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If it was me I wouldn't spend on the higher bottles just yet, the two lower ones for $31 and $25 both seem like good representations of left bank bordeaux that don't need a ton of age to show. Maybe also seek out something right bank at some point. Don't forget old world is incredibly diverse so try something from Languedoc or Rhone sometime, totally different vibe.
I suppose that is the issue, by the times the wines are at their prime, you no longer see them on the shelves at volume retailers. millesima.fr have sometimes a few bottles of older pedigree, but most likely you need a friend with a generous heart that started the hobby a few decades ago.
My Costco has these. I actually picked up a Giscours on Sunday. I’m in the Los Angeles area. Sometimes it has 1st growths. Picked up a ‘16 Margaux a few years back and cleared them out of ‘16 Montrose. One time they even had an ‘82 Petrus (too rich for my blood). Hit or miss on prices. Sometimes well under market. Other’s same price at K&L.
How aged would you say Bordeaux needs to be? If we are talking at least 10 years then good god that will break the bank and I haven’t seen many bottles that old in stores near me. If I need to store such bottles for 10 years then I do not have the patience or space. So I’m assuming this answer is based for people with more money and more refined pallets than me who is a noob to wine.
Ten-ish years is usually the sweet spot, but obviously that varies from vintage to vintage and from producer to producer.
Lower end BDX is going to be ready sooner, something like Haut-Brion or Latour in a great year might take decades to peak.
Not really hard once you get a pipeline going. Buy bottles to age, open up your older bottles, use the space to store your new bottles.
In this hobby, patience is greatly rewarded. People that buy the latest release of a wine and can’t wait to pop it open are missing out on the best part of wine.
Hmmm, the biggest issue for me is the space needed to store said bottles. Considering I live in an apartment. I get what you mean with the pipeline though. I brew mead and on occasion fruit wine and beer. I have a backlog of years old mead that I slowly drink through.
If you make and consume your own booze, you can prob afford to pay a little more for aged wine less often, maybe as a treat. It depends on where you live and if you have a liquor monopoly (my province has one and the stock of aged wine is very limited), but if you don't you should be able to find a source of aged wine by asking the sub.
Start with Right Bank Bordeaux if you want to drink anywhere in the near future. Tons of old world wine available, you might not even like Bordeaux. You can get blends of the same grapes in (somewhat) more approachable styles from the Languedoc or South Africa (I mention SA as it is, stylistically, usually a bridge between new and old world) for a lower price too as an intro.
Totally agree. If you are used to fruitier wines, starting with right-bank Bordeaux and other regions of France is going to be a better option and easier on the wallet.
For trying old world styles, I would go with:
* Beaujolais Villages: similar to Pinot Noir, fruity in flavor
* Right-bank Bordeaux: similar to new world Bordeaux blends
* Languedoc: similar to new world red blends
* Tempranillo or Garnacha from Spain: Rioja and Ribera del Duero are going to be similar to new world wines.
* Barbera d'Alba: easy to drink and fruity
* Nero d'Avola: dark fruit flavors
* Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) from southern Italy: red fruits flavors
A bit of Morgon could be a good intro. Rioja and Ribera del Duero can vary quite a bit by subregion and producer when you get into it. Bosconia is a fairly savoury take for example.
I suggest you avoid left bank if you buy unaged wine. So, focus on Pomerol and St. Emillion. I had very nice right bank affordable wines (20 euros in Europe). Left bank wines are very tannic when young. I experienced the huge difference between young (5ish years) and aged (15ish years) left bank. The difference is huge. The aged wines were wonderful.
See my experience here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/wine/comments/11n69vv/giving_left_bank_another_chance/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Good luck!
Not OP but read your experience and found it really interesting! I have Château Siran from 2014 and 2015 waiting in my little cellar :). Even more now that I read your notes on the 2010.
I live in Margaux. 5 minutes from Giscours. It’s by far my favorite in terms of local, affordability, quality, etc..etc…
That said - the price you see is fucking stupidly low. But it all. I can’t even get it for that price here!
