Please Advise Me!

[billiebobbette]

Some of my relatives are real wine buffs, can anyone advise me on a few of the best wines, of different categories and international vineyards so I can be prepared for my next family gathering? Thank you!!

[stevebody]

BBE,

Jeez, the problem is where to start.

A lot depends on what sort of wine lovers your relatives are. If they are people who buy completely into Bordeaux and heap scorn on CA, Aussie, and New World wines in general, your lovely bottle of Caymus Cab may well get hooted out of the room. If they're California aficianadoes, they may not "get" French wines or Italians.

Here are a few great wines that any wine lover should be able to drink and appreciate and that will let you hold up your end of the wine provision bargain. They're as broad a geographic range as I can make them and fairly reasonably priced. Hope they help.

Seghesio Barola "La Villa" (Italy)
Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape (France)
Chateau Gloria (Bordeaux, France)
La Carraia "Fobbiano" (Italy)
Peter Lehmann Clancy's Gold (Australia)
Whitehall Lane Cabernet (CA)
Archery Summit Pinot Noir (OR)
L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot or Cab (WA)
Cennatoio "E" Sangiovese (Italy)
Ridge Geyserville Zin (CA)
Fife Old Vines Zin (CA)
Alvaro Palacios Priorato "Les Terrasses" (Spain)

That's a start. I'm sure other people will post other wines but these are reliably consistent and impressive. Hold your head up and drink the ones YOU like. Wine ain't rocket science. There are NO wrong answers!

Steve Body