Bordeaux 2010- showstoppers and hype

The Unions des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting was the place to be this chilly Martin Luther King Day at the Marriott Marquis. Hordes of somms, retailers, importers, and restauranteurs line the ballroom and hallways of this great tasting. The room layout was identical to the previous year, much to my chagrin. While I appreciated starting with Graves/ Pessac Leognan, particularly with their always invigorating whites, I did not appreciate the incredibly inconvenient placement of the spit buckets a good ten feet away, behind throngs of other tasters, waiting patiently to get near the bucket. This log-jam caused a lot of people to become inebriated, as they gave up spitting a good ten minutes and 15 wines into their tasting.


Starting with the White Graves, I noted screamingly high acid, rendering many of the wines out of balance. Very few contained the pleasant waxiness I adore in Semillon, and even less saw the support of wood to frame out the wines a bit. Even the perennial standout, Carbonnieux was a disappointment. Wines of note were no surprise- Pape Clement Blanc, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, and the sleeper, De Fieuzal, which had the most balance. Domaine du Chevalier was ok, with some detectable Semillon and a better, softer balance, but at its high pricepoint, I wouldn't bother.


The forward focus of many red Graves made me smile with my 'instant gratification' meter going a mile-a-minute. Haut Bailly, had a wonderful complexity with a briary note, a lush, rich texture, and incredible concentration. Both Larrivet Haut Brion and Latour Martillac had a serious streak of graphite running down the center, with a tannic mid-palate and incredibly density. The Latour Martillac had a more chewy style with distinctive red fruit, while Larrivet Haut Brion had noticeable black fruits in its core and distinctly on the fresh nose.


My personal favorite values are always Malartic Lagraviere and Olivier. The Malartic hit the 'sweet spot' with lots of lush dark fruits, and well integrated, finer tannins. The Olivier however, was quite closed with a grittiness of texture and structure, with some sweet dominant tannins. Backward? Yes. Out of the running for good value? Time will tell- this needs to come together undoubtedly.


Winners of Graves? Pape Clement with a linear, laser-like focus framed by a hint of smoke all in an elegant, beautiful balance. Very nice indeed! And for the modernists, look no further than my staple, smith Haut Lafitte, with a long, long, finish, chewy tannins, and loads of cassis.

Onto the Right bank with the St. Emilions, which I found incredibly inconsistant, with an over-dominance of wood in some otherwise well-made wines. I mean, what were these guys thinking? It's like clubbing a duckling- Over-kill! Well, onward and upward I guess! Chateau Canon was a lovely intro to the region, with a pretty and gentle styling, framed by a hint of soft rose petal and a long, silky finish. Not one for the ages, but a lovely wine nonetheless.


Canon La Gaffeliere was incredibly forward with a profound mid-palate that was really fabulous and shocking at the same time. The roundness really works for this wine beautifully. The disappointment? Ugh- Figeac. SOOOO much wood buried this beloved wine in a wall of wood tannin so impenetrable, I couldn't bear to go back for a second sip. Clos Fourtet was disjointed as well, with a lush palate, spicy wood, and rock hard tannins, followed by ripe fruit, and s whiff of greenness. Hmm...


Winner? Oh Berliquet? How I could have danced with this lovely wine all day! Simply incredibl with lush balanced, layered fruits. Seamless. Truly. A pleasant surprise was the Larcis Ducasse. Folks looking for something to drink now, grab this sleeper. Really nailed it- Lots of fresh fruit, a long finish, bright acidity, chewy tannins, and a ripe plum nose. Very good indeed!


Pavie Macquin was its usual subdued self with dried orange peel and raspberry leading to an elegant, moderately tannic finish. One to keep your eye on- all the class is there for the making of a very good wine. One to avoid? troplong Mondot. The nose was so laden with menthol that I was convinced I was in a doctor's office. The palate completely hollowed out, and all that was left was spice. Weird!


The further punish my palate, I sauntered over to Pomerol, where I prepared for the onslaught of hard tannins. Beauregard had a super-clean nose with a palate laden with graphite and a wall of hard tannins. All the fruit was there, but well hidden. I was so excited to taste Clinet after I named it my favorite wine in 2009, only to be met with an underwhelming vintage for this estate. While is had all the layers one can hope for, this wine was just so out of scale and BIG, that I couldn't truly appreciate all that makes it so very special. Was it an excellent wine? Yes. Was it an excellent Clinet? so-so. The 2009 blew the doors off of this.


