I thought it would be kind of a fun exercise to come up with a mixed case of my favorite mature (red) Bordeaux wines with a few constraints and caveats to keep it interesting:
$1k total to spend for exactly 12 wines either using low USA Wine Searcher prices or actual (reasonably recent) cost at retail or auction. Admittedly, this introduces a bit of blurring of the lines between QPR one could expect to get tomorrow and some lucky auction purchases, but I’ve excluded a few wines where I feel like I got absurdly good deals where they wouldn’t have otherwise made the list. I also rounded up a few prices that seem a decent amount lower than one would expect to find today.
This is a bottom-up list with no consideration given to diversification of appellations or vintages.
These are all wines I’ve had over the last few years after I got more serious about things I’m sure there are a ton of great options I’ve yet to try, so this list will likely evolve over time.
These are all wines I would consider reasonably mature, though that definition is somewhat subjective.
Wines are in no particular order.
I’d be interested to see the lists of others as well!
‘88 Certan de May $90
‘83 Talbot $80
‘99 Canon La Gaffeliere $80
‘88 Pichon Lalande $90
‘90 Grand Mayne $60
‘95 Grand Mayne $50
‘82 Meyney $80
‘78 Ducru $90
‘82 Branaire Ducru $135
‘83 Cantemerle $70
‘94 L’Evangile $100
‘83 Brane Cantenac $75
Two excellent lists. I got a few hints. You might also consider Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Secret de Cardinale (although best if under 15 years), Château Destieux (the '05 is very good). While these wines may be younger than what you envisioned, they are mature and best with about 10 - 15 years on them.
I think that was the oldest purchase on the list—maybe four years ago, and one of my first auctions. Bought a case for $850 + premium, or just under $85/bottle. The next auction I think one went for $1400. That’s one that would take a little luck to recreate. I rounded up a little, but maybe not enough, particularly considering that Bordeaux prices in general have moved up a bit over the last few years.
The ‘86 Meyney was an honorable mention for me, as well as several other 70’s and 80’s Cordier wines. My #13 pick would have been the 1989 Clerc Milon. The one bottle of 1986 I had wasn’t very good —but seemed like a bottle specific/storage issue as memory serves. That looks like an excellent list!
Had it last night along with a few other great bottles. Held its own against an ‘83 Margaux, which is saying A LOT. Procured from Cellaraiders in the last year or so for just $75. Suffice it to say it is a STEAL at that price. I had a bottle a few months ago from an HDH auction that was similarly great, and the basis for its inclusion in my “All-star case”.
My theory is some of these lots fall through the cracks at auction…while at the same time the latest DRC or Rousseau lots are blowing through the top end of the estimates.
Sometimes you can pick up 1975 Le Gay in the $70-100 zone. That might meet your criteria.
There are also many lesser 1998 Pomerols that are drinking well, and have not been bid up. Names like Lafleur Gazin, Croix du Casse or Croix de Gay should still be all drinking ok, and are likely still in the $50ish zone.
![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers")
