Post-script:
I visited the Total Wine in Spokane Valley this morning on our way back from Idaho. Nice-looking, large store, with what seems like a good selection. I was the only customer in the store at the time.
My kids were tired and everyone was in a hurry to get back home, so my browsing time was much more limited than it would be otherwise. I was going to use my 15% off “Winery Direct” coupon online a day or two before coming in, but their website seemed to be having issues and I couldn’t finalize the order. So when I went into the store today, I told a lady that worked there about the problem. I asked if they would extend the coupon an extra day (to today), as the coupon had expired yesterday. She said that they could not, which was understandable, I guess.
I considered picking up 6 wines to get the 10% off, but wasn’t sure I had time to locate the 4 I wanted (that didn’t end in “7”), plus the 2 cheapie throwaway bottles (that didn’t end in “7”), in order to access the discount. So I decided that I would quickly grab some Bordeaux, as that is what I know best, without using any coupons.
I asked the same lady to open up the locked temperature controlled cabinet, so I could get my selections from there. While she was doing that, I asked her a quick question about the availability of one of the wines I had seen online that didn’t seem to be in the cabinet. She responded, “I don’t know much about the wines here in the cabinet, but I will go get you the expert”. Before I could tell her that wasn’t necessary, and that I just wanted to grab the wines, she was gone.
She comes back with an older fellow. Presumably “the expert”. He didn’t seem to want me to get the bottles out of the case, and so I had to point out to him what I wanted. He then handed the first two bottles I chose to the lady, who immediately took them up to the cash register for when I was finished. I guess I didn’t look trustworthy enough to handle, or otherwise touch, the bottles. Whatever.
So I had picked out a couple of Bordeaux wines, and then for the third selection, pointed to the 2010 Gruaud Larose. He quickly reads the tag, and says, “Oh, the 2010 St. Julien” (seeming to have read the appellation rather than the title and thinking the wine was called “St. Julien”). While in my mind I had already started to question his expertise, this sealed the deal.
I was then considering my fourth and final choice, when he suddenly goes all used car salesman on me:
“You know what you should really get? Do you like Cab Franc?” I tell him jokingly, “only if it is mixed with Merlot and is Cheval Blanc”. He stares at me blankly. He goes on, “We just got a couple of case of this amazing wine from Washington, called Sheridan. One guy I know goes crazy for it, just bought a whole case. I don’t think it’s going to last. Wine Advocate gave it 95 points. It’s only $50.” I tell him, “thank-you”, but explain that I’m probably just going to stick with Bordeaux today. He persists: “Well, that French wine is good, but you have to try this Sheridan, it will knock your socks off…”. I actually had to smile and say “well, my family is waiting for me in the car, I should go…” and walk away from him, as he continued to try and huckster me into buying Sheridan.
A quick scan afterwards on Wine Searcher for the 2012 Sheridan Cab Franc, and it appears to be one of those wines that is sold mostly at Total Wine, and sold quite extensively through their different locations. How much of a commission does he make off of the damn stuff? Anyhow, the customer service there left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t have one in my location so I guess I don’t have to worry too much about going back anyways.
But to make a long story short, here is what I got:
2008 d’yquem
2009 Guiraud
2010 Gruaud Larose
2008 Langoa Barton
I transported my purchases home in my Mobicool cooler (which plugs into the cigarette lighter of my vehicle and keeps the wine at a nice temp while I drive it home), and they are now resting in my cellar. A happy ending
Thanks for all of the suggestions in this thread!