We are traveling through the Dordogne area in one week and want to bring back a very good bottle of red wine as a gift for a relative who fancies himself as a bit of a wine connoisseur. We know very little about wine; is the wine in St. Emilion the best gift of this sort or are there other recommendations in the area which might be better?

There are many wonderful areas and vineyards...whatever you do decide to purchase, ask about the best year (in your price range), that makes a big impression. A 1990 or 1995 are good Bordeaux years. <BR> <BR>Bonne Chance! <BR>P.S. St. Emilion is one of my favorites.

If price were not a constraint, the finest gift from Bordeaux, would be the finest choice of "les St. Estephe" - - Cos d'Estournel. <BR> <BR>http://www.cosestournel.com/ <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Thank you for the suggestions! I checked the Cos d'Estournel website and it is in French...can you please tell me where to locate it on the map? and approximately how much it costs? We think $80 (his favorite wine - Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon) is probably our limit, so beyond that price you won't need to bother with directions! thanks again.

Ask any wine merchant in St-Emilion (or anywhere in the region, for that matter) to recommend something in your price range. <BR> <BR>I love St-Emilion, but I think Château Margaux is even better. It all depends what your friend likes.

There are so many wonderful wines in that region that I would suggest you look for something interesting or unique, as opposed to simply costly. There is no more reason to spend $80 for an excellent bottle of wine where you are going than there would be to spend $50 for a lobster in New Brunswick or steak in Wyoming's cattle country, IMHO. Take advantage of your location and make a wonderful discovery -- quite possibly something that is not available on your side of the pond at any price at all. I do agree to ask the wine seller about the particular label. While '90 and '95 ARE fine years, I recently came up with some dogs from '95 that I'm sure I could have avoided with minimal research.

Cos d'Estournel has English on the site, but there is no indication that it is open for touring. <BR> <BR>You can find it in any fine boutique du vin in France, and often in the US - - marked up to about $200 a bottle for some vintage years here; perhaps one-third to one half that in France. <BR>

Does anyone know of a web-site that explains the "best year, best region, best vineyard" complexity? It must exist! <BR> <BR>

Ger...GREAT question! I'm on it! Let us know when if you find a good site? <BR> <BR>Thanks!

Just so happens... <BR>http://www.winespectator.com/ <BR> <BR>And this one for wine and tourism info: <BR>http://www.topfrenchwine.com/

I was just going to recommend Wine Spectator, too. I like the website, but that is positively the most gorgeous magazine I've ever read. I've got places on itinararies for future trips just from some of their glorious picture......

Elvira, merci beaucoup! <BR> <BR>Diane, isn't it fabulous? I'm really enjoying the Luberon section...Reine Sammut's place was heavenly last summer, but the Chateau la Verrerie is appealing for the new wine and regional growth. Beautiful photos.