help! french onophile (?sp) coming to NY

[mollytny]

My brother in law who is a major wine lover born and raised in the south of France is coming to NY this summer. I want to introduce him to the best American wines... not necessarily expensive but delicous. they can't buy them over there they don't get the interesting stuff and what they do get is highly over tariffed. Any suggestions?

[Gail]

Some thoughts:

Chadonnay: Peter Michael Belle Epoch
Zin: Prisoner (2006 or 07)
Petite Sirah: Madrigal

[Bill Hunt]

Depending on exactly what you are looking to do, I'm with others on Zinfandels.

However, most of the excellent US wines are either not available, or so outrageously priced, that any really good US wine should be welcomed. I've had hosts in the UK order some real US plonk, because they wanted me to be pleased. They paid hansomely to serve some of these, when we could have had great French wines for half the price.

I often sneak in a few select bottles of Zin, for my UK friends. First, I love most, and they cannot get any examples at twice the price of a good vintage 1er Cru Bdx.

Show your guests really good US wines, and let the chips fall, where they may. It will likely be something that they have never experienced, and if they have an open mind, should greatly appreciate it gesture.

Hunt

[oolah]

I don't understand the question. Are you looking for specific bottles of wine to buy? Or are you looking for wine stores where you can buy American wines? Or are you looking for a wine bar where you can try different American wines?

I can't recommend specific bottles and I don't know of any wine bars that specialize in American wines, but Le Dû in the West Village and Chambers St Wines in TriBeCa both carry a small but good selection of well-made American wines.

[SteveTimko]

I looked at Chambers Street online inventory before posting and its U.S. selection is 76 bottles. Maybe they're low in inventory waiting for new wines to arrive, but U.S. wines don't seem to be a strength of the store.

[oolah]

You're right that they don't have a lot of US wines, but the ones they have are, IMHO, the better ones.

[SteveTimko]

Sherry-Lehman is probably a good place to start. Crush Wine and Spirits looks good, too.
This place lists a lot of wine stores in Manhattan.
http://www.drvino.com/newyorkwineshop...
Zachy's isn't in New York city proper. Are you talking New York State or New York City?
By the way, 2007 is shaping up to be a great vintage in California and Oregon, at least for the grapes I'm interested in.

[whiner]

As aacharya asked:

Must know price, red v. white, style/grape preference...

Also, to be completely honest, in the lower price categories (and also in the stratosphere) I don't think US wine can compete favorably with French wines. It is really only in the $30 - $150 (retail / mailing list) category that you see real competiton, imo. There are some exceptions, but that, to me, would be the general rule.

[bclevy]

He might be interested in trying zinfandels, since this wine
variety is unique to the USA (I realize it comes from Croatia,
but this is not yet a wine travel destnation inside Europe). Your
brother in law might also be interested in wines made by
French wine makers in the USA. For example, if he is familiar
with Chateau de Beaucastel wines, you might want to try Tablas Creek.
If he favors Burgundy wines, you might want to try Domain Drouhin.
With this approach you are ensuring the wines he will taste are made
in a French style.

[aacharya]

For your brother-in-law, the oenophile, you will need to tell us some more:

Red/White
Price?
Region?

Preferences? Obviously, he cannot get a Kistler or Marcassin Chard over there, but they get great Montrachet....

I would suggest an excellent wine bar (see zagat.com) to provide the best perspective. No way will you impress him with only one or two bottles without risking a lot of money.