Id really appreciate some input and suggestions for a gift idea that I have. My friend has recently been married. As a gift, I'd like to give he and his wife several bottles to be enjoyed on different anniversaries. I was thinking of their 1st, 5th, 10th or something along those lines. Ideally each of the wines selected would mature perfectly on the given anniversary year.

My budget is around $250. I'd like to include an Italian wine, a French wine from 2005 (perhaps Burgundy?) and a Californian Cab. So have it everyone. What would your choises be? I'm really looking forward to your responses. Thank you.

solaia and beaucastel

These should come in around $250 and still be easy enough to find on the Vintages shelves.

Burgundy: 2005 Magnien Chambolle-Musigny Vielles Vignes
The Cali Cab... 2003 Montelena Estate
The Italian... 1999 Palladino Barolo Riserva

Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like both wines are readily available and would be good options. Would it be good to suggest the '04 Solaia to drink in 2018 (10 yr) and the '05 Beaucastel in 2023 (15 yr)?
Any suggestions for a Cali Cab to drink in 2009 for around $40 or less? The friend really enjoys Beringer Knights Valley which is in the price range, but I'd like to get him something different for him to try so that there is something to anticipate and look forward to.
Thanks again for your help.

quote:

Originally posted by winewb:
Would it be good to suggest the '04 Solaia to drink in 2018 (10 yr) and the '05 Beaucastel in 2023 (15 yr)?

This would be a fairly safe assumption. Though they both will be in the earlier part of their drinking windows. Not bad choices, really. Good suggestions, maverick.

quote:

Originally posted by winewb:
Any suggestions for a Cali Cab to drink in 2009 for around $40 or less?

not sure what's on the shelves right now, but perhaps the '05 Mondavi or '05 Beringer Cab, both Vintage Essentials and both priced at under $40

There are tons of combinations but you're also limited by today's available inventory. I don't have a 2005 Burgundy but a good 2001...

* Italian: 2003 Paolo Scavino Barolo ($45 - Open 1 yr anniversary with 3-4 hours decanting)
* Burgundy: 2001 Chateau de La Tour Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru ($129 - open 5 year anniversary)
* California Cab: 2005 Caymus ($80 - drink 10 yr anniversary)

Total cost $254

I would agree with the mondavi cab or the beringer

Thanks for the compliment KSC02

Looks like your shopping is done. Feel free to forward me a bottle of wine of your choosing as a thank you and/or referral fee. lol

I am collecting a lot of 2005 wines from CdP, cali cabs, and burgundy as this is the year I started dating the mavbabe, otherwise now known as Mav's wife.

Good luck in your wine purchase.

Thanks for all of your suggestions everyone. There are lots of great ideas. I appreciate your help Mav, but dont keep your fingers crossed

winewb: That's a cool gift idea. Although I have not had it, I keep hearing that the Beaucastel is pretty structured and backward. Parker also said commented on this. Assuming proper storage, I would be willing to go out on a limb and say that that wine will go 20-25 years without much trouble.

Good suggestions from the group.

quote:

Originally posted by theweb:

not sure what's on the shelves right now, but perhaps the '05 Mondavi or '05 Beringer Cab, both Vintage Essentials and both priced at under $40

And both are sub $20 wines in the US. So, at almost $40 it's poor value at LCBO especially in light of where the Cdn$ is now.

quote:

Originally posted by Stevey:

quote:

Originally posted by theweb:

not sure what's on the shelves right now, but perhaps the '05 Mondavi or '05 Beringer Cab, both Vintage Essentials and both priced at under $40

And both are sub $20 wines in the US. So, at almost $40 it's poor value at LCBO especially in light of where the Cdn$ is now.

Every wine is a poor value in Canada if you compare it to what the wine costs in the US.

As much as I'm critical of LCBO, a sweeping statement such as "every wine is poor value in Canada" is simply not true. And you don't even have to look that hard.

quote:

Originally posted by winewb:
Any suggestions for a Cali Cab to drink in 2009 for around $40 or less?

It's $43 at LCBO (or mid $30's in the US) which is slightly above your threshold, but try the 2003 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon, though inventory running out fast. Solid winery, solid wine.

quote:

Originally posted by Stevey:
As much as I'm critical of LCBO, a sweeping statement such as "every wine is poor value in Canada" is simply not true. And you don't even have to look that hard.

