Which French wine to buy?

Dinky22 · 06-06-2013 10:56pm #1

I want to buy 2 bottles of French wine to give to two people who have been kind to me & I know they drink French wine. I do not drink so I would really appreciate anybody out there with knowledge on French wines. I have a budget of 40.00 - 45.00 euro for each bottle. Would love any suggestion/s. Many thanks

Dietsquirt · 06-06-2013 11:11pm

Chateauneuf du Pape is very nice

I personally like a Cotes du Beaune

Dinky22 · 06-06-2013 11:19pm

Dietsquirt, thank you for your reply. Would they be in my price range?

Dietsquirt · 06-06-2013 11:22pm

Yes, i have seen them for around €20-30 in Tesco

Dinky22 · 06-06-2013 11:31pm

Thanks Dietsquirt but I really need to spend 40.00 - 45.00 euro as they have been so kind. So I would need a more expensive French wine.

Slaphead07 · 06-06-2013 11:35pm

If you're buying for a couple who know their French reds then I would suggest something a little better than supermarket wine, your budget will easily cover the real deal. Expect to pay about €30 for C Ne DP. You would get really good Bordeaux or Pinot Noir for that money.
Go to your local wine shop and get some advice, they'll have a range of wines at any budget.

Padraig Mor · 07-06-2013 8:34am

Dunnes have Chateau Haut Batailley around your budget. It's a "classified" wine - basically the premiership of French wine. While it's in the lowest classification, any classified wine would be considered prestigious and would likely be very much appreciated by a wine enthusiast (wish someone would buy me one!). Dunnes may have a couple of other classified wines as well, I'm not sure. Your local specialist wine shop may carry some too depending on what they focus on. Some Aldis may also carry the 2007 Chateau Lynch Moussas, which at €28 is as cheap as you will find a classified wine in Ireland.

If they *really* know their French wine, it may be an idea to ask a specialist wine shop for a good wine from a lesser known appellation (origin). Chateauneuf du Pape is very well known and produces some great wines, but the really "good" stuff is out of your budget. A wine shop may carry wines from the neighbouring Vacqueyras or Lirac appellations - €40 should get you a really nice wine from one of those.

Bigcheeze · 07-06-2013 8:56am

Dinky22 wrote: »

I want to buy 2 bottles of French wine to give to two people who have been kind to me & I know they drink French wine. I do not drink so I would really appreciate anybody out there with knowledge on French wines. I have a budget of 40.00 - 45.00 euro for each bottle. Would love any suggestion/s. Many thanks

I would not spend 40-45 in a supermarket. Also not much point in people suggesting Chateauneuf as that is a region incorporating hundreds, possibly thousands of wines, many of which are poor.

What is your location ? Someone may be able to a recommend a good wine shop near you.

Beruthiel · 07-06-2013 9:01am

I love red wine from the Saint Emilion or Bordeaux region of France.
Must be aged in an oak barrel for at least one year.

Layinghen · 07-06-2013 10:55am

When you say they Like French wine is it only French red wine? With some help from you local wine merchant (or try the wine department in your local large Super Value or Superquin as the Managers there often have great training in wines) there are some fantastic Chablis available.

You also need to know what is their favourite grape variety and blend as some people are a bit fussy about what they want from their wine.

Melendez · 07-06-2013 2:01pm

This post has been deleted.

the beer revolu · 07-06-2013 2:09pm

As said already, go to a reputable wine seller and seek advice.
I wouldn't be taking the advice of random people on tinterweb - many will be clueless and you've no way of knowing which are and aren't.

I'd have a few opinions but then I'd just be another randomer online so I won't give them.

Dinky22 · 07-06-2013 2:47pm

I contacted a wine shop and they suggested: "Burgundy Pinot Noir" and "Bordeaux from a nice region of France". They said they have a 25% sale on at present and both bottles would cost 57.00 euro with the discount. I pay extra for wrapping. The guy I spoke with did seem to know about wines and he told me he was off to-morrow to the Bordeaux region of France and would not be there himself but would leave 2 of the above bottles aside for me if I wished to collect them on Monday. I hope these are the best choices and I would like to thank everybody sincerely for your help.

the beer revolu · 07-06-2013 3:27pm

Dinky22 wrote: »

I contacted a wine shop and they suggested: "Burgundy Pinot Noir" and "Bordeaux from a nice region of France". They said they have a 25% sale on at present and both bottles would cost 57.00 euro with the discount. I pay extra for wrapping. The guy I spoke with did seem to know about wines and he told me he was off to-morrow to the Bordeaux region of France and would not be there himself but would leave 2 of the above bottles aside for me if I wished to collect them on Monday. I hope these are the best choices and I would like to thank everybody sincerely for your help.

They would both be popular regions but both are very vast and have a huge range pricewise and qualitywise and many sub categories within them.
Probably a safe bet and if paying that to a reputable retailer, you should do fine.

If these are the kind of people who drink only French wine, chances are they won't stray too far from Burgundy (Bourgogne) or Bordeaux anyway.

Slaphead07 · 07-06-2013 5:14pm

Dinky22 wrote: »

I contacted a wine shop and they suggested: "Burgundy Pinot Noir" and "Bordeaux from a nice region of France".

Bordeaux would be the safer choice, not everyone likes the lightness of a Pinot Noir. That said in this weather a Pinot Noir from the fridge is fantastic.

