I'm looking for a good bottle of claret for my Dad's birthday - in the £20-30 range. As usual I've left it till last minute so I'll need to buy it in Waitrose or M+S.

Any help much appreciated.

Hi Ed

Tricky one, £20+ is way above my average spend, I had the '02 Château Tour Pibran a while back which is drinking very well now, I think I paid £15 for it.

How about a Port? The Fonseca Guimaraens '88 is delicious, not a declared vintage but an excellent second wine nonetheless.

Both available at Waitrose.

Ed, We dont know what your are planning to eat ? Beef, pork, chicken. vegetarian ?

With Beef, Try the M&S Saint Julien, can't remember which chateau, they have it in some stores. These SJ's are an easier claret, rich and fruity and will go with beef. Or Chateau Moulinet 2004, a soft Pomerol for about £18 and a Decanter bronze - Not tried by me. Not all stores have many of the fine clarets these days. You will have to go to a big store in a prosperous location.

Waitrose - Their Store stock varies massively from location to location. Well, I have drunk this but the 2005 is not quite ready: Les Tourelles de Longueville 2005 Pauillac, 2nd wine of Château Pichon Baron, a classed growth and quite stylish. Or this softer number which I've drunk, the Château La Croix Taillefer 2005 Pomerol...Well I've drunk the Taillefer, rather than this one at the crossing. Taillefer would be good with lamb as they say, and another easy drinking claret with a lovely flavour.
Most of the clarets being offered in the £24 plus region are not ready. Don't, in my opinion buy left bank 2004's, they are rather expensive for what they are. The 2004 vintage does not properly represent these fine wines, 2004 Cab Sauvignon was an unriper / greener vintage for some properties on the left bank, so I have avoided them, therefore, I cant speak with any authority.
Right bank, the 2004 early maturing Merlot for St Emilions and Pomerols are reliable and good.
Looking at the list available to you, may be this one which is an early maturing and very ripe: Château d'Aiguilhe 2003 Côtes de Castillon will do the trick for you, it is softish and full and fruity and very approachable.

You're looking for an uncious claret in this price range - Right ? The 2003's are super ripe and still good for 2009/10. 2003's are a tad new world, but you don't have much choice, nor much time.

In this price range, The vintage 2000 or 2002 left bank clarets are what you want, but they are not on supermarket shelves.

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Duncan

Thanks guys.

I think you're right about availability Duncan, though I may find some 2002-3s in Waitrose. No meal plans as yet - it isn't to go with any meal as such really.

I'll have to try and find an independent shop over the next couple of days.