reasonably priced bordeaux to drink now?

[little tanuki]

Hi all. Great board you have here!
I've been trying to educate myself about wine....bought several books, including the Wine Bible and have been having my own private little tastings at home. [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

Probably like all beginners, Bordeaux scares me. [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] I have a basic understanding of the meaning of the various crus and can recognize the different regions.

What I need help with right now is selecting several wines from different regions and chateaux that won't bust my budget but will help me gain a better understanding of Bordeaux.

Can anyone suggest some wines from Medoc, Pomerol and St. Emilion between $20 and $30 that are available at a reputable wine shop?

Thanks in advance!

[Innkeeper]

Hi Little, and welcome to the Wine Board. There is a loose relationship between price of Bordeaux and accessablity. Look for any 2000 Bordeaux that you can find for under $15. Most of these will be ready to drink. The few that are not can be kept open for a while, and if they still don't improve ditch them, and you are not out a lot of money.

[Georgie]

Hi little. Welcome aboard the board. I'll let those who actually know something answer your question. This is a great group to learn from.

[Thomas]

littletanuki,

It's hard to recommend specifics, since we would have to know if they are available in Virginia. Every state has its own distribution network.

But you should establish a relationship with your retailer. Explain what you want and let he or she recommend a few things. My first relationship with a retailer is the one that got me into the wine business--he was good at what he did and I wnated to learn.

[winoweenie]

I'll second IKs' suggestion. And accept my welcome to our little group of drinkers. WW

[newredwinelover]

Hi Tanuki,

Sorry this is such a delayed post, but I haven't had much time lately to check out the boards. I, too, am a novice, but have tried a few Bordeaux's lately - some good, some not so good. None are pricey, which I like, because not knowing much I'd hate to get stuck with a pricey bottle that I don't like. Anyway, here's a recommendation for you, if it's available in your area. 1999 Rothschild Lafite Bordeaux. It's less tannic and easier drinking than others I have tried. Something else you might want to try is a 1999 Tommasi Raphael Valpolicella. It's obviously not a Bordeaux, but I feel it is definitely worth mentioning. In my (very) limited experience, I find this to be a true gem for the price. Both are in the $12-15 range. Happy drinking!

[Innkeeper]

Hey Guys, look for the 2000 Chateau Recougne Bordeaux Superieur. It is selling for $10-$15 fairly widely. According to wine-searcher.com is is available in NJ, IL, and KY, and it is here in Maine for $10. I call it the $10 deal of year for any kind of wine.