Almost every wine costs more in Canada than it does in the US, I'm not sure what is untrue about that statement? I was simply using your prior definition of "value."

quote:

Originally posted by Dunder:
Every wine is a poor value in Canada if you compare it to what the wine costs in the US.

A blanket statement that is flat out incorrect.
Refer to the La La's that sold for a fraction of the price at the SAQ last year, or many of the Oz wines. Several Italians. There are many examples in which the 'Canadian system' offers release wines at a substantial savings to the market South of the border.

I suppose that I, too, am bristeling at the generality of the statement. You can swipe a broad brush like that. It tends to discredit your otherwise valid observations.

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:

quote:

Originally posted by Dunder:
Every wine is a poor value in Canada if you compare it to what the wine costs in the US.

A blanket statement that is flat out incorrect.
Refer to the La La's that sold for a fraction of the price at the SAQ last year, or many of the Oz wines. Several Italians. There are many examples in which the 'Canadian system' offers release wines at a substantial savings to the market South of the border.

I suppose that I, too, am bristeling at the generality of the statement. You can swipe a broad brush like that. It tends to discredit your otherwise valid observations.

Oz wines? Who cares?

Our friends to the North do seem to get excellent choices from Italy, and many at fair prices from time to time.

quote:

Originally posted by Dunder:
Almost every wine costs more in Canada than it does in the US, I'm not sure what is untrue about that statement? I was simply using your prior definition of "value."

Pegau 2003-2005- 58-60$
Guigal Lalala $380 SaQ, nearly triple in the US
Dead 2001 or any other vintage, 55$
Italian BDMs or Barolo, either equal or more expensive in general in the US
Bordeaux, ok hands down more expensive here
Burgundy, about equal, some more expensive, some less
California or other US wine, cheaper in the US
Rhone wines, cheaper in Canada.

It's a blunder to make statements that are not factually supportable, Dunder.

quote:

Originally posted by Mimik:
It's a blunder to make statements that are not factually supportable, Dunder.

Would that be a 'Dunder Blunder'?
Or now just known as, and referred to, as 'a Dunder?

I stand corrected, since the vast majority of wines I look for in the States are US/Bdx, and they are always significantly cheaper, (as are most Oz wines that I look for Grange/Torbreck etc.) I reached the conclusion that this was the case in the majority of the time with all varietals. I will be on the lookout for the La La's and several Italians that are cheaper in Canada, while keeping in mind that BC prices seem to be generally higher than those that you Eastern members quote.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dunder,

quote:

Originally posted by Stevey:

quote:

Originally posted by theweb:

not sure what's on the shelves right now, but perhaps the '05 Mondavi or '05 Beringer Cab, both Vintage Essentials and both priced at under $40

And both are sub $20 wines in the US. So, at almost $40 it's poor value at LCBO especially in light of where the Cdn$ is now.

I rarely check for US pricing when making a single bottle purchase of $40 or less. It's just not worth the hassle for me. If I were buying a case then maybe, and for sure when looking at higher ticket items.

Bayview still has 7 SEQUOIA GROVE's in stock.

2005 Oreno $78 (if you can wait till Jul 5th)
2005 Bouchard Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvee Carnot $86 (only a few of the 2005 floating around but you can have product consultant order it in)
2005 Caymus $80

another good burg is this weeks ISD 2005 Albert Morot Beaune Bressandes $61

Thanks for all of the help everyone. Based on my friend's palate, budget constraints, and what is available around here, I think I'll go with:

1999 Palladino Barolo for 1st anniversary
2005 Caymus for 5th or 10th anniversary
2005 Beaucastel CDP for 15th anniversary

Anything about those choices that looks off to anyone?

quote:

Originally posted by theweb:
I rarely check for US pricing when making a single bottle purchase of $40 or less. It's just not worth the hassle for me. If I were buying a case then maybe, and for sure when looking at higher ticket items.

Bayview still has 7 SEQUOIA GROVE's in stock.

I understand what you mean. In this case, I remember seeing the '05 Beringer Cab at a store in the US for $17.99, so when I see the same at LCBO at $38, I'm thinking holy s$*t what a ripoff! That's all I'm saying and I don't buy much CA stuff at LCBO.