foray into france

[hotwine]

Distribution of imported wines is maddeningly unpredictable across the country. If you live in a state that prohibits home delivery, the best you can do is visit as many retailers in your area as possible, and buy a few wines to try from a given region in your price range. And keep notes on your impressions of each, how it paired with particular foods, where/when you bought it, cost, etc. And do that on a regular basis, say once each month (or weekly, if you can). Set up your budget, buy within that limit, and explore that particular region as thoroughly as you can, given your resources. If you can buy a different wine each week for six months, you'll begin to get an idea of what to expect from that region's wines that are available in your market.

Regarding Bordeaux: there are many "lesser Bordeaux" imported into the States and distributed in a shotgun manner across the country, but you've got to look for them. Not every wineshop carries them, but virtually all of the larger shops do. Certainly, the larger the market, the larger the retailers, and thus the better your chances of finding bargain Bordeaux (and any other wines).

I usually visit four retailers each week. I might buy from only one, or perhaps from each of the four. Or maybe nothing at all that week. But I stay within my budget (usually) and have learned what's available in this market at any given time.