Wine-Buying Strategies for Your Wine Cellar

BUYING^{10.41, 10.42} AND SELECTING WINES for your cellar is the most fun and interesting part of wine appreciation—besides drinking it, of course! You’ve done all your studying and reading on the wines you like, and now you go out to your favorite wine store to banter with the owner or wine manager. You already have an idea what you can spend and how many bottles you can safely store until they’re paired with your favorite foods and friends.

Wine buying has changed dramatically over the last twenty years. Many liquor stores have become wine-specialty stores, and both the consumer and retailer are much more knowledgeable. Even twenty years ago, the wines of South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, and Chile were not the wines the consumer cared to buy. Back then, the major players were the wines of California, France, and Italy. Today there’s so much more diversity in wine styles and wine prices, it’s almost impossible to keep up with every new wine and new vintage that comes on the market. You can subscribe, among many publications, to Wine Spectator, The Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits, or Wine Advocate, Robert M. Parker Jr.’s newsletter, to help you with your choices, but ultimately you’ll find the style of wine to suit your own personal taste.

In this book I don’t recommend specific wines from specific years because I don’t believe that everyone will enjoy the same wines, or that everyone has the same taste buds as I do. I think it’s very important that every year the consumers have a general knowledge of wineries that have consistently made great value wine, and know what’s hot and what’s not. Here are some of my thoughts and strategies for buying wine this year.

There is, and will continue to be, an abundance of fine wine over the next few years. The vintage years of 2000, 2003, and 2005 in Bordeaux; 2001, 2004, 2005, and 2006 in Piedmont and Tuscany; 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 in Germany; 2003, 2005, and 2006 in the Rhône Valley; 2002, 2003, and 2005 in Burgundy reds; 2005 and 2007 in Chile; 2006 and 2008 in Argentina; and 2004, 2005, and 2008 in Australian Shiraz will give us great wines to drink over the next few years. The 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007 vintages for California Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2005 and 2007 Chardonnays are generally excellent. The 1994, 2000, and 2003 vintage Ports are readily available. Although many of the wines from these regions are high-priced, there still remain hundreds of wines under twenty dollars that you can drink now or cellar for the future.

Anyone can buy expensive wines! In an average year I taste some three thousand wines. This past year I tasted over six thousand wines! The real challenge is finding the best values—the ten-dollar bottle that tastes like a twenty-dollar bottle. The following is a list of my buying strategies for my own wine cellar. This is by no means a complete roster of great wines, but most are retasted every year and have been consistently good.

Everyday Wines

($10 and under)

Argentina

Alamos Malbec and Bonarda
Bodega Norton Malbec
Bodegas Esmeralda Malbec
Trapiche Malbec^A10.5
Valentin Bianchi Malbec

Australia
Alice White Cabernet Sauvignon
Banrock Station Chardonnay
and Shiraz
Black Opal Cabernet Sauvignon
or Shiraz
Bogle Sauvignon Blanc
Jacob’s Creek Shiraz/Cabernet
Lindemans Shiraz Bin 50 or
Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 45 or
Chardonnay Bin 65
Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc
Yellow Tail

California
Beaulieu Coastal Merlot or
Sauvignon Blanc
Beringer Founders’ Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Buena Vista Sauvignon Blanc
Cline Syrah or Zinfandel
Fetzer Valley Oaks Merlot
Forest Glen Cabernet Sauvignon
or Shiraz or Merlot
Forest Ville Cabernet Sauvignon
or Chardonnay
Glass Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve
Sauvignon Blanc
Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc
McManis Cabernet Sauvignon
Monterey Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Ridge Merlot
Pepperwood Grove Chardonnay
Rutherford Ranch Chardonnay
Smoking Loon Syrah

Chile
Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon
or Merlot
Carmen Carménère
Montes Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Rita 120 Cabernet Sauvignon
Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc
Walnut Crest Merlot

France
Fortant de France Merlot or Syrah
Guigal Côtes du Rhône ^A10.6
J. Vidal-Fleury Côtes du Rhône
Jaboulet Côtes du Rhône
Parallele “45”^A10.7
La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux
Louis Jadot or Georges Duboeuf
Beaujolais-Villages
Louis Latour Ardèche Chardonnay
Mâcon-Villages (most producers)
Michel Lynch
Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône
Réserve St-Martin Merlot