Gazin was just a pleasure in a glass. Pretty, balanced, ripe and elegant- hard to believe it was from Pomerol. One of the stars of the entire day was an old-time favorite of mine, La Conseillante. A super-ripe nose, with over-the-top juicy fruit, and very soft tannins. This is one to drink and enjoy.


From the Medoc and Haut Medoc I was simply disappointed. Chateau Clarke was like licking the inside of a barrel that had been seasoned with sweet tobacco. Not pleasant. I typically like this wine and the value it represents from the Rothschilds, but definitely not this vintage. Much of the same could be said for Poujeaux, though the wood was far more restrained, and this had some elegance and a hint of orange peel to the tobacco. Long and good. Chasse Spleen had better acidity than most of the Medoc wines, with some brightness and freshness that really worked for the wine. quite nice. Citran had a very brambly/ briary style with a distinctive cherry cough drop palate and very high acid. I dont' know what they were thinking here....


Wine of the region from haut Medoc? without a doubt Chateau Coufran. Absolutely delicious and incredibly drinkable with an abundance of fruit. the Soft tannins just made it an absolute pleasure. Do your wallet a favor and skip La Lagune with its burnt wood palate that had almost no detectable fruit. La Tour Carnet was quite pretty and charming with its rosy nose and ripe fruit. This was better, but not outstanding. La Tour de By, typically a real diamond in the rough, fell just short of very good, due to its lack of a middle. The lush tannins and ripe red fruit lead to a long finish, but it leaves you hanging in the middle when you want it most. So sad!


My personal favorite region of Margaux really brought some 'game' this year. Starting with Angludet, this beauty had much finer tannins than I had seen all day, with excellent acidity and gorgeous length. My favorite quote of the day, when I asked U.S. Sales Manager Nicolas Idiart about this distinct stylistic difference?, "Some people are attracted by the dark side of the oak." I nearly fell over laughing. Yes, many from St. Emilion and Medoc went to the 'dark side' for sure!


Brane Cantenac was a 'solid citizen', lending itself more towards briary and drier tannins dominated by distinctive pencil-lead. there was pronounced Brettanomyces in the Cantenac Brown- super sweaty! While it had good structure and and elegance to the body, I couldn't get past this unclean nose. With notable complexity was Dauzac, complete with orsnge peel, high acidity, a pleasant streak of graphite with incredible length- a very good value if you can find it! Desmiril had that same pencil lead, with additional concentration and fantastic richness. One of my favorite values, Du Tertre had a nice texture, fat mid-palate, with a dense, round opulent finish with some light tannins at the back.


The massive Labegorce had chewy, chalky tannins that were super-ripe and a nose of Ticonderoga pencils. Lascombes was tight as a drum, with a severe lack of fruit or body. Malescot St Exupery had a ton of ripeness, and lots of layers of chewy, maleable tannins. I loved the texture on this. SO classic was the Prieure Lichine. This oozed breeding with its core of black fruit, fresh acidity, and its elegant, uplifting palate. A lovely 'instant gratification Margaux is the Rauzan Gassies with a sper-concentrated palate, and and easy, forward balance. Lots of density and cassis there! The wood reared its ugly head again in the Rauzan Segla, which has lovely acidity, and a brooding, complex nose, but it killed the wine for me.


OH Man! If I could have just hung out in St. Julien today, I'd have died a happy girl. These wines stole the show, knocking it out of the park with nearly every single wine. This will be a great vintage to convert California Cab drinkers over the pond to see what all the fuss is about. You need your head examined if you didn't enjoy these gorgeous reds.


Starting with Beychevelle. Like, are you kidding me? SO long, so sexy, with fruit that goes on and on in the long, silky finish. This is a WOW wine that totally makes you hungry on a visceral level. A must buy. And then BAM! Another one out of the park- Branaire Ducru- definitely one of my top five wines of the tasting. SO freaking delicious. A seamless structure, definitely dominated by Cabernet, and drinking nearly perfectly. Yum in a glass. Get Some!


