On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 13:08:19 -0700, Bob Ehrlich
wrote:

Max Chuang wrote:
I need some help from you gurus out there. If you wanted to give a couple
of bottles of premium quality California wines to some business partners
from France, who also happen to be in the wine industry in Bordeaux, what
would you pick? My thought was that it might be better to look for some
really great, but small production type wineries. The idea being that if
you just give them a $100 but well known wine they'd probably already be
familiar with it and might not appreciate it as much as something more
unusual (to them, anyway). Or maybe go with a high profile wine, but track
down an older vintage?
Max
Max:

Had the same problem a couple of years ago. I decided not to have them
drink Bordeaux equivalents (cab souvignon "meritage"). Instead I
suggest high end Zinfandel (Turley or others), NY icewine, maybe if you
can get it an Oregon Lemberger, and others that they are not likely to
have tasted in France.

Bob

I think you're on the right track. Don't attempt to "one up" their
strength by offering a big California Cab or Merlot. Instead look for
something typically American/California such as a premium
Zinfandel--I'd look to Turley or maybe seek out something in an older
Ridge like a '94, '96 or '97 Geyserville or Lytton Springs.

You could also try a premium California Pinot Noir like Rochioli, Gary
Farrell, or Ken Wright bottlings.

Consider some non-typical varietals as well such as Cabernet Franc (I
recall an excellent Fife CF from a couple of years ago that was very
memorable and "un-European".)

Dunno where I might go in whites. Clearly California Chardonnay takes
a very different approach than white Burgs. If they are open-minded
enough to consider the big, buttery, vanilla sort of Chards rather
than the crisper sort from Europe you might consider that.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org