Italy
Casal Thaulero Montepulciano Red
Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti^A10.8

Portugal
Aveleda Vinho Verde

South Africa
Goats do Roam
Jardin Syrah

Washington State
Columbia Crest Sémillon-
Chardonnay
Covey Run Fumé Blanc^A10.9
Hogue Columbia Valley Chardonnay
Hogue Fumé Blanc

Once-a-Week Wines

($10 to $20)

Argentina
Alamos Chardonnay
Bodegas Catena Zapata
Bodegas Weinert Carrascal
Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon
Clos de los Siete Vista Flores
Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec
Finca Flichman Gestos Malbec
Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon Ultra
Navarro Correas Cabernet
Sauvignon “Collection Privada”
Salentein Malbec Gran Reserva


Australia
Greg Norman Estate Shiraz
McWilliams Shiraz
Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28
Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz
Rosemount Estate Chardonnay or
Shiraz/Cabernet (Diamond Label)
Rosemount Show Reserve
Chardonnay
Wolf Blass Chardonnay


California
Benziger Chardonnay, Merlot, or
Cabernet Sauvignon
Bogle Zinfandel
Brander Sauvignon Blanc
Calera Central Coast Chardonnay
Carmenet Cabernet Sauvignon
Castle Rock Pinot Noir
Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay or
Sauvignon Blanc
Cline Cellars Zinfandel
Clos du Bois Chardonnay, Merlot,
or Syrah
Estancia Chardonnay^A10.10 or
Cabernet Sauvignon
Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc
Fetzer Valley Oaks Cabernet
Sauvignon, Zinfandel,
or Chardonnay
Francis Ford Coppola Rosso
Frei Brothers Merlot
Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc
Gallo of Sonoma Chardonnay,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir,
or Merlot
Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc^A10.12
Girard Sauvignon Blanc
Hawk Crest Chardonnay, Cabernet
Sauvignon, or Merlot
Hess Select Chardonnay or
Cabernet Sauvignon
Honig Sauvignon Blanc
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay
Vintners Reserve, Syrah, or
Cabernet Sauvignon
Laurel Glen Quintana
Cabernet Sauvignon
Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon
Markham Merlot or
Sauvignon Blanc^A10.11
Mason Sauvignon Blanc
Meridian Chardonnay or
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merryvale Starmont Chardonnay
Ridge Sonoma Zinfandel
Robert Mondavi Private Selection
Rutherford Vintners Cabernet
Sauvignon or Merlot
Saintsbury Chardonnay
Sebastiani Chardonnay or
Cabernet Sauvignon
Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel
Silverado Sauvignon Blanc
Simi Cabernet Sauvignon,
Sauvignon Blanc,^A10.14 or Chardonnay
Souverain Chardonnay or Merlot
St. Francis Merlot or
Old Vines Zinfandel
St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc
Trefethen Eshcol Cabernet
or Chardonnay


Chile
Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon
or Merlot Cuvée Alexandre
Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo
or Puente Alto Cabernet Sauvignon
Cousiño-Macul Antiguas Reserva
Cabernet Sauvignon
Los Vascos Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
Montes Merlot
Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon
or Casa Real Sauvignon Blanc^A10.13
Veramonte Primus


France
Château Bonnet Blanc
Château Greysac
Château La Cardonne
Château Larose-Trintaudon
Drouhin Vero Chardonnay
or Pinot Noir
Georges Duboeuf Fleurie
Georges Duboeuf Pouilly-Fuissé
Hugel Gentil
Jaboulet Crozes-Hermitage Les Jalets
Louis Jadot Château de
Bellevue Morgon
Louis Jadot St-Véran
Sauvion Muscadet
Trimbach Riesling


Germany
Strub Niersteiner Oelberg Kabinett


Italy
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico
Anselmi Soave
Antinori Santa Cristina Sangiovese
Bollini Trentino Pinot Grigio
Boscaini Pinot Grigio
Castello Banfi Toscana Centine
Col d’Orcia Rosso di Montalcino^A10.16
Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina or
Nipozzano Reserva
Lungarotti Rubesco
Marco Felluga Collio Pinot Grigio
Pighin Pinot Grigio
Taurino Salice Salentino
Zenato Valpolicella