A TOTAL class-act and back to its hay-day is Gruaud Larose. The best in years, with a balance of cassis and elegant structure that is so distinctly Gruaud at its finest. I am pleased as punch. The only dog? Lagrange- seriously like drinking a smoothie made of bell peppers. What the heck were they thinking? Sad. Langoa Barton and Leoville Barton upped the ante for me, with the surprise winner being Langoa! WOW! Fresh roses on the nose, with dense black fruit on the palate, and a long, lush finish. The Leoville had that distinct creaminess that is Leoville Barton, but was much more closed down today and difficult to assess. Nonetheless, all the 'stuffing' is there for another excellent vintage at this estate.


Everyone was buzzing about Leoville Poyferre. Again, classic in style, and back to its roots. Beautiful balance, great structure and excellent length. Nothing exciting, but very 'complete'. Lastly, Talbot rounded out the region with a surprise. This Talbot was VERY forward, delicious, and laden with graphite and thirst-inducing acidity. Very, very good.


The chalkier side of tannins dominated Pauillac, which had no shortage of stars. Batailley had a distinct glycerin component that made it very modern, complete with soft tannins and a long, lush fruit-laden finish. Clerc Milon had an almost candied Boysenberry nose. The palate was gritty and peppery in its tannic structure, and I really feel there is a lot of potential in this wine. A sleeper and one I intend to purchase. D'armailhac had a surprising profound coffee and chocolate nose and palate with graphite, sweet tannins and impressive length. No slouch, and another knock-out value.


Ever-so-pleasant was Grand Puy Ducasse with imcredibly chalky tannins and sweet fruit. I certainly enjoyed it. Even more impressive was the Grand Puy Lacoste with its raspberry, lush, elegant palate that finished round and plump. Gorgeous! One of my top wines of the day was Lynch Bages. I finally appreciate the high price tag it has demanded the past 5 vintages. This wine absolutely deserves every ounce of hype thrown its way. INCREDIBLE concentration, with super-fine chalky tannins that were so linear, you'd swear the wine was filtered a million times. By far the best structure of any wine today.


Lynch Moussas was like drinking your way out of a garden- briars and green peppers. Neither of which I find pleasing. Pichon Longueville was classically balanced, with the appropriate amount of cassis, and some lovely chalky tannins and a hint of rose petals. Pichon Comtesse de Lalande was a stunner. Vanilla covered blackberries leap from the glass, all shrouded in silky tannins with a brooding nose and a lush palate. Totally a class act, and spot on as usual.


St. Estephe was plagued by the same dominance of oak that troubled the Medoc. Phelan Segur was a terrible disappointment, while Lafon Rochet was MUCH better, loaded with plush, chewy tannins and better acidity.


Finally the stickies! How I DO love Sauternes! Climens was excellent, and mostly balanced, with the exception of a bit of heat on the finish. Coutet had apricots galore and was super rich but balanced. The BEST by far was de Fargues- OMG- I MUST get this right away! Tropical pineapple, brilliant fresh acidity that invigorates with each delicious sip, and just the perfect length. Really amazing wine. Doisy Daene was a "Doisy Don't", with a very light body and high alcohol and no complexity. Guiraud wowed with tropical fruit, white pepper, a rich texture, but a hint of alcohol on the finish. Latour Blanche had better balance and was more elegant with noticeable apricot. Lafaurie Peyraguey was pretty, spicy and long, but nothing struck me as exciting. Lastly, Suduiraut, the perfect way to cap this glorious tasting. GOR-GEOUS! This had structure- YES, structure in a white wine- sounds nutty, but true in this case. Apricots, super rich and long, with just enough alcohol to keep it lighter on its feet. Another great vintage for this knockout producer of stickies.


After 123 wines, purple teeth, long trips to the spit bucket, and my guide dog getting stepped on constantly, I can honestly say it was well worth the trip. For those producers that were smart with their barrel treatment of this incredible vintage, the results spoke for themselves. Graves was great, Margaux the most pleasurable and easy to understand, St Emilion the most inconsistent, and the wines of St. Julien being real 'show-offs'.


