Hunt wrote:
> In article > ,
> says...
>
>>
>>Like most wine enthusuasts, I have developed some preferences over the
>>years of selections from California, Washington State, Chile, etc., that
>>are reasonably priced and that I nearly always like, and that are widely
>>available. (I like reds, particularly Cabernets, and find that I nearly
>>always like selections from Simi, Sterling, and a number of others, and
>>in lower price ranges, Columbia Crest and Turning Leaf, and the like. I
>>also like many French wines, but find it's difficult to select a good
>>French wine at good value because of the many choices. So, I would
>>appreciate suggestions for French Bordeaux, or others, that would be
>>commonly available (produced in fairly large quantities) and preferably
>>priced under $25 for a Bordeaux, or less for Rhones, etc.
>>
>>I have particularly enjoyed several Bordeaux wines, but find that I
>>cannot depend on selecting a good one at a reasonable price unless I
>>research the issue first (and when I do look up likely choices in WS or
>>Parkers or Wine Enthusiast, I often find that they aren't available
>>locally.) Does anyone have suggestions for Second or Third growth
>>Bordeaux that are plentiful, and commonly available, usually OK in most
>>vintages, and priced under $25?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Jim
>
>
> Jim,
>
> Take your thoughts, above, to a good wine shop, that handles both US/domestic
> and FR wines. Talk to them about what they have in stock. Not knowing where
> you are located (and, even then, we might not have a clue, as to what is
> available in, say Pierre, SD), we could list dozens of good Bdx. near your
> price-point, but then you would likely be faced with the same problem -
> availability.
>
> Take some of the suggestions with you, and see if the retailer has any, or has
> some that he/she feels are similar.
>
> In Phoenix, AZ, USA, I might well not be able to find some of the suggested
> wines, and this is a town of 4M people! I'd call up K&L (Redwood City, CA,
> store) and ask Ralph Sands for HIS suggestions, but that might not be an
> option for you.
>
> The use of a good wine shop cannot be measured by a few $ markup over a
> supermarket. Go with the expertise and be willing to pay a bit for it.
>
> Hunt
>
Thanks. I should have explained that although I'm not an expert and am
still in the learning stage, I'm not exactly a novice, since I've been a
wine enthusuast for some 30 years. Over the years, I've tasted all the
Bordeaux First Growths, although I can't often afford them at their
current prices. I appreciate the answers to my two posts, and I'll try
to locate some of the recommended wines.
Thanks for your suggestions regarding getting to know a local wine
merchant. I'm in the Houston area (which, of course, is almost at the
outer fringes of civilization). We have four or five million people down
here, and there are some good wine selections at a number of dealers.
I'm fairly conversant with several of the wine specialists at our local
Specs dealership, and I've had a number of discussions with them. They
are always friendly and helpful, though perhaps not true wine experts.
Our local Specs is in a former Krogers grocery store, which gives you
some idea of its size, and there is a much larger "warehouse" dealer
downtown.
Jim