New Zealand
Babich Sauvignon Blanc^A10.15
Brancott Chardonnay or
Sauvignon Blanc
Glazebrook Sauvignon Blanc
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc
Stoneleigh Chardonnay or
Sauvignon Blanc


Oregon
Argyle Chardonnay
A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, Pinot
Gris, Chardonnay, or Pinot Blanc
Cooper Mountain Pinot Noir
King Estate Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Pinot Noir


Spain
Bodegas Montecillo Crianza
Conde de Valdemar Crianza


Washington State
Columbia Crest Chardonnay, Shiraz,
Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon
Covey Run Chardonnay and Merlot
Hogue Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot
Gris, or Merlot^A10.17


Ports
Fonseca Bin 27
Sandeman Founders Reserve


Sparkling Wines
Bouvet Brut
Codorniu Brut Classico
Cristalino Brut
Domaine Chandon
Freixenet Brut
Gloria Ferrer Brut
Gruet
Korbel
Scharffenberger

Once-a-Month Wines

($20 to $50; most under $40)

Argentina
Achaval Ferrer Malbec
Alta Vista Malbec Grand Rreserva
Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon^A10.18
Luigi Bosca Malbec Single Vineyard
Mendel Unus
Salentein Malbec^A10.19


Australia
Penfolds Bin 389


California
Cabernet Sauvignon
Artesa
Beaulieu Rutherford^A10.21
Beringer Knights Valley
Clos du Val
Geyser Peak Reserve
The Hess Collection
Jordan
Joseph Phelps
Louis Martini
Mondavi
Raymond^A10.22
Ridge
Turnbull
Whitehall Lane
Chardonnay
Arrowood Grand Archer
Beringer Private Reserve
Chalone
Cuvaison
Ferrari-Carano^A10.23
Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve
Mondavi
Sonoma-Cutrer
Merlot
Shafer
Clos du Bois Reserve
Pinot Noir
Acacia^A10.20
Au Bon Climat
Byron
Calera
Etude
La Crema (Anderson Valley)
Mondavi
Saintsbury (Carneros)
Truchard
Williams Selyem (Sonoma Coast)
Sparkling Wine
Chandon Reserve
Domaine Carneros
Iron Horse
Roederer Estate
Syrah
Fess Parker
Four Vines
Justin
Zinfandel
Ridge Geyserville
Rosenblum (Continente)
Seghesio Old Vine
Champagne
Any non-vintage


Chile
Errazúriz Don Maximiano
Founder’s Reserve

France
Château Carbonnieux Blanc
Château de Malle (Sauternes)
Château de Sales
Château Fourcas-Hosten
Château Fuissé (Pouilly-Fuissé)^A10.24
Château Gloria
Château Lagrezette (Cahors)
Château La Nerthe
Chateauneuf-du-pape
Château Les Ormes de Pez
Château Meyney
Château Olivier Blanc
Château Phélan-Ségur
Château Pontensac
Château Sociando-Mallet
Coudoulet de Beaucastel
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge
Faiveley Mercurey
Jaboulet Crozes-Hermitage
Domaine de Thalabert
Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé
Marnier-Lapostolle Château
de Sancerre
Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet
Pascal Jolivet Pouilly-Fumé^A10.25


Germany
J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr
Kabinett or Spätlese


Italy
Antinori Badia a Passignano
Chianti Classico
Antinori Tenute Marchese Chianti
Classico Riserva
Badia a Coltibuono Chianti^A10.26
Classico Riserva
Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino
Mastroberardino Taurasi
Melini Massovecchio Chianti
Classico Riserva^A10.27
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva


New Zealand
Kim Crawford Chardonnay


Oregon
Argyle Pinot Noir


South Africa
Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir
or Chardonnay


Spain
Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les
Terrasses
Bodegas Montecillo Reserva
Bodegas Muga Reserva
Cune Contino Reserva
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza
Pesquera
Marqués de Cáceres Crianza


Washington State
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay
or Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Ste.Michelle Eroica
Riesling
L’Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon

Once-a-Year Wines

($$$$+)

It’s easy to buy these kinds of wines when money is no object! Any wine retailer would be more than happy to help you spend your money!