Wine for a fairly knowledgeable connoisseur ?

[Innkeeper]

Hi Tovi, and welcome to the Wine Board. The first problem you have is that, since the wine is for an event, it should probably be ready to drink. In that case a fine red table wine would have to be aged out. For a fine California Cab, the lastest would have to be a '92. Whether or not you could find one, and one for under $100 is the problem.

An easier approach would be to go with a Champagne. The best Champagnes, according to a lot of thought around here, are those produced by the Recoltant-Manipulants or grower-producers. These R.M.s as we call them a frequntly outstanting, and chances are your "knowledgeable" special friend may never have heard of the one you get. The R.M. is in the code at the bottom of the label. If, you can't one, call Wine Expo and talk to Roberto. He will wisk one or two bottles of a great one to your friend in L.A. in no time. Call 1-800-wineexpo.

Lets talk about you for a minute. Can you drink other alcoholic beverages? If so, you are allergic to grapes. Very allergic. I am too, but just turn red in the face. Most fruit wine is awful. However, there are producers around the country that are putting out dry fruit wine now, and some of it is not bad. We have a producer here in Maine that puts our excellent products. They are Bartlett Maine Estate Winery, 207-546-2408. You might give them a shot.

[This message has been edited by Innkeeper (edited 07-01-2001).]