Nice red wine for a gift

[dreamer75]

Hi all - I would like to a buy a special bottle of red wine for a member of my family as a gift. Probably around the £100 mark although I have no idea whether I need to spend that much, or spend less, to get some very nice. Not to keep but to be drunk now/soon.

Or it might be worth getting 2 x £50ish bottles, not knowing if there's much taste difference between 50-100 ! Sorry !

Thing is, I don't know where to start! I don't know much/anything about wine, so beyond just finding an online merchant, filtering by price and customer feedback, I don't know what I'm looking at.

I know this person likes fuller flavoured spicier wines, but that's about it.

I would really appreciate any suggestions or ideas as I know some of you guys are really into your wines

Thank you!

Edited by dreamer75 on Sunday 26th November 18:20

[anonymous-user]

dreamer75 said:

Hi all - I would like to a buy a special bottle of red wine for a member of my family as a gift. Probably around the £100 mark although I have no idea whether I need to spend that much, or spend less, to get some very nice. Not to keep but to be drunk now/soon.

Thing is, I don't know where to start! I don't know much/anything about wine, so beyond just finding an online merchant, filtering by price and customer feedback, I don't know what I'm looking at.

I know this person likes fuller flavoured spicier wines, but that's about it.

I would really appreciate any suggestions or ideas as I know some of you guys are really into your wines

Thank you!

Go on the Berry Bros website. I'd suggest looking at a Rhone wine. Lots of info, tasting notes etc. and they indicate whether it is ready for drinking or needs further keeping.

[dreamer75]

Thank you I will do that - just been browsing Laithwaites and wondering if a couple of good c.£50ish bottles would make sense instead.

[anonymous-user]

dreamer75 said:

Thank you I will do that - just been browsing Laithwaites and wondering if a couple of good c.£50ish bottles would make sense instead.

I'd say Berry Bros. is a bit more upmarket (in a good way, rather than expensive for the sake of it) and they do know their wines. I have no connection with them apart from giving them far too much of my cash over the years.

Another shout, if they are 'regular' wine drinkers is buying them a share (membership) in the Wine Society. This is nothing like Laithwaites and the 'wine clubs'. Again, they really know their stuff and have a great range - plenty <£10 and plenty £££ if you wish!

Good luck!

[21TonyK]

There must be someone local'ish you can go to. A decent independent merchant.

[jontysafe]

Absolutely do the wine society share as a gift. Then a decent bottle of St. Joseph or Cote-Rotie depending what he likes?

[dreamer75]

Thanks guys - great ideas and I'll have a look at the wine society

Berry Bros only seem to do cases ? Thanks all !

[anonymous-user]

dreamer75 said:

Thanks guys - great ideas and I'll have a look at the wine society

Berry Bros only seem to do cases ? Thanks all !

Most wines at BBR can be bought by the bottle.

[anonymous-user]

To make it easy, I would look no further than Flaccianello. For under £100 it is breathtaking.

If you can get a 2010 that would be nice right now. 2013 is easy to find at a shade over £90 and, while I have not tried a 2013 yet, it reviews well and I have never had a bad year of Flaccianello.. If you go 2013 you might want to double decant it. Buy a case and experiment; you'll be glad you did.


ETA: just looked at Majestic and the 2013 is on at 75. Going to stock up myself.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 27th November 08:46

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 27th November 08:48

[davek_964]

Do they like port?

I asked almost exactly the same question a year or two back (for a friends 50th) and somebody suggested getting a bottle of port from his birth year instead of wine. I did that - the budget crept a bit above £100 for the one I bought, but he really appreciated it (and I helped him drink it and it was very good!).

[coppice]

A bit below your budget but a sensationally good big red (like Chateauneuf du Pape , but with the taste turned up to 11 ) is Chateau Musar. As it's made in the Lebanon I think that's a triumph in itself. I buy a couple of bottles every year - £30-40 .

[anonymous-user]

coppice said:

A bit below your budget but a sensationally good big red (like Chateauneuf du Pape , but with the taste turned up to 11 ) is Chateau Musar. As it's made in the Lebanon I think that's a triumph in itself. I buy a couple of bottles every year - £30-40 .

