Traviata

I cannot find my favorite here in the states...Champagne Haton Rose Brut...a bottle would make anyone happy! It is from Epernay, so likely found in Paris wine shops.

bought_the_tshirt

"BTW no champagne is fine in checked in baggage. the bottle is designed .."..."I'm not sure what you mean, but the pressure in the baggage hold is exactly the same as it is in the passenger compartment".

that was my mistake there, i mean to put a commma- "No, champagne is fine" i think i gave the opposite meaning haha. But i was talking about the design of the bottle and immense pressure inside, not of the luggage hold!

DAX

Instead of wine, I would suggest bringing a small folding portable wine opener or other wine accesory with any French saying/logo. If your friend is really into wine, she knows where to get all the wines mentioned on this thread in the US through the hundreds of small importers. In general you can get French wine for less in the US so usually it's not worth bringing (especially those from Monoprix).

With some extremely rare exceptions, Champagne, Sauternes & Vouvray are cheaper in the US than in France.

EKSCRUNCHY: FYI Gaillac Doux can be purchased online from Vins du Midi in Oregon at wholesale prices for $14-15 a bottle. They ship anywhere. K&L wines (klwines.com) will ship Cremant d'Alsace $15) or Chinon ($18) to your house.

http://tinyurl.com/2etrph is a good online wine searcher. It tells you where to get wines like CADILLAC for $10 a bottle plus shipping. Now a good LOUPIAC is rare and worth bringing but usually rather pricey. http://tinyurl.com/3xqwc9

rex

That's an interesting resource, DAX - - that winesearcher.com - - are you a "Pro Version" member? I wonder if it is worth it. I have been searching for a US source for Senorio de Lazan Reserva (Spanish, not French, of course from Bodega Pineiros) for over a year now. The "non-Pro" version comes up with one source in Spain - - finding (other) sources in Europe is not particularly difficult, but haven't found one in the US yet.

If you are a "Pro Version" member, have you found it worthwhile? I am not an "obsessive" collector, for what it's worth.

Thanks in advance if you or anyone else have opinions on this.

Best wishes,

Rex

Traviata

DAX,

Wow! wine searcher found the Haton Champagne in Chicago! Thanks so much for the source.

DAX

Rex: I only use the winesearcher and a couple other wine search machines to compare prices. I prefer to buy from the major distributors and small importers that I'm familiar with. I let them all do the search for me and they just ship it to me.

In my experience, unusual French/Italian wines are easier to find in the US as there is enough market demand. The prices are usually cheaper in the US or at least competetive. However many rare Spanish/Austrian/German wines from small producers are not available in the US. I usually hunt for rare wines from those countries when I'm in Europe. On rare occassions I have brought back French/Italian wines because I ran into some incredible bargains. I have bought several Chateau Margaux & Gaja for less than half the market price.

DAX

REX; I didn't answer your posting properly as I read it in a hurry. No I'm not a Pro member. You got me curious about that Ribera del Duero producer, what sets it apart from other Tempranillo-Cab producers? It looks like it's available only in the UK,Spain and Germany.

BTilke

Most French wines can be found in the U.S. with enough sleuthing. But probably not all of them. However, even then, I have wine-o friends who love receiving wine without having an importer listed on the label.
Dax, do you know any U.S. importers selling Estate Manolesaki? (Esp. the Drama Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay blend.)The only place I could find selling it in the U.S. was at the DC restaurant Zaytinya. But only for consumption on their premises.

rex

I don't know the other Tempranillo-Cab producers; I only know tha I loved this wine, and in particular, it was associated with a very special family dinner. I brought back a magnum of this in 2005, and I would buy a case more if I could (it was not that expensive under $50); it was the star of the particular dinner party where I served it.

ekscrunchy

DAX thank you for the information. I am assuming those prices do not include shipping..(??)

When we were in Gaillac we were told, at the estate whose wines we liked the best, that they do not ship to the US, a although they do export to Belgium and a few other European countries. In the unlikely event that anyone here is interested in Gaillac Doux, the estate is Chateau de Salettes. They also have a fabulous-looking hotel and restaurant..we brought back a few bottles of the wine with no problems.


http://www.chateaudesalettes.com/en/Welcome.html

DAX

BTilke: I don't know much about greek wine at all, but I locate a few of the wines you like: http://forbes.wineexpress.com/results.aspx

Rex: There was a time when I was interested in Tempranillo wine, you may want to try these ones:
http://tinyurl.com/yqzbvr
because they are good and readily available in many stores in California (I don't know where you live). I still have a few Abadia Retuerta and Emilio Moro and enjoy them once in a while. Various Costco stores often carries Emilio Moro ($21) which often scores an excellent Parker rating (90-91). I have passed my fascination with Tempranillo, however it really does deserve attention because it has a good substantial body with interesting taste palate (as you have discovered it). I've run into a few Spanish Tempranillo producers in Bordeaux learning from the famous chateaus. They have been blending their tempranillo wines with cabernet to gain more international recognition.

