Buying Unknown Wines

[jv38]

During my recent vacation in the Caribbean, I bought some bottles of wine, mostly because of the novelty and price.

Between those I picked up a 2000 Chateau Lafitte Mengin, and a 1999 Domain Lafond Cotes du Rhone. ($8 each in St Marteen – tax and duty-free)

I’ve been trying to find tasting notes on those two with no success so far.

Would you buy them if you haven’t read any notes on those wines or even heard of them before?

I also picked up 1999 Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio, 2000 Santa Rita Chardonnay (Chile), and 2001 Undurraga Carmenere. These last three I bought them mostly for the price (between 5 and 10) since I have, at least, read about them.

[Innkeeper]

Don't know about the Lafitte Mengin. Are you sure it is not Lafite Mengin? That could be a second or third bottling from Lafite, but I don't know. The Lafond CDR is a very nice and steady wine, year in, year out. You saved a few bucks on it.

The Santa Margarita PG can be beat at half the price. The Sant Rita Chard is an oak bomb, and the Undurraga Carmenere should be very nice.

[jv38]

I found this:

www.chateaulafitte.fr

According to this site:

:...Château Lafitte Mengin, an exceptional Premières Côtes de Bordeaux...”

Don't think that is a second or third wine from Lafite.

Thinking about it, I think the Santa Rita was not a good buy! I was hoping for a non-Oaky Chard.

I should have bought the White CDP

[Innkeeper]

Agree that you should have bought the CDP Blanc when you had the opportunity. It is not only a white with a lot of backbone for those "white" dishes that are hard to match, e.g. Fettucini Alfredo; it is also sometimes very hard to find.

[jv38]

I going back in October so next time, I will get the White CDP and some Italians that I haven't seen before.

Funny thing, I was looking for Port, and all the brands that I know, I was able to find them cheaper in Sam's Club tax and duty included!