I'd second this, great wine.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/wines/chateau-musar-380...

[Jag_NE]

dreamer75 said:

Hi all - I would like to a buy a special bottle of red wine for a member of my family as a gift. Probably around the £100 mark although I have no idea whether I need to spend that much, or spend less, to get some very nice. Not to keep but to be drunk now/soon.

Or it might be worth getting 2 x £50ish bottles, not knowing if there's much taste difference between 50-100 ! Sorry !

Thing is, I don't know where to start! I don't know much/anything about wine, so beyond just finding an online merchant, filtering by price and customer feedback, I don't know what I'm looking at.

I know this person likes fuller flavoured spicier wines, but that's about it.

I would really appreciate any suggestions or ideas as I know some of you guys are really into your wines

Thank you!

Edited by dreamer75 on Sunday 26th November 18:20

Are they the type of person who would know what a 100 quid bottle of wine would look like? If not it’s potentially a waste of 90 quid and I’d buy them something towards a subscription.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

coppice said:

A bit below your budget but a sensationally good big red (like Chateauneuf du Pape , but with the taste turned up to 11 ) is Chateau Musar. As it's made in the Lebanon I think that's a triumph in itself. I buy a couple of bottles every year - £30-40 .

A favourite vineyard of ours, just put couple of bottles in the wine cave last night as it happens (and their Rosé is superb too), we did a tasting evening with Ralph Hochar and it was a thoroughly interesting night-especially for someone who didn't know more about the bekaa valley than drugs and wars.

[dreamer75]

Thanks again everybody - will check out the wines recommended

Wine Society membership isn't really what I'm looking for, and they're not into Port. They do like red wine - not to glug but to taste and enjoy - it's my 70 year old dad, so we're not talking necking cheap vino

[Melman Giraffe]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

coppice said:

A bit below your budget but a sensationally good big red (like Chateauneuf du Pape , but with the taste turned up to 11 ) is Chateau Musar. As it's made in the Lebanon I think that's a triumph in itself. I buy a couple of bottles every year - £30-40 .

A favourite vineyard of ours, just put couple of bottles in the wine cave last night as it happens (and their Rosé is superb too), we did a tasting evening with Ralph Hochar and it was a thoroughly interesting night-especially for someone who didn't know more about the bekaa valley than drugs and wars.

Just seen a review on Waitrose website, i realise taste is subjective!!!

Good colour and consistency and on first taste it was promising although the tannin content was a little raw. There was absolutly no finish to this wine whatsoever and really is not worth the money. I would price this wine at £6. Label blahs on about sediment???? what sediment? From the look of the cork, this wine had been bottled recently but said 2009 on the label. Feel short changed.

[ChrisnChris]

I used to drink a great deal of red wine. My consumption has dropped over the years because I can't afford the ones I like.

I mainly go for Shiraz from the premium growers of South Australia.

I was given a bottle of this last year, it comes in a few quid under budget.

It was delicious

[Ascayman]

Just phone berry brothers they deal with questions like this all the time and they do sell by the bottle.

[coppice]

Melman Giraffe said:

Just seen a review on Waitrose website, i realise taste is subjective!!!

Good colour and consistency and on first taste it was promising although the tannin content was a little raw. There was absolutly no finish to this wine whatsoever and really is not worth the money. I would price this wine at £6. Label blahs on about sediment???? what sediment? From the look of the cork, this wine had been bottled recently but said 2009 on the label. Feel short changed.

You had a duff bottle ....

[Melman Giraffe]

coppice said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Just seen a review on Waitrose website, i realise taste is subjective!!!

Good colour and consistency and on first taste it was promising although the tannin content was a little raw. There was absolutly no finish to this wine whatsoever and really is not worth the money. I would price this wine at £6. Label blahs on about sediment???? what sediment? From the look of the cork, this wine had been bottled recently but said 2009 on the label. Feel short changed.

You had a duff bottle ....

Not sure about that

One more review........

☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆ Overall rating value is 1 of 5 stars.
Over priced
Bought this bottle after reading a review thought will be something amazing turn up below average there is much better wineries in Lebanon and better prices and quality