Dietsquirt · 07-06-2013 5:40pm

Slaphead07 wrote: »

Bordeaux would be the safer choice, not everyone likes the lightness of a Pinot Noir. That said in this weather a Pinot Noir from the fridge is fantastic.

Never heard of Red Wine being served from the fridge before, rose yes.

Slaphead07 · 07-06-2013 5:51pm

Dietsquirt wrote: »

Never heard of Red Wine being served from the fridge before, rose yes.

Absolutely. Pinot noir, gamay and other light reds. Strictly speaking it's the way they "should" be served. I'm not saying it's the law or anything

but chilled would be normal.

Bigcheeze · 07-06-2013 7:03pm

Dietsquirt wrote: »

Never heard of Red Wine being served from the fridge before, rose yes.

Irish people often follow "rules" about wine that are completely ignored by the French. e.g. drinking white with white meat or fish and red with red meat.

Also if you order a cheap "menu" for lunch in a restaurant, it will often include a quarter litre of red vin de table served straight from the fridge (to disguise the rough taste)

the beer revolu · 07-06-2013 9:03pm

Dietsquirt wrote: »

Never heard of Red Wine being served from the fridge before, rose yes.

Lightly chilled can be really nice, for a light red, as slaphead says.
In Ireland we tend to drink whites far too cold and red far too warm. I've often had to ask for a red in a restaurant to be cooled a little as they often serve them lukewarm.

twerg_85 · 08-06-2013 9:39pm

Slaphead07 wrote: »

Bordeaux would be the safer choice, not everyone likes the lightness of a Pinot Noir. That said in this weather a Pinot Noir from the fridge is fantastic.

just slightly chilled? i must try that,thanks.

The Drunken Destrier · 10-06-2013 10:54am

Dinky22 wrote: »

I contacted a wine shop and they suggested: "Burgundy Pinot Noir" and "Bordeaux from a nice region of France". They said they have a 25% sale on at present and both bottles would cost 57.00 euro with the discount. I pay extra for wrapping. The guy I spoke with did seem to know about wines and he told me he was off to-morrow to the Bordeaux region of France and would not be there himself but would leave 2 of the above bottles aside for me if I wished to collect them on Monday. I hope these are the best choices and I would like to thank everybody sincerely for your help.

That was my manager, I saw those wines. He really knows his ****!

Dinky22 · 10-06-2013 4:13pm

Thank you very much for your replies. I am now left in limbo!. I have been in contact with a couple of wine shops all giving different suggesions. I have decided to go with a Bordeaux x 2. I contacted the "same wine shop" and the first person recommended Bordeaux Pauillac Chateux La Fleur and when I contacted them a second time I spoke with somebody else and they suggested - Chateux Martet 2008 from Sainte Bordeaux-Foy Bordeaux. They are supposed to be a very reputable wine shop but staff appear to have different opinions. I went into my local wine shop and they recommended Bordeaux Martillac Grand Cru Classe De Graves Pessacc-Leognan. All the wines are in the 35.00 euro range. I NEVER thought that getting 2 bottles of French wine would be so complicated!. Don't no what to get now!!

the beer revolu · 10-06-2013 5:01pm

Dinky22 wrote: »

Thank you very much for your replies. I am now left in limbo!. I have been in contact with a couple of wine shops all giving different suggesions. I have decided to go with a Bordeaux x 2. I contacted the "same wine shop" and the first person recommended Bordeaux Pauillac Chateux La Fleur and when I contacted them a second time I spoke with somebody else and they suggested - Chateux Martet 2008 from Sainte Bordeaux-Foy Bordeaux. They are supposed to be a very reputable wine shop but staff appear to have different opinions. I went into my local wine shop and they recommended Bordeaux Martillac Grand Cru Classe De Graves Pessacc-Leognan. All the wines are in the 35.00 euro range. I NEVER thought that getting 2 bottles of French wine would be so complicated!. Don't no what to get now!!

There are thousands of good quality wines out there and hundreds from Bordeaux. There is no right or wrong answer here. You can't expect everybody to recommend the same wine!
I'd imagine all the wines you mentioned are top notch!
Personally, I haven't liked any Graves I've tried but they are well regarded.
You're going to have to trust someone on this.

Slaphead07 · 10-06-2013 10:35pm

Dinky22 wrote: »

Thank you very much for your replies. I am now left in limbo!. I have been in contact with a couple of wine shops all giving different suggesions. I have decided to go with a Bordeaux x 2. I contacted the "same wine shop" and the first person recommended Bordeaux Pauillac Chateux La Fleur and when I contacted them a second time I spoke with somebody else and they suggested - Chateux Martet 2008 from Sainte Bordeaux-Foy Bordeaux. They are supposed to be a very reputable wine shop but staff appear to have different opinions. I went into my local wine shop and they recommended Bordeaux Martillac Grand Cru Classe De Graves Pessacc-Leognan. All the wines are in the 35.00 euro range. I NEVER thought that getting 2 bottles of French wine would be so complicated!. Don't no what to get now!!

If you went into a record shop would every member of staff recommend the same CD?
There's no right or wrong wine here, you were given good suggestions so now you either continue looking or pick from those in front of you. Frankly I'd be more worried if every member of staff suggested the same bottle!

Which French wine to buy?

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