Any wine lovers out there?

[Someone Stupid]

I need a suggestion for a decent red wine (to be given as a gift to a red lover) for 50 or under. I really haven't been drinking my share for a long time for me to feel confident in any recommendations because she wants to give her boss a Merlot (which I hate so have no experience in other than the 01' Mondavi that I had that was utter garbage). So any suggestions for some good, affordable, and findable (in the US) Merlot?

[zybch]

I love wine, but only white. Sorry, I can't offer any suggestions.
Remember though, that its usually not the quality/type of wine that matters but the thought behind it.
Bearing that in mind, never accept a bottle from JM.

[Someone Stupid]

LOL - I'm about to recommend my own suggestion even though it isn't a Merlot - don't know why she's set on that anyhow. Funny, she likes white as well, he doesn't though, and he's her boss, so I suppose it has to be at least decent. I figured there would be at least a couple drinkers out here - I guess I should have made the plea for beer instead if I had wanted takers on this. :)

[gringo]

Hi someone stupid, I can only give suggestions because I don't really know what wines are available in the states.

I am a red drinker myself, and the one I prefer myself at the moment is an Italian Riocha Crianza. It's a fairly heavy red, but got a lot of flavour. If you are looking for something good in a wine, go for the reserve. Merlots or or Cabernet sauvignon's are always a fairly good chioce for most people. If you then go for the reserve you will then get one of the better crops/years.

South African or Chilean wines are in my opinion very good, and also very good value. French wines are overrated and overpriced in my opinion.

Maybe try asking somebody at a good wine store for their opinion, it normally works well for me. Try to find out if they like a heavy full bodied red, or just a red with a lot of flavour, not not too heavy.



:t

[zybch]

Try a nice Australian red. The reviews comming back from overseas are very good.

[Someone Stupid]

I have a cheap yellow tail cabernet 01' in the cabinet I believe (all of 7 bucks). The merlot from them wasn't all that bad, especially considering the cost and I don't really like Merlots all that much. It beat out the Mondavi Reserve I had blown way to much on since it was at one of the more expensive places in atlanta - though the steak was excellent. :t

Thanks for the replies, I'll have to see what she can get where she lives as she's in atlanta and I'm in new orleans, so the selections are different and she isn't keen to getting it online. Which has made my job a good deal harder as the couple I suggested or had suggested to me weren't on sale up there - or costed a good deal more.

She'll be at another uni for med school by the time her old boss pops the cork come to think about it. I should just rattle off something from google that is in that price range now that I'm thinking about it. Wrong yes, temping, yes indeed.

[zybch]

Will it come back to bite you?
If not (and its not likely the boss will complain) just google away :)

[tantone]

You can find some cheap red's that are excellent quality. The La Crema Pinot Noir is really good and not very expensive.