the receiving end of something similar and wished they'd asked me beforehand!!!

[scoobysoo]

Here's a few idea:

Chateuxneuf Du Pape

Beaujolais

Bordeux

There are lots of good websites out there to buy cases of wine from...try putting CASES OF WINE in a search engine

[Ethel]

As wine is such a personal preference I would chicken out and buy him gift vouchers so he can buy the wine he prefers, perhaps with a bottle of middling champagne as a gesture.

[nickmo]

Marks and Spencers do variety cases and home deliver, and so do Laithwaites: http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/shopnow.pasp?navid=shop&imi=google&mrc=KL24 and also red cases at Majestic Wine warehouse (you may have one near you so you can call in and order) or online here: http://www.majestic.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=272&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&identifier=Mixed+Cases or they can also make up a case for you as a 'personalised' case - check the site.

[Alibobs]

I would also recommend Majestic, they are very knowledgeable and helpful if you go into a branch or phone. I am sure they do vouchers as well

[Gef]

If you did a job for him surely he should buy you the wine.

[lia*]

i was just thinking the same thing gef.

[GSD4ME]

Yes - sorry, he did a job for me!

[redlilman]

For my in-laws 30th wedding anniversary I sourced a bottle of port from the year of their wedding (I thing I paid about �45, perhaps if you know when this chap was born (or when his first child was born etc) you could go along that line, then how expensive the product will be will not be the major consideration as the bottle will likely never be opened.