I'd say that a good deal of the hype surrounding 2010 is well founded. I think some great values will stand the test of time in the cellars of patient folks, and the big boys are going to be surprisingly drinkable in the short term. The acidity is not really there for the Sauternes to be long agers, but instead look to Pauillac for your grandkids to enjoy. There's something for everyone, and sadly I have not seen the quality in Medoc or St Estephe that I was hoping for. HOwever, that being said, I've tasted dozens of Bordeaux Superieur that will delight the wallet and palate of many savvy shoppers. 2010 as a whole- definitely a winner. Two thumbs, and Two Labrador Paws UP!

Storm Staples- what to drink when the lights go out!

I'm visiting my friends here at Greenfield Liquor Shop and Premier Wines in Fairfield, CT and the place is HOPPING with folks stocking up for a few days at home with hubby and the kids with no lights. Here's some suggestions for cozying up by candlelight the next few days. Avoid beer- it needs to be ice cold in order for maximum enjoyment. Plan B- Load a cooler with ice and drink away! Grab some softer reds that don't need food to be enjoyed, or work well with hard cheeses. I'd avoid the soft cheeses as they will get pretty runny without proper refrigeration. Here's a few suggestions for good Storm-worthy reds: American, Oregon, Chilean or New Zealand Pinot Noirs. Why? They are generally fruity and easy to drink with or without food. If doing cheese- find something milder or a Gouda that isn't too aged. Dolcetto- Why? it's the Pinot Noir of the North- Italy's North that is! Elegant, fresh and super delicious with charcuterie and all kinds of yummy dishes. Even a cold pasta salad will work with this lovely red. Port- You may think this premature, but man, there's few things more delicious than a big bar of dark chocolate and a super-ripe ruby or reserve port. Grab a good thriller novel and you're in business! If a big box of cookies is more your style, don't fret- tawny ports go beautifully, and when the freezer is in danger of melting, pull out your ice cream for a real pairing of bliss! Bourbon- I'm a real Bourbon fan, because while it warms me up to my tippy toes, it still has a glorious hint of orange peel and spices with toasty wood and a bit of sweetness to take the "edge" off of it. Woodford Reserve is always easy to find at your local stores and is pretty darn good for a commercially available bottle. Otherwise seek out Booker and Hirsch for a real treat! I hope I've given you the necessities to make your storm a more pleasant experience! Batten down the hatches and down the hatch with some delicious wine and spirits! Stay safe everyone!

Summer Wine Cocktails

It's currently 93 degrees here in New England with insane humidity, causing us to run for the shade and tempting indoor air conditioning. So what to drink to cool off? While Rose' is my go-to summer "all-purpose" wine to go with everything from salads, to BBQ to local shellfish, sometimes a girl's just gotta have a cocktail to enliven and refresh after a long day of sun worship. My favorite cocktail of the season has been a hit with my wine-loving friends and customers, The St. Germain Cocktail. This deliciously floral, aromatic drink is so complex, made from French Elderflowers. Mix 2 parts Dry sparkling wine or dry white wine with 2 parts club soda, and 1 1/2 parts St. Germain Liqueur. I mix a pitcher of these on the patio and find myself running to the kitchen to make more in short order! When I like a little white-pepper type of spiciness to my cocktails, I like to make the Montparnasse, a blend of 1 1/2 parts apple brandy, like Laird's Applejack, Calvados, or Clear Creek's Apple Brandy, with 3/4 part St Germain, 1/2 part fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 part Sauvignon Blanc. It has all the zestiness of a great dry white with the added spice of the apple and citrus kick. Finally, for fans of the Negroni, or Aperol will rejoice with a great cocktail called the Bois de Rose. 3/4 part St. Germain, 1/4 part Aperol, 1 part Gin, 1/4 part Fresh lemon, topped with Sparkling Rose or Brut Rose Champagne. You get that wonderful bitter component of the Aperol, the floral component of the St Germain, and the aromatic/ savoriness of the Gin. Oh yeah..... Grab a thermos, measure up and head out on the water, to the pool, or the back deck for a celebration that will cost you and your friends less than $50 for an entire day's worth of deliciousness!! Cheers!

