Please help with Red Wine Recommendation : )

Posted by: naim_nymph on 11 June 2010

A colleague-friend of mine is holidaying in France in a couple of weeks time.

He has kindly offered to bring me back a case of red wine, perhaps local to the region of Brittany where they are staying(?) or perhaps reds of other French regions(?) or perhaps any good red wine from anywhere that’s available at this location and is a budget bargain(?)

What recommendations are there for 6, or 12 bottles at around 100 euros in total?

I really can’t afford to spend any more than 120 euros, that's for the whole case of 6, or 12, not each bottle! : >

I like the Merlot grape variety but will consider another full bodied reds, or even an assortment if recommended...

Thanks for any suggestions! : )

Debs
Posted on: 12 June 2010 by Bananahead
Hi Debs

I wouldn't bother.

With the £ to € exchange rate being what it is you are far better off going to a UK wine merchant and buying based on their advice.

I have a house in France that I go to most weekends (I live in Switzerland) and almost always use a local merchant who knows my taste. I very rarely take wine to the UK and if I do it is because the person I am taking it to knows exactly what they want.

Nigel
Posted on: 12 June 2010 by alainbil
No wine red or white is produced in Brittany. The closest place for wine is the Loire valley.
Posted on: 12 June 2010 by rodwsmith
Second all that.

Closest red wines to Brittany is St Nicholas de Bourgeuil, Chinon and Saumur, and they're none of them your style I don't think (fresh, leafy, light, chillable) certainly not Merlot.

Stick with merchants at home I'd imagine.
Posted on: 12 June 2010 by Derek Wright
Unless your colleague is a member of The Wine Society and can visit the shop in Montreuil-sur-Mer
see

French shop

However to really benefit from this you would have to have an understanding of the Wine Soc wines
Posted on: 15 June 2010 by Christopher_M
I tend to think stick with what you know (and like).

Chris
Posted on: 16 June 2010 by naim_nymph
quote:
Originally posted by rodwsmith:
Second all that.


Hello Rod,

I hope you’re okay where you are, the news of the Côte d'Azur floods looks horrendous.
It really saddens me to hear of so many deaths and so much carnage, it’s shocking how quick these disasters can suddenly happen nowadays.
But I hope you’ve okay.

Debs
Posted on: 16 June 2010 by rodwsmith
Thanks Debs

Much rain, and I do live next to a river, but unaffected personally. I think it was incredibly localised (although only 20 miles away) and it has cast a gloom on the region.
Report (in French)

Thanks for your kind thoughts.

Rod