Now I've done it....

Over the holiday weekend I went to visit some friends in North Carolina. They like wine but tend to buy whatever is on sale at the supermarket. So I offered to bring some wine... and seeing they like reds, I thought I would try to expand their consciousness a bit. So what I brought and we drank was a 2000 Crusades de Lafitte and a 2000 Alexander Lichine Margaux. And the desired effect was indeed created. They loved them both, the verdict was the Padillac was a bit more restained and structured and the Margaux was softer and fruitier. But they were most impressed by the concept of bordeaux.

So this morning came the inevitable question.... What bordeauxs should they buy in the $20-30 range? All suggestions would be appreciated and especially I would like to recommend something they don't have to wait years to drink, if possible.

Thanks,
Glenn

Review all the posts in Wine Focus posted during March when Bordeaux was the topic of the month.

What bordeauxs should they buy in the $20-30 range?

Where in NC are they? The problem is that most of the values are smaller producers, with scattered distribution, so I could give a long list and none might be available where they shop. The only NC retailer I've used is the Carolina Wine Company, which shows a few under $30 Bdx. I haven't tried the '03 Potensac, but have bought other vintages- usually a good value producer. I didn't care for the '03 Villars, other was a wine I'm not familiar with.

Some wines I thought represented good value
under $20
04 Picque Caillou
05 Ste Colombe
05 Caronne Ste Gemme
03 Lilian Ladouys

$20-30
04 du Tertre
04 Lagrange
03 Gloria

I've often found good value in wines from Roc de Cambes, Barde Haut, Grolet, Fiefs de Lagrange (2nd of Lagrange), etc etc

The above plus (what is currently available

in the sub $20
(1) 05 Myloard
(2) 03 Domaine Courteillac
(3) Moulin d'Issan

In $20-30
(1) 05 Senejac
(2) 05 Pontesac
(3) 05 Cap des Faugeres
(4) 05 Chateau Lanessan
(5) 05 Chateau Puygueraud (if you can find it. Originally around $25 but because Jame Suckling spoke highly of it, it is selling for almost $40 in beantown...again if you can find it....)

Glenn,

The lesser chateau 2000 Bordeaux were quite good across the board, in my opinion. Among my favorites are the La Fleur Haut-Bages Liberal (Pauillac) at about $19, and the Chateau Larose (Medoc) at about $23. Both are drinking well right now. However, I have found it hard to go wrong with almost any 2000 Bdx.

Enjoy.

Thank you very much. That ought to keep them busy awhile.

Glenn

The lesser chateau 2000 Bordeaux were quite good across the board, in my opinion. Among my favorites are the La Fleur Haut-Bages Liberal (Pauillac) at about $19, and the Chateau Larose (Medoc) at about $23. Both are drinking well right now. However, I have found it hard to go wrong with almost any 2000 Bdx..

Sam, while I'm also a big fan of "lesser" 2000 Bordeaux, most are gone from shelves. Lately I've noticed some real no-names filling the gap, and fear they are less a sure thing that better known satellites, petit chateaux, seconds.

Sam, while I'm also a big fan of "lesser" 2000 Bordeaux, most are gone from shelves. Lately I've noticed some real no-names filling the gap, and fear they are less a sure thing that better known satellites, petit chateaux, seconds.

Dale,

I have noticed the same trend and have stayed away from those chateaux that I don't recognize. I bought up quite a bit of the second tier wine from 2000, so I should be okay for awhile. I don't want to mess with the low end stuff and ruin my run of excellent 2000 Bordeaux.

I like the Carruades turned Crusades at least as much as I like Alexis turned Alexander ...

Michael Pronay on Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:54 am

I like the Carruades turned Crusades at least as much as I like Alexis turned Alexander.

My apologies to all. I was at my office when I posted and far way from the information. At my age I am lucky I got as much right as I did... still, apologies.

Glenn

My apologies to all. I was at my office when I posted and far way from the information. At my age I am lucky I got as much right as I did... still, apologies.

Now you tell me! I've wasted days searching everywhere for that Crusades Lafitte.

You're all wrong, it's corsets. The Corsets of Lafite.

You're all wrong, it's corsets. The Corsets of Lafite.

This is just a general thanks from me and I'm sure others who feel the same way. This site (and a few others) are so very nice. I've been on a few others where people are just so ready to rip each other's <insert any body part> out. They taunt others, and just in general, nasty.....

On other sites, this could have turned out that way. On this site, it turned into a very rather funny string......

For the record, I've always thought that it was Cialis (R) Lafite......

Thanks again!

For the record, I've always thought that it was Cialis (R) Lafite......

I hear it maintains its complexity and structure for up to 36 hours after being uncorked. You can enjoy it when the time is right.