Wine suggestions for a Birthday

Refefer

Hey guys,
My mother is turning 60 this year and I've decided that on top of other ideas I'd like to get her a good bottle of red to celebrate with at our traditional birthday dinner. I'm looking for a red that can be both good on its own and mesh well with a red meat.

I'm looking to spend no more than $100 on the bottle, or $50 for two. Since I've rarely dabbled in this price range, I'm open to all suggestions. Any input would be appreciated.

-Andrew

Disc Jockey

I usually like a Cab Sav with red meat although a Zin does quite nicely also. One of my consistent favorites in that price range is the Beaulieu Vineyard (BV)Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve. Usually can be had for about $75-80. Another great red that's a little less expensive, about $60, is the Justin Isosceles. This is a little harder to find but if you can it's a winner. It's a meritage (blend of different grapes), primarily Cab Sav.

There are dozens if not hundreds of good suggestions in that price range but you can't go wrong with either of those imo. I'll let ya know if anything else pops in to my head.

DJ

Demiurge

Can't go wrong with any kind of Chianti, IMO. It's my favorite of late.

Refefer

Demiurge wrote:

Can't go wrong with any kind of Chianti, IMO. It's my favorite of late.

Any vinyards/years you particularly like? Or in general you like the grape better?

seo

If you can find any- the Delille reds are excellent in my opinion:

http://www.delillecellars.com/Varietal2004.htm

Demiurge

Refefer wrote:

Any vinyards/years you particularly like? Or in general you like the grape better?

Barolo or a Brunello are good brand to go with if you want a Chianti.

Two favorites would be:

Antinori - Chianti Classico Riserva "Badia a Passignano" 1999. It's about $40 or so.

Fattoria di Felsina - Chianti Classico Riserva 2001. Also about $40 or so.

BaggedLancer

St. Francis Merlot!

Reserve or regular are both good. Links for labels:

http://www.stfranciswine.com/wines/wine.asp?wine=19

http://www.stfranciswine.com/wines/wine.asp?wine=11

bobman1235

BaggedLancer wrote:

St. Francis Merlot!

Reserve or regular are both good. Links for labels:

http://www.stfranciswine.com/wines/wine.asp?wine=19

http://www.stfranciswine.com/wines/wine.asp?wine=11

+1 on this one. Huge fan, and I'm not usually a Merlot guy.

Strong Bad

Refefer wrote:

Any vinyards/years you particularly like? Or in general you like the grape better?

Referer, there are alot of good wineries in the VA/MD area. My favorite is Linganor Winery out RT 70 in MD. Do a google search for wineries and find some within driving distance. You can go there and do taste tests. Alot of times the pricier wines are not the best tasting. Go for taste, not price.

John

BaggedLancer

bobman1235 wrote:

+1 on this one. Huge fan, and I'm not usually a Merlot guy.

It's the right price too, about 25 bucks and up a bottle. Therefore with your budget, thats 4 nice bottles of wine, plenty of drinking for everyone.

univera

Manishevitz. $9.00 a bottle!

BaggedLancer

could always buy those cheap $4.00 boxes of wine and have a 60th birthday party like this:

http://www65.homepage.villanova.edu/brian.higgins/Photos/yikes%202.jpg

JK, don't do that but I did find this image entertaining. Go with the St. Francis, you won't be unhappy.

EDIT: image was way too big to post it. Click the link

george daniel

Bali Hi--9.99 for three liters,,,seriously,, try a Jordan Cabernet if available,kinda pricey but great with red meat,,have a good time,,thats what counts.

Shizelbs

Carlo Rossi

Demiurge

Andrew,

The lesson to be learned here is that you're better off just pulling bottles of wine out of your backside at the liquor store. Too many opinions, and none of them more valuble than the other. How about a mix of a few different types? The most valid statement I have seen in this thread is that a high dolllar bottle of wine doesn't make a good bottle of wine. I have had plenty of $12 ones that were much better than the ones $100+

bobman1235

Agreed with Demi. I've only had a handful (like, two) bottles of "expensive" wine, but they weren't MARKEDLY different than moderately priced 15-20 dollar bottles. Go to a decent wine store and find someone who can recommend something to you.

zombie boy 2000

Shizelbs wrote:

Carlo Rossi

ahhhhh.... my first drunk.

A $6 jug scored from Wal-Mart by an older brother of a friend.
I think we ended up mixing it with orange juice.

Then we moved on to Mad Dog 20/20 and the rest becomes a blur...

Refefer

Demiurge wrote:

Andrew,

The lesson to be learned here is that you're better off just pulling bottles of wine out of your backside at the liquor store. Too many opinions, and none of them more valuble than the other. How about a mix of a few different types? The most valid statement I have seen in this thread is that a high dolllar bottle of wine doesn't make a good bottle of wine. I have had plenty of $12 ones that were much better than the ones $100+

Agreed. California wines certainly have dropped the price/expectation ratio on how good something tastes.

Money doesn't make the wine I'll grant you, but demand often attributes to the price. I'm not buying wine for myself, but for someone else, and since I never buy in the range (Usually a $10/bottle type of guy) I was hoping to get some choices for something a little bit fancier. The one thing I noticed was most people didn't list $100 bottles of wine, which is great, since I can buy 2,3, or 4 and have a selection for her.

Thanks so far, I've been looking up the vineyards and seeing which are easily acquireable (either locally or via Total Wine).

Thanks again,
Andrew

MSALLA

For a good red wine try a barrola (check spelling) they are a very big earthy red wine. Or for a 60th birthday, try a cab from Duck Horn. Expensive at around $100, but worth every cent for a special day.