Shop Local- Win Big

There are few things more wonderful than having a favorite local wine haunt. A wine buyer who knows you by name, where your kids go to school, what your favorite Friday Night Cocktail is, or saves that last special bottle of your favorite bubbly for your anniversary celebration. They are local people, actively involved in their community. There are few more intimate relationships than your local wine shop. They know all your dirty little secrets! With "big-box" wine stores like Total Wine, Costco, Wine Nation, and BevMax, the intimacy of this all-too-important relationship is completely lost. You'll never see a friendly clerk carry out your purchases to the car in these places. You'll rarely see them offer to artfully gift wrap your purchases for free, and even deliver them that day to your all-important neighbor or best friend. You won't have a house account for daily necessities like cooking wine, beer for the gardener, and that last-minute hostess gift on your way to a dinner party. These big stores will categorically deny you when asked to donate or assist with your local Lion's Club Fundraiser, or annual Dogwood Festival, or Bastille Day parade. Your local wine shop will not only donate, but offer to pour wine at at your event, and knows most of the attendees by name or sight from their shop. When a limited-release special wine comes into the store, your local wine guy will drop you an email, a text, or a phone call to let you in on the secretly stash. You may even get special pricing that the big stores refuse to regular, loyal customers. Big box stores don't host intimate wine dinners with famous winemakers, or have invitation-only VIP Wine Tastings. The big boys sadly put the likes of great wines such as Mouton Rothschild next to Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc, in keeping with their strictly alphabetical arrangement, nearly "cooking" their fine wines in an over-heated retail space. Can you call Costco from your commuter train home and have them chill your favorite Chardonnay? I think not. How about selection? Sure those big box stores have Yellow Tail and Kendall Jackson Chardonnay stacked to the ceiling, but do they have the most fabulous Northern Italian Friulano you've ever tasted for $12? Do the people working in those big stores even know what that is? Do they care? Sadly, the answer is no. Their goal is to sell product with the least amount of physical or mental output from their under-qualified staff to save a few bucks. Your local wine guy has most likely been in the wine trade for decades, and probably has a few distinguished wine certifications under their belt. Lastly, does your big box store give you great restaurant recommendations? Do they know the owner of the hot new Bistro down the street? Can they give them a shout and have a cherry item from their wine list open and ready for you? I think not. Can they set you and your spouse up for a free tasting on your next California trip to Napa? Nope! Do you trust that the wine your just purchased is going to be exactly to YOUR tastes and delicious from the first to the last sip because your wine person KNOWS you? Has your big box clerk even TASTED any of the wines in their store? The answer is probably no. Shop local, win big. Get service, selection, support and a whole host of unexpected pleasures by forming a relationship with your local wine person. You'll be thrilled you did!

Good and Cheap and Easy

Those three words don't always go together sadly when we're talking about a luscious beverage like wine at our table for dinner, but fear not, I've uncovered some real stars in this category that you can find at your local wine store that deliver and then some. It's hard to find decent juice from the United States at a fair price, as most of the "bulk wines" come from the Central Valley in California and taste, well, pretty awful at best. Look to Spain, Argentina, Chile and Southern France for some of the best values on the market today, some even coming in alternative packaging, such as Tetra paks (think soy milk containers), screw tops, and even boxed with an internal bladder system (this is a cool choice that is both eco friendly and economical, keeping the wine fresh for several weeks!)

I know several of you scoffed at the idea of boxed wine, but seriously, most people in South America, Australia, and France drink their wines from these "box casks" as they like to call them- Come 'on and be hip like a European, man!

Check out my favorite bottles for the bucks below:

"The Climber" made by the people who own Veli Velo winery in Napa and make the famous "Clif" bars- these guys are serious cyclists who make great wine that comes in a collapsible pouch which you can easily stash in your backpack and recycle when done. Their Cabernet is super fruity, and silky-smooth and the un-oaked Chardonnay is appley, crisp and refreshing. It comes in a 1.5Liter size and is only $20

Pie de Palo viognier is a stunner from Argentina at only $8 a bottle, it brings out glorious apricot and honeysuckle notes, with a fresh, clean palate. A total no-brainer!

From the same winery comes a super-yumy Malbec at $8 also, that has lots of cocoa notes, and bright black raspberry fruit. serious wine for not so serious dollars!