DAX

B Tilke, After checking it more thoroughly, it looks like the Manolesaki is no longer available (probably due to lack of demand) in the US but the reviews below are interesting to read though scoring below 90. Most winemakers goal is to score 90 or above to be credible. I enjoyed learning a bit about greek wine, thanks to you.

Rating
88 2001 Manolesaki Estate Merlot, $23 Firm yet fleshy, this Merlot boasts chunky black-cherry fruit swaddled in layers of toast and dark chocolate. It’s medium-weight, graceful enough to drink with food, but it’s still chewy enough to drink on its own. (9/2/2004)
Rating
87 2001 Manolesaki Cabernet Sauvignon, $23
Strawberry isn’t a typical Cabernet descriptor, but it applies to this wine, which also boasts more classic notes of dried herbs, leather and cedar. Supple tannins make this Cab instantly drinkable. —(9/2/2004)

Rating
88 2002 Manolesaki Sauvignon Blanc-Roditis $18
This 60-40 blend combines ripe stone-fruit elements of nectarine and peach with firm mineral notes and a hint of anise on the lingering finish. Slightly herbal, but speaks more of ripe fruit, making for a pleasant, medium-weight sipper. — (9/2/2004)
Rating
86 2001 Manolesaki Cabernet Blend,$22
A bit rustic and tannic, but also shows some solid, ripe berry and cherry fruit. Hay, horse and spice notes add nuance without burying the fruit. Lighter-bodied, with crisp acids. (9/2/2004)

Rating
85 2002 Manolesaki Sauvignon Blanc-Chardonnay, $22
This interesting blend boasts aromas of preserved lemons and fresh herbs, then turns a bit plumper in the mouth, with nectarine flavors joining in. Tart and high-acid on the finish, making it a natural with oily seafood dishes like fresh sardines. (9/2/2004)

DAX

Ekscrunchy: Besides Vins du Midi, K&L wines also has one Gaillac for $14: http://www.klwines.com/find/search.a...&submit=Go
Shipping is always additional and varies according to which distance.

I've never been to Chateau de Salettes, but I've stayed at a few small chateau hotels where the owners also made wines and they told me how difficult it was to sell their wine to small importers so they could only sell the wine to hotel guests as souvenirs which is not lucrative. They did wine & dine and give free hotel stays to various small importers, but it's very hard to find anyone willing to import their wines. I think quality and market demand have a lot to do with availability in the US.

BTilke

Dax, EM wines have picked up a few prizes at international wine competitions. I bought it on a whim after having tried some excellent greek wines at the greek "haute cuisine" restaurant Notos in Brussels (http://www.notos.be/FR/INDEX/vins.php).
The bottle of 2005 SB/Ch blend we bought the other night was the last that a Brussels dealer and we liked it so much, we're hunting around here for more. (And for price comparison, we paid 7€ for the bottle in Belgium.) http://www.manolesakis.gr/en/chardonnay_fume.html It goes best with Greek food, IMHO. We had it with mezze that included a cold calamari salad (tentacles only, no rings).

But, back to the OP, one white wine we brought back to friends that they really liked was St. Aubin Les Murgers des Dents de Chien. The 2005 vintage is supposed to be exceptionally good. You can find a review of an older vintage here (not that I'd recommend an older one, just to give you an idea of what it's like). The wine is not as well known as other white Burgundies and while not impossible to get in the U.S., not found that easily and supplies are usually small, selling out quickly:
http://www.hillersmarkets.com/theme....wsletter_ID=24

DAX

I agree with BTilke, St Aubin Les Muger de Dents is a very nice value french Chardonnay in contrast to the heavily oaked american Chardonnay. That said, Vincent Girardin wines are commonly available in many wine stores and upscale supermarkets in our area.

crazychick

When I was Reims a few years ago there was loads of Champagne related gifts you could buy with a wide price range. They varied from Champagne chocolates to bottles of Champagne with a personalised label. They seemed very popular gifts.

BTilke

Yes, but Dax, Gir. isn't the only producer, right? I thought there were several others.
http://www.vcommevin.com/une_fiche.php?id_fiche=196

kenderina

Rex, this is the website of the winery, in case you didn't know :
http://www.bodegapirineos.com/ (it's also in english )

They export some of their brands to the US but it looks yours is not one. Anyway, it doesn't hurt to ask

hopscotch

allyseinparis,

Someone self decribed as "know nothing about wine" buying wine for someone who "is really into wine and champagne" is a mistake. You are clueless, and as you see above, everybody has their own preferences.

I suggest a fancy corkscrew or a champagne bucket or a poster size wine map of Burgundy.

DAX

I agree with Hopscotch that it's not the best idea to bring wine for a wine afficianado. I sometimes get a "special wine" from non wine people and I always feel bad that they went through a lot of trouble schlepping something that I really don't enjoy/care for. A small folding corkscrew (not the tacky rabbit wine opener) is a better gift that I can always use/treasure knowing who brought it for me.

BTilke: Your Hillers market website reviewed a Vincent Girardin St Aubin, so I just wanted to warn the poster how one can buy that in the US.