cspencer@bbnccv.UUCP (Cliff Spencer) (04/12/85)
> > Is there another red Bordeaux that someone would recommend? > I have been very happy with a 1982 cotes de bourg called "Chateau Haut-Guiraud". In Boston it can be had for a modest $3.99. cliff
c-hunt@tesla.UUCP (Charles Hunt) (04/22/85)
Right now, there are dozens of fine bordeaux available because 81, 82, & 83 are all excellent years, and the dollar is very strong. If you are looking for inexpensive wines, look for reds with the words "Appelation Controlee" on the label and one of the following names in between: Paulliac, St. Julien, Margaux, Graves, St. Estephe, Pomerol, St. Emilion, Haut-Medoc (eg. "Appelation Pomerol Controlee"). Also, be sure the words "Mis en botilles au Chateau", which indicates estate bottled, is on the label. For small estates (called "petit chateaux"), there are many available for <= $6; I personally recommend: La Tour de By, Fourcas Hosten, Fourcas Dupree, Greysac, Larose Trantadon, de Pez, Ormes de Pez, Marbuzet, Haut Marbuzet, Phelan Segur, Carbonnieux, Smith Haute Lafitte, Plagnac, Bel-Air, ... they all have a "Chateau" before the name to impress your friends, but are mostly really just farms. Beware the tricky French: they attempt to deceive dumb Americans by beguiling labels, eg. "Mis en botilles dans Nos Caves" (put in the bottle in our cellar) or "Mis en botilles au Propriete" (put in the bottle at the property), which, although legal to say, essentially mean nothing; after all, EVERY wine maker puts his wine in the bottles at his facility, but that doesn't mean the wine is estate bottled! Or they may have a tricky place name (eg. "Appellation St. Emilion-Montagne") which sounds like the places listed above, but in fact are inferior regions. Examples are Cotes-de-Blaye, Cotes-de-Bourg, Pomerol- Lelande, or simple Bordeaux. These wines are usually blended from lots of different vats (even though it says "Chateau Balogna" on the label); they may be ok swill, but don't pay a dime more than $4 for any of them. Finally, as I've said before in this group, there never was a better time to buy premium (ie. "Grand Cru Classe") Bordeaux from 81 and 82. There's lots of great deals in the $10 range for your cellar. Personal favorites are: Lynch-Bages, Leoville-Poyferre, Priure-Lichine, Haut-Bailly, Bouscaut, La Lagune, D'Angludet, du Tertre, LaTour Carnet, and Brainare Ducru. The list goes on, but you'll run out of dough. Also, Talbot or Gruaud Larose from St. Julien (both are Cordier properties) are well worth the money. Cheers! Drink modestly, live a long life. =Charles Hunt=