Genius Winemaker Randall Graham from California makes a red and white table wine from really good juice called "Big House" red and white. These come in a nifty 3 liter box that fits neatly in the fridge or discretely in your cabinet, bring the price per bottle for this traditionally $8/ bottle wine down to $5/ Bottle cost!

A fellow wine lover turned me onto some decent cheap New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in a box called Silver Birch- 3 Liters for $20! Good grapefruity notes, lots of refreshing acid, and a super price. A good everyday quaffer!

So fear not. Save your big bucks for $15 martinis out on a Friday night. Drink good cheap and easy, and rest assured, you don't have to spend a lot to get a lot!
Cheers!

The Wine Lab Restaurant- opening soon!

HI Everyone,

It's been a while since we've "chatted" and I thought I'd share some really incredible news with y'all. I am opening my first Wine Bar/ restaurant/ wine school in Greenwich CT this holiday season! It will be called the Wine Lab (a double Entendre due to my background in Pharmaceuticals, Wine, and my trusty Guiding Eyes Dog, Elvis- Labrador Extraordinaire).

I will be featuring sustainably farmed wines from around the world, and emphasizing local, organic cuisine, meats, and cheeses in a "Tapas" format. The decor will be sustainable too- picture chandeliers made from melted, recycled brown and green glass wine bottles, water glasses made from the bottom of a Bordeaux bottle, recycled cork ceiling to absorb chatter, and a gorgeous 30-seat private dine-in glass wine cellar surrounded by the world's most coveted collector's wines.

I am a believer in education wherever possible, and for that reason, more than 40 wines will be available by the glass, each available as a half glass or taste, full glass, or a "Flight" of 4 different selections customized to your palate and budget. Try "The Scholar Flight" with FOUR wines for $12, or go for gold with the "PhD Flight" for $40, including some of the rarest wines available for your enjoyment.

VIPs will be accomodated in our exclusive private dine-in wine cellar- the perfect place to entertain clients, hold meetings using our flat screen monitors, or host the perfect dinner party for you and your wine-loving friends. Private Wine lockers are available for those who wish for this service. Weekly wine and spirits tasting classes will be held, and open to the public.

Love technology? We've got you covered with our cool IPad menus, with links to all of our featured wineries, farms, and cheesemakers. See videos of our chef preparing each menu item, and forward recipes to yourself and friends at home (make them jealous!) Post pics of you and friends while dining to Facebook! Like the wine you tried? FREE delivery of that wine the following day from one of our preferred wine retailers. We've got you covered. No more fumbling for a napkin to write down the name of that delicious wine you tried!

Lastly, philanthropy is at the heart of the Wine Lab (after all it is named after my very cool Guide Dog). Cool T-shirts and wine accessories with our adorable WINE LAB logo are available for sale, with the net proceeds going to the wonderful dogs and people at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Westchester, NY. Thanks to the folks at Guiding Eyes, I've been able to pursue my dream of owning a successful, fun business involving my greatest passion- WINE and People!!!

Cheers!
-Amy & Elvis

Getting the most out of your wine retailer

HI Everyone!

Having now worked for the top 4 wine stores in Connecticut over my 16 year career, I have a birds-eye view of what one can reasonably expect in the ways of service and selection for an A+ retail experience and relationship. "Relationship?", you ask, well yes- a relationship of a unique sort is EXACTLY what this is. Really give it some thought. Say you're a 5-night a week wine drinker, as most wine folks are. If you're like most folks, you're probably buying a bottle or bottles on your way home from work at your local store, or spend a leisurely Saturday morning perusing the shelves of your favorite wine hideout while hubby or wifie is at the soccer practice with the kids. Yup- that's you. Maybe you mix a case of wines with your favorites, or stick with a single wine that you know will give you a consistent flavor and style each and every time you open that bottle.

Here's where having that all-important relationship with a retailer really comes in handy. A good retailer will greet you upon your arrival, and if you're new to the store, explain the general layout so you can do a little window shopping on your own. The retailer should be warm, inviting, and knowledgable without snobbishness- somone extremely approachable and not intimidating. This person will give you adequate time to assess the selection without hovering, then circle back with you to see if you have any questions on a specific wine or region. If you're answer is no, this person will go one further, and ask you the most important question he or she should ask- "What do you like to drink? What have you had before that you've enjoyed?" Remember- this experience is not about what he or she wants to sell you- it's all about YOU, and YOUR palate.