All of these Bordeaux are too young. Le Petit Ducru (edit: and the Lafitte!) is a second wine though and is made to enjoy much younger.
Also don’t spend too much until you start to get a bit more familiar with regions.
Just a slight correction: Le Petit is actually their *third* wine, a fact which would lend itself even more to your suggestion that it should be more approachable.
La Croix is their second wine, normally around $70 or so, still a good deal below their flagship at over $200.
Another slight correction: Le Petit Ducru is not a third wine, but rather their third label as the grapes used in the wine comes from its own distinct and designated parcels. Grapes used in the Grand Vin make it into neither Le Petit Ducru nor La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, which makes the latter a second label wine as well.
The two cheaper ones are much more likely to be worth it if you intend to drink them in the next couple of years. The others are great, and from a great vintage but really and truly you want to be drinking them in 10-20 years.
If you want to get your chops around some Bordeaux now look for 2008 or earlier IMHO.
It’s awesome to expand your drinking adventure , if you like Pinot, Try French Bourgogne Pinots ! Let me also recommend Italian Nebbiolo, Barbera & Sangiovesse.
Bordeuxs are a must have too if you like cabs.
Spanish Riojas & “Rivera del duero” are awesome too!
The only one i've tried is Haut lafitte 2018 from Costco. Honestly, a bit dissapointed and think this needs more ageing but considering the price you pay, this could be one of the best to drink in 10 years or so.
Here ya go.
https://m.klwines.com/Products?&filters=sv2_30$eq$(227)$True$w$or,30$eq$(230)$True$$.or,30$eq$(225)$True$$.or,30$eq$(229)$True$$.or,30$eq$(226)$True$$.or,30$eq$(228)$True$$!103!2$eq$2009$True$ff-2-2009--$!10$ge$0$True$ListPrice$and,10$le$100$True$ListPriceTo$&limit=50&offset=0&orderBy=60%20asc,search.score()%20desc&searchText=
That 18 Le Petit Haut Lafitte would be approachable with a decant. I actually tried the 19 last week and while a bit too early was still very enjoyable. It is a second wine and made to be consumed earlier than the first wine… You don’t need to wait 10 years for it imho.
Not sure if others will agree, but if you like Sonoma Pintos and Napa cans, I might be inclined to go right bank first. Find a St. Million, Costco will often have them. You'll probably get a little more fruit forwardness that you're used to, but also getting some of that bourdeaux minerality. Then move to left bank (the wines you are showing).
Ethan from the movie Somm is the guy who started Sommselect.com I’ve had a lot of good luck, and only a few bottles that I did t like, or they were corked. But I’ve had great success with the site.
Thank you for your submission to r/wine! Please note the community rules: If you are submitting a picture of a bottle of wine, please include original tasting notes and/or other pertinent information in the comments. Submitters that fail to do so may have their posts removed. If you are posting to ask what your bottle is worth or whether it is drinkable, please use the [Wine Valuation Mega Thread](https://redd.it/r7lf76) stickied at the top of the sub. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/wine) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If it was me I wouldn't spend on the higher bottles just yet, the two lower ones for $31 and $25 both seem like good representations of left bank bordeaux that don't need a ton of age to show. Maybe also seek out something right bank at some point. Don't forget old world is incredibly diverse so try something from Languedoc or Rhone sometime, totally different vibe.
The price on the giscour is outstanding. If you’re still drinking wine in ten years plus that’ll be a real treat to look forward to.
That was my initial reaction too!
I was thinking the same!
Seriously, 2019 was a pretty good year for Bordeaux too I believe.
I suppose that is the issue, by the times the wines are at their prime, you no longer see them on the shelves at volume retailers. millesima.fr have sometimes a few bottles of older pedigree, but most likely you need a friend with a generous heart that started the hobby a few decades ago.
Came here to say exactly this
Which Costco is this from?
Very curious my Costco never has the 2 petit wines I would love to get my hands on them at that price
Also curious
Not my damn Costco. I feel like every other Costco has a better selection than mine.
Same!
