First of all, with a crowd that isn't into Bordeaux,I'd hold off on the
classed growths, Pomerols,etc. What I would look for is a Right Bank
satellite wine from '98, '00, or '01. My first choices would include
modern wines from Cotes de Castillon (D'Aiguilhe, Ste. Colombe, or Clos
d'Eglise are a few possibilities) or Lalande de Pomerol
(Haut-Chaigneau, La Chenade, or La Fleur du Boaurd, to name a few). Or
possibly one of the St-Emilion satellites or Fronsac ('00 Les Trois
Croix is very good). These are ripe fruit driven wines that still
retain a clear Bordeaux sensibility. I think lots of people tend to
appreciate, and the most expensive (the Bouard) is still not that dear
($20-30).