A good relationship with this person will entail them recognizing you by name, and paying attention to your likes and dislikes. Many stores now have inventory systems that can track your purchases so you can fine-tune your buying preferences. The best retailers will know you so well, that they can anticipate new wines that will exactly fulfill your palate's deepest desires, and will acquire them for you at aggressive case pricing. This person will be able to find wines from regions and grapes that you may never have ventured to try before, but because they have earned your confidence through a trustworthy relationship, your horizons are forever broadened.

There are few relationships more intimate than the wine retailer and his customer. Huh? Yup- it's true. I've heard about more impending divorces, kids sports successes and losses, deaths in the family, what wild things happened in the hot tub after the Rose' Champagne I sold them was opened (not even slightly joking), and so many "TMI" moments. I, as your retailer know WHAT you eat for dinner most every night, who your friends are, what parties you attend with wine in hand, what day your kid's Bar Mitzvah is, what you drank at your engagement party, and what Champagne your husband bought for your anniversary surprise weekend in Vermont. I've been part of all your celebrations and your tragedies, and helped keep the in-laws happy while they over-stay their welcome. I've set up your dream experience in Napa and Tuscany, tasting wines with winemakers that only take special clients, and helped you choose that special Bordeaux from your daughter's birth year to open on her wedding day (hopefully when she's 30). I am more than your friend or family- I am your wine chick- here to stay.
You will be invited to both public and more private wine tastings, classes, and seminars hosted by the retailer as you develop this relationship with them, regardless of what price range you're in- as long as you're loyal to them. These tastings are great opportunities to try rare and more expensive wines that you may not otherwise get to come by due to your new "insider" status. Wine dinners are a fantastic way to get more intimately familiar with wine and meet some famous winemaking folks from all over the world. Wine is usually enjoyed with food, and in this context it is best judged for what it should be- part of a meal.

When choosing a store in general, sometimes it's not just the people that you're dealing with as it is the environment in which you're shopping. Is the store easily shoppable without help? Is there good signage indicating the wines' category? Is there a tasting area? Are the best wines stored in a temperature-controlled facility? Is the overall store too warm to confidently buy wine? Do they offer services like gift wrapping for that all-important client, or free local delivery if you're having a big party? Convenience is a major player these days. Do they have an easy-to-shop website that shows their latest finds, and is accurate regarding their inventory?

Does the store specialize in one particular area? This can be a huge factor in determining the wines they will recommend to you. If the largest section in the store is Spain, and you're a die-hard California fan, perhaps this is not the store for you.

Pay attention to large signs and displays of wines. This is usually a great indicator of a wine that a retailer is making a very sizable margin on, and therefore would rather sell you that over a comparable wine. Ask to taste it if it's something they're really hot on, as they'll gladly pop a bottle, or stand behind the purchase if you're not happy with it. If the wine turns out to be a home run for you, there's a good chance you can negotiate a deeper case discount if you're buying multiple cases- perfect for that spring time BBQ or summer wedding.

Also, be sure to check out their "end of bin" deals on many wines. What happens all too often for us retailers is that someone special orders a case, then decides that they only want to buy 4 bottles instead of the 12 they committed to. Because those are items not regularly sold by the store, or they are odd lots never to be seen again in the store, you can often get significant deals on them.

Last, but not least, your retailer should be able to assist you in setting up a wine cellar. If they don't deal with a cellar builder, they can make recommendations on how to get started or some local contacts who can assist you in layout and design. They should be able to advise you on long or short-term wine storage, and be able to appraise your collection if you ever need the help for insurance or auction purposes. Some charge for this service, depending upon the size of your collection.

Overall, your retail experience should be as follows- inviting, easy-to-shop, full of great recommendations custom for YOU, with lots of events to choose from to further your palate and education, with a great selection, price, and attention to detail, from the time the wine enters the shop, until it's safely at your dinner table. It's like the neighborhood pub-only better and easier on the wallet and the drive home!

Cheers!