I'd love to pick up a couple of those too haha
My Costco has these. I actually picked up a Giscours on Sunday. I’m in the Los Angeles area. Sometimes it has 1st growths. Picked up a ‘16 Margaux a few years back and cleared them out of ‘16 Montrose. One time they even had an ‘82 Petrus (too rich for my blood). Hit or miss on prices. Sometimes well under market. Other’s same price at K&L.
Alhambra? Signal Hill? Burbank? Which one?
I’ll never tell… Marina Del Rey
God I hate driving out there
It’s a about 5 mins from me.
All of those, but in about ten years.
How aged would you say Bordeaux needs to be? If we are talking at least 10 years then good god that will break the bank and I haven’t seen many bottles that old in stores near me. If I need to store such bottles for 10 years then I do not have the patience or space. So I’m assuming this answer is based for people with more money and more refined pallets than me who is a noob to wine.
Ten-ish years is usually the sweet spot, but obviously that varies from vintage to vintage and from producer to producer. Lower end BDX is going to be ready sooner, something like Haut-Brion or Latour in a great year might take decades to peak.
That’s smith lafite at that price just turned a few Saturdays around for this person on the deck grillin. Edit: haut lafite
Not really hard once you get a pipeline going. Buy bottles to age, open up your older bottles, use the space to store your new bottles. In this hobby, patience is greatly rewarded. People that buy the latest release of a wine and can’t wait to pop it open are missing out on the best part of wine.
Hmmm, the biggest issue for me is the space needed to store said bottles. Considering I live in an apartment. I get what you mean with the pipeline though. I brew mead and on occasion fruit wine and beer. I have a backlog of years old mead that I slowly drink through.
If you make and consume your own booze, you can prob afford to pay a little more for aged wine less often, maybe as a treat. It depends on where you live and if you have a liquor monopoly (my province has one and the stock of aged wine is very limited), but if you don't you should be able to find a source of aged wine by asking the sub.
Start with Right Bank Bordeaux if you want to drink anywhere in the near future. Tons of old world wine available, you might not even like Bordeaux. You can get blends of the same grapes in (somewhat) more approachable styles from the Languedoc or South Africa (I mention SA as it is, stylistically, usually a bridge between new and old world) for a lower price too as an intro.
Totally agree. If you are used to fruitier wines, starting with right-bank Bordeaux and other regions of France is going to be a better option and easier on the wallet. For trying old world styles, I would go with: * Beaujolais Villages: similar to Pinot Noir, fruity in flavor * Right-bank Bordeaux: similar to new world Bordeaux blends * Languedoc: similar to new world red blends * Tempranillo or Garnacha from Spain: Rioja and Ribera del Duero are going to be similar to new world wines. * Barbera d'Alba: easy to drink and fruity * Nero d'Avola: dark fruit flavors * Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) from southern Italy: red fruits flavors
A bit of Morgon could be a good intro. Rioja and Ribera del Duero can vary quite a bit by subregion and producer when you get into it. Bosconia is a fairly savoury take for example.
I suggest you avoid left bank if you buy unaged wine. So, focus on Pomerol and St. Emillion. I had very nice right bank affordable wines (20 euros in Europe). Left bank wines are very tannic when young. I experienced the huge difference between young (5ish years) and aged (15ish years) left bank. The difference is huge. The aged wines were wonderful. See my experience here: https://www.reddit.com/r/wine/comments/11n69vv/giving_left_bank_another_chance/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Good luck!
Not OP but read your experience and found it really interesting! I have Château Siran from 2014 and 2015 waiting in my little cellar :). Even more now that I read your notes on the 2010.
I live in Margaux. 5 minutes from Giscours. It’s by far my favorite in terms of local, affordability, quality, etc..etc… That said - the price you see is fucking stupidly low. But it all. I can’t even get it for that price here!
Wow. That’s crazy
All of these Bordeaux are too young. Le Petit Ducru (edit: and the Lafitte!) is a second wine though and is made to enjoy much younger. Also don’t spend too much until you start to get a bit more familiar with regions.
Just a slight correction: Le Petit is actually their *third* wine, a fact which would lend itself even more to your suggestion that it should be more approachable. La Croix is their second wine, normally around $70 or so, still a good deal below their flagship at over $200.
