Forgot to mention: Chateau Palmer Alter Ego (I had the 2015) is outstanding at about $100.
Jacky Lorenzetti has invested heavily and the pricing hasnât caught up. 2020 futures can be found online for a reasonable price. He just added Lafon Rochet to his holdings a few months ago and hired the Lafite wine maker. His first holding, Lillian Ladouys is a major bargain. With all of the recent infrastructure upgrades during the pandemic, I would say that Bordeaux is the bargain for those willing to move past first growths.
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Damn, Chambers listed a private cellar today with 12 x 2005 Clerc Milon at $90 per! I jumped but someone beat me to it.
Always a winner, Clerc Milon.
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What a great price! About the same price as the current pre-arrival vintages!
I know Iâm pissed to have missed it. Got the emailer while on a Zoom call, could not execute. And then it was gone ten minutes later!
Indeed , also same stable but diff style and less money is dâArmailhac, VGV.
Free storage and a TARDIS!
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Yup. Big fan.
Geoff- I have for sure heard of Hi-Time, but havenât been there.
I popped the cork on a 2018 Lynch Bages earlier. While very primary of course, with air it is slowly starting to strut its stuff ( I decanted it about three hours ago).
Thanks again to all for the suggestionsâŠ
Worth a visit next time youâre in OC. Itâs about 10 minutes from my office, so it causes a lot of financial damage to my life.
I laid down two 2018 Lynch Bages. Havenât had the pleasure yet. Was going to give it at least about 5 more years! May need to give it a go sooner based on your comment.
Thereâs 40 years of negative reputation/experiences for consumers already familiar with Bordeaux that needs to be overcome. It will take some time for Pedesclaux to fix thatâŠI bought a bottle of their 2014 but will likely serve it blind at some point.
Take one out for a spin because F it why not, but give it at least four hours in the decanter and then get after itâŠ
Early on, the used Emmanuel Cruse as a consultant, and the wines I tasted from there had the same understated elegance as Issan, which Cruse manages. Have tasted recently, but I suspect given older vines and a better understanding of the terroir, the wines will be even better.
That is good to hear. One reason why I will (eventually) sneak that blind into something is to see if mine, and others, preconceptions might be coloring what people say/think. Youâve seen the shock / emotional trauma that happens on BWE whenever Croizet Bages is mentioned !!!
I drink mostly older wines, but Lynch Bages and Pichon Baron are the two standouts for me in Pauillac, and they also fit your taste preferences, though possibly not when theyâre brand new. I donât think Iâve ever gone wrong with either of those domaines, no matter the vintage.
For younger wines, 2014 Lynch-Bages seems to drink very nice now for a Napa guy. I just had a bottle and it was excellent, just needed a decent decant time to bring the fruit out.
My gateway to Bordeaux reds (as a Cali Cab person) was a 2012 Chateau Aney. If you can find it (I havenât had much luck) itâs an incredible value - like $15 at whole foods, last time I found it.
Not Paulliac, but if you find it I bet youâd enjoy it.
Sage advice.
My thoughts exactly. I am a Californian and a long time Napa wine fan and I absolutely love many of the St Julien producers. Leoville Poyferre is a great value in my opinion. Also agree on Lagrange. Their recent vintages have been impressive.
John
I was out in Scottsdale this past weekend, and we stopped by Sanctuary for a quick sunset drink before dinner. (if anyone has been there, then you know how great that spot is). Started chatting up the couple next to us who had just had a bottle of 2015 Lynch Bages brought to their table. I offered to buy him a Blantonâs on the rocks in exchange for a taste. It was a deal. The LB was drinking great after a 6 hour decant (he had asked them to do so around 1pm that afternoon), and was night and day from the 2018 that I had last week. So yeah, now I have to go and source some older vintages. Ugh, a Labor of Love 
A side note was that they had all three Kinsman Eades wines from 2018 on their list. Of course being a wine nerd, I was excited to see it, but my gf just gave me that unimpressed side glance that she seems to do on an hourly basis. At least I was pleased.