Norm Roby's Unfiltered Guide to Savvy Wine Shopping
Finding the best deals online & direct from wineries
2015 Chateau Margaux 750ml (Bordeaux) – $1,268.70
Rated 100 points: (WA98-100) (JS100)
(JD100)
Offered by wwwgaragistewine.com
“STRICT LIMIT 1/person until we run out (in the spirit of the community and to allow as many of you as possible to acquire it at this $, please do not be upset with the one bottle limit.
(to be clear, this is $1268+ per bottle)
$1268+ is a Top Deal?”
Could well be. Time will tell.
Based upon today’s prices, St. Emilion appears to be the hot region for 2015 Bordeaux. The so-called second tier wines being offered on a pre arrival basis are well over $50, averaging closer to $70.
So, here is today’s recommendation for a steal of a deal:
2015 Chateau Haut Brisson St. Emilion Grand Cru, $28.99 offered by
Brisson, a real chateau with a long but uneven history, is making a strong comeback under its present owner.
The reviewers are talking this one up and throwing high scores around, so better act fast.
Looking for a talking point, I enjoyed this odd comment from a report published by James Suckling:
“The sign of a great vintage in Bordeaux is when even bad producers make excellent wines,” quips Alain Vautier, the owner of St.-Emilion’s great Château Ausone.”
Suckling adds, “But it’s no joke. They are so many excellent wines in 2015, from the top classified growths to simple bottlings.”
$14.99, with free case shipping at
First of all, this is a good price, but I wouldn’t pay much more. You may see it for slightly less over the next few weeks. Buy now or wait: Your decision.
Second, a real OMG moment for me when I read something intelligent and on point from one of the Wine Advocate folks. On 2015 Cru Bourgeois Medoc wines:
“They are not for label hunters. They are not investor catnip. They are straightforward, no frills, delicious expressions of Cabernet and Merlot cultivated in the region that does it best, frequently bursting with freshness and vitality, structured and complex.”
Wow! Nicely said.
In St. Emilion, the “Grand Cru Classe” designation means very little these days. However, if you are a big fan of St. Emilion, check out wines from the Montagne St. Emilion appellation, always less expensive and often of surprising quality. Also consider wines from the Castillon region, Cote de Castillon.
If you prefer the Medoc, style with more Cabernet in the blend, consider wines from the Graves District of Pessac-Leognan or those simply labeled Bordeaux.
But if you are a real maverick always thinking outside the box, venture a little east of Bordeaux and explore the reds from Bergerac. About 28,000 acres are planted in Bergerac and its two top appellations, Pecharmant and Montraval. Here you’ll find wines from the same varieties grown in the same climate with one main difference: they can be incredibly delicious for the price.
Domaine Haut-Pécharmant and Château Tiregand are great examples I was fortunate to discover when living nearby.
2015 Chateau Larroque, Bordeaux Superieur, $18.00 with free shipping
A lovely, solid, beautifully balanced authentic Bordeaux. This is a direct import from:
Here is another personal favorite known to deliver real value in outstanding vintages:
2015 Chateau Lanessan, Haut-Medoc
Savvy shoppers will snap it up in the $15-22 price range.
This 2015 does not disappoint, delivering refined black fruit
in a supple package. The 2010, as a reference point, is wonderful right now.
Shop the 2015 online at these sites:
www.garagistewine.com has it for $15.97 a bottle and it is ready to be shipped.
The following will ship it in a few months:
www.wine.com has it for $16.97
www.finewinesinternational.com has it for $18. With free shipping on 6
www.lawineco.com for $17.95
Who can you trust for Bordeaux ratings and scores?
Decanter Magazine, especially the magazine. Not so much the medals awarded at the annual judging. A positive review from Decanter is well-earned.
The Wine Enthusiast, if the wine is rated by RV, Roger Voss.
James Suckling–more reliable than Parker’s Wine Advocate which has lost its focus.
Writer Jane Anson for on the scene, accurate information and assessments.
The floodgates are beginning to open for terrific deals, even genuine bargains for 2015 red Bordeaux and a few remaining 2014s.
And we at www.bestonlinewineshopping.com will be alerting you to those unbeatable deals throughout the month. And providing insider buying tips.
So you can be amused by those stories about $500-$1,000 bottles of Bordeaux. And you can pass on the chance to buy “Futures” of 2015 and take delivery (if you are lucky) several months from now.
Time for a reality check and be prepared to ignore online retailers hyping offers of big named châteaux. Unless you want to pay $500 or more for a bottle of Cheval Blanc, or Margaux, or Lafite.
If you are not truly a compulsive collector which we respect or a totally insecure name-dropper, there is no reason to shell out big bucks for 2015 Bordeaux.
To us, “Bargain” does not mean cheap or lower quality. Or lowering your standards. It means high quality wines at honest, down to earth prices.
Though it is just beginning, we have already seen excellent deals of quality Bordeaux under $25 a bottle. And super, age-worthy wines below $50.
Not just attractively priced ordinary stuff, but 2015s that are authentic and capture that special quality that defines Bordeaux.
The following websites are the early pace-setters:
Norm Roby's Unfiltered Guide to Savvy Wine Shopping 