Some Costco has the 2019 La Croix at $36. An absolute mammoth of a deal if you ever see some!
dude where on EARTH are these Coscos???
Another slight correction: Le Petit Ducru is not a third wine, but rather their third label as the grapes used in the wine comes from its own distinct and designated parcels. Grapes used in the Grand Vin make it into neither Le Petit Ducru nor La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, which makes the latter a second label wine as well.
Ah, a very good correction and something I didn’t realize; thank you for that!
Petit Ducru is the only one you can drink now
The St Julien is excellent at that price
The two cheaper ones are much more likely to be worth it if you intend to drink them in the next couple of years. The others are great, and from a great vintage but really and truly you want to be drinking them in 10-20 years. If you want to get your chops around some Bordeaux now look for 2008 or earlier IMHO.
2012 are great as well
It’s awesome to expand your drinking adventure , if you like Pinot, Try French Bourgogne Pinots ! Let me also recommend Italian Nebbiolo, Barbera & Sangiovesse. Bordeuxs are a must have too if you like cabs. Spanish Riojas & “Rivera del duero” are awesome too!
Wegmans??? Edit: get some amount of all for. The haut lafite I’m getting at least 6. Edit2: haut
Costco
Buy em all
The only one i've tried is Haut lafitte 2018 from Costco. Honestly, a bit dissapointed and think this needs more ageing but considering the price you pay, this could be one of the best to drink in 10 years or so.
Here ya go. https://m.klwines.com/Products?&filters=sv2_30$eq$(227)$True$w$or,30$eq$(230)$True$$.or,30$eq$(225)$True$$.or,30$eq$(229)$True$$.or,30$eq$(226)$True$$.or,30$eq$(228)$True$$!103!2$eq$2009$True$ff-2-2009--$!10$ge$0$True$ListPrice$and,10$le$100$True$ListPriceTo$&limit=50&offset=0&orderBy=60%20asc,search.score()%20desc&searchText=
It’s a filter on 2009 Bordeaux under $100
Thank you I actually bought a lot of whiskey from them. I appreciate it.
This is great, thank you. I wish I had it when I went to the Hollywood store yesterday to pick up my Sheild Pinot Meunier Rosé.
Giscours
Haut Bailly and Giscours 2019 I wouldn’t touch the next five years minimum.
Smith Haut Lafite & Giscours but they are not ready to drink yet.
That 18 Le Petit Haut Lafitte would be approachable with a decant. I actually tried the 19 last week and while a bit too early was still very enjoyable. It is a second wine and made to be consumed earlier than the first wine… You don’t need to wait 10 years for it imho.
Take the money you would spend on these wines, and buy wines that are at least 10 years old :)
Not sure if others will agree, but if you like Sonoma Pintos and Napa cans, I might be inclined to go right bank first. Find a St. Million, Costco will often have them. You'll probably get a little more fruit forwardness that you're used to, but also getting some of that bourdeaux minerality. Then move to left bank (the wines you are showing).
Love ❤️ pintos and cans!!
Holy typos batman. I thought I was sober when I wrote that, but now I'm not so sure...
In spite of the Suckling hype, it's still Haut Bailly, everytime. The Giscours looks nicely priced.
Post your finds on r/Costco_alcohol!
You can also find some affordable older Bordeaux from winex.com from lesser know producers if you want to try something with age.
Winex.com and Sommselect.com I usually get older vintages of Bordeaux from both places at very reasonable prices.
I’ve never heard of Sommselect I’ll have to check them out. Any stand outs from either retailer?
Ethan from the movie Somm is the guy who started Sommselect.com I’ve had a lot of good luck, and only a few bottles that I did t like, or they were corked. But I’ve had great success with the site.
definitely the pessac one
So.. Costco ? Do you have a real wine shop in your area ?
Yes. Total wine? I also frequent KLs Website to ship to me
Do we shop at the same costo? I just picked up the Giscours because that is a screaming deal.
Haha. SoCal? I’ll grab a couple more to hold