My wife and I have been finding ourselves drinking more splits lately with our 5 month old baby requiring our attention…are there any online retailers that specialize (or really just have a larger than normal inventory) in 375’s?
I’m sure someone else will chime in, but I buy 375s quite a bit, especially when there’s only a nominal mark-up vs the 750 price (i.e., 2 375s don’t much exceed the price of a single bottle).
I’ve not found that one store specializes in them (I could be wrong) but I would go to whatever store(s) have a large selection of bottles that you enjoy and start there. Simply search for 375.
We keep clean 375s around, and when we open a 750, immediately pour off half into the clean bottle and vacuvin it. It will keep in the cellar for over a week like that, even longer in the fridge. For me this beats the price penalty that comes with half bottles.
For those who say the vacuvin does nothing, it’s a clean seal and that’s good enough for me.
…and since no one else has pointed it out yet, 375ml is not a split:
A few years ago I placed my first and last order with half wit wines. They had a 50% off an Champagnes, ordered about 50 bottles. Guess what, most of them were cooked, about 80%.
Crush and Grapes (Posner) both come to mind. Its also a good format to drink young wines that you wouldn’t otherwise open in 750ml. I drink younger burgs (like 07,08,09,10) from 375’s.
I know there is some history between the owner and this board, but Rochambeau in Dobbs Ferry is running their annual sale and has a whole list of 375s.
I don’t know where you live, but there a lot of small retailers who don’t sell on line that have a large supply of half bottles. Here in CA we are licensed as a bar and sell retail. We carry half bottles for the bar, but don’t always offer them online. First, they are the sh!ts to pack and ship. Most package material companies don’t offer styro shippers and boxes for 375s and those that do charge an arm and leg for them, so they wind up in standard shippers with extra bubble wrap. Check your local stores and ask. If you have something in mind, they may order it for you if it available.
Another good source is restaurants. Many carry half bottles that never sell. Ask the owner if he/she has any they want to get rid of. I used to get cases for 10 to 50 cents on the dollar in the old days, (80’s-90’s). Hmm. Now that I mentioned it, maybe I’ll check our local restaurants and build a stash at home.