I’ve been asked by a friend to source a single bottle of ready-to-drink “classic Vosne Romanee” for under $150. I know essentially nothing that would enable me to do this. The few times I have drifted into red Burgundy and found something I enjoyed, it has been a Gevrey-Chambertin.
I can’t say I know exactly what she means by “classic Vosne Romanee” given producer/vineyard variation, and I suspect she doesn’t know either. I know we both dislike Parker-style wines, so I assume she means a traditionally styled wine that gives a sense of what V-R offers relative to other Burgs. Beyond that, well, I suppose anything goes.
I have no idea what vintages are affordable and ready to drink, but the wine is for drinking as soon as the weather is warm enough for shipping.
I would greatly appreciate your suggestions—and a PM if you have a link to a specific wine at a reputable merchant. I’m shipping to DC, so buying out-of-state is generally not a problem.
Immediately comes to mind – all of which should be in the $100-150 range:
Clavelier Beaux-Monts or Brulees
Hudelot-Noellat Suchots or Beaumonts
Comte Liger-Belair VR La Colombiere or Clos du Château
Mugneret Gibourg Vosne Romanee AOC (getting overpriced but should be more in the $80 range)
Of recent vintages that may be available, '09, '10, and '12 all should be excellent for any of the above.
I do use Wine Searcher Pro. I’m trying to figure out which vintages are drinkable now. I’m not a Burg drinker but know there are strong opinions on this subject…
After looking at what’s available on W-S, I would recommend 2000 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes. It is available at Santa Rosa Fine Wine.
Though probably not extraordinary wines, the 2006 Jadot Beaux Monts and 2006 Jadot Suchots are available, well-below your price limit, typically-Vosne, and should be pretty good and open enough to drink now.
Tell your friend that he needs to add another zero to the right end of the upper limit.
Having said that, your best bet is the Forey Echezeaux. Without spending another $35 [or whatever] for Wine-Searcher Pro [which would push your budget to $185 or else lower it to $115, depending on your point of view], here’s what you can see:
It’s very odd that you and I both ended up at “Santa Rosa Fine Wine”.
Is that a real store, or is it one of these aggregator boiler room call center operations with a fake inventory?
Because if it’s real, then guys like Mr Weinberg and Mr Hey must not like Forey or Meo-Camuzet. In this day and age, those are “back up the truck” prices.
just checked out the inventory–great pricing and lots of onesies and twosies. Interesting site. My guess is they have the wines because they aren’t advertising cases and it is a pretty eclectic grouping.
I don’t have a rec but I just checked Drouhin Petit Monts pricing thinking that could be a good option and I can’t believe how expensive they’ve gotten! Well above the $150 mark.
To give you a sense of how hopeless the situation has become, $150 on free Wine-Searcher will get you a single bottle of a good village wine; ten years ago you could have had the Grands Echezeaux for about that price:
$129.95 | 1998 Domaine Rene Engel Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, France | Crush Wine & Spirits
$139.95 | 2001 Domaine Rene Engel Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, France | Crush Wine & Spirits
$139.95 | 2002 Domaine Rene Engel Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, France | Crush Wine & Spirits
