It does not surprise me one bit that a California Cab goes for over a hundred, especially a 1997 which is an out vintage and is no longer in stores, and was an extraordinary year.

There are some great Cal wines out there and many are certainly worth what they charge but many are not. IMHO J Phelps is a very good house and produces outstanding wines most years.

Here is another good site I find very helpful. http://travelenvoy.com/wine.htm

Just to clarify,this wino is not my husband:D<BR><BR>With the miserable weather we are having today, isn't it just grand that you can call up a store and have them deliver your Christmas shopping? Another reason to love New York!

x, I don't have $100 to blow on wine. My husband is a wine collector, and is looking for a specific wine to add to his collection. I'm trying to buy him a gift. I'm not some idiot who wants to throw $100 at someone and just say &quot;here, pick something out&quot;.<BR><BR>Wine is my husband's hobby, and we've been to Sherry Lehman many, many times, but he is the one asking for what he wants, not for help from the sales staff. If the gift weren't for him, I wouldn't be asking for help from Fodorites, who, by the way, have been very helpful with the exception of one nasty individual.

And your right x, $100 wine would be wasted on me, since I'm not the connoisser my husband is, but then again, the wine isn't for me, is it?

Absentminded, don't let the Grinches in the crowd put a damper on the day. I think it's great that you are putting an effort into finding the perfect gift for your husband. Job well done! <BR><BR>

Absentminded,<BR>I have my own tastes in wine, learned from living many years with a real wine expert. But when it comes to buying them wine as a gift, it is always daunting! Sherry Lehman and the better wine stores are worth the money when they help with the choice. <BR>This year for my husbands birthday (a week before Christmas) I got him a set of Reidel glasses. For Christmas, I am giving him a case of Perrin Cote de Rhon that is already hard to find. <BR>My choice was based on his loving this wine at a restaurant, so I took the name of the wine and went to the local wine shop. Wives of winos learn to be sneaky:)

I agree! Have a great holiday!

I agree! I learned something new!

The Joseph Phelps Cab thats runs that much is probably Backus Vineyard Cab. It is outstanding!

Yes indeed, there was only 1 nasty poster. The rest were all very helpful. Now I really have to go and do some Christmas decorating. Thanks again for all the suggestions, I'm sure my husband will enjoy the wine.

Let us know what you find! Happy Holidays!

Yes it looks like most of fodors' housewives are logging off to do some Christmas decorating about now. Interesting or just coincidence?

I noticed none of you heeded my words, but nonetheless I will give you an idea, since it's the season - E. Cuigal, a 2000 Rhone, for $30 a bottle - just named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator. You do know what is being said by Parker et al about the Year 2000s, I assume. You need not waste your $100 on a cab from a greedy winemaker in CA who raises his prices simply because the Bordeaulais do! Get your hubby into a different direction. And when they tell you the '97 CA cabs are extraordinary, remind them of 1994, and the fact that the CA winemakers have been claiming every year for the last five have been extraordinary. What they really are saying is their wines are all in danger of becoming a like. Appararently terroir remains an alien concept on our left coast

and do not bother to flame me, I am signing off with the other housewives to get the place decorated for my lover boy who arrives this afternoon with some of my favorite sauternes to sip.

If you haven't been go to First Ave Wines, on 1st Ave between 22 and 23rd Sts.<BR><BR>They have a wonderful collections of wines from all over and the &quot;back room&quot; has some amazing wines. They have one of the best wine lists in the city and very good prices.<BR><BR>They also do special events and tastings in the back room, invitation only, so your hubby would probably love it there.<BR><BR>Maybe you can arrange for a special tour of the backroom for him.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful holiday.

Another thing you can do that is fun is to pay a visit to Vintage in Soho. They only sell NY wines, and are they only place in NY allowed to sell wine on a Sunday. They have a wine tasting bar in the back that is a great place to taste the NY wines and meet some interesting people at the same time.

Taking a break from eau du Frazier Fur for a moment, and I'm glad to see this thread still here. I was thinking, since so many of you know so much about wine, if you could recommend a Cabernet, Merlot or Syrah for less than $50 a bottle? Is it possible to find a Brunello in that range? Something really outstanding in that price range would be nice.<BR><BR>x I know you just recommded a Rhone, but I just had some (maybe not a good one), last Saturday night and I couldn't even finish it. Just didn't appeal to me. So, any other recs.? As it happens, my husband's birthday is this weekend, so maybe I'll surprise him with a wine that he didn't have to hint at, and maybe he'll even think some of his wine knowledge is rubbing off on me.

Ellen, Had no idea that Vintage in SoHo sold wine on Sunday! What a great thing to know! Thanks for the tip.