So, it turns out the best friend loves her some Bordeaux and I am looking to start buying and putting some away for her. I am not looking to spend outrageous amounts of money that the 1st Growths and some of the 2nd Growths fetch, but I know there are plenty of exceptional affordable options out there that will go the distance. TIA
Personally I have settled on Grand Puy Lacoste. Well respected, decent price point and I have liked the ones I have tasted.
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Look at @Robert.A.Jr posts for a plethora of suggestions, along with vintage preferences: Sociando-Mallet, Magdelaine, Gloria, plenty of others. I would add Durfort- Vivens (also trumpeted by Mr Alfert) , and one I happen to like a lot, Branaire.
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Vintages to snatch up and vintages to stay away from?
Thanks for the very kind words, John. I agree, Brainaire is slaying it right now!!
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2016 - buy like crazy
2019 - buy buy
2020 - buy buy. Iām digging it.
Personally I avoid the riper years like 2018 and 2015, I hardly own anything from those years, and now own a ton of the three years I just highlighted above. While I acknowledged that 2019 was a riper year, it also has a freshness about it is very appealing. If I were to rank the three vintages it would be 2016, 2020 then 2019. While opinions on this website are mixed, Iām also a huge fan of 2014.
Off the top of my head, these are some of the more affordable wines that I have purchased in all three vintages:
Brainaire
Ferriere
DāIssan
Duhart Milon
Langoa Barton
DāArmailhac
Clos de Marquis
Lagrange
Gazin
Durfort Vivens
Domaine de Chevalier
Giscours
I think the most expensive wine there was $75. And think about that, world-class wines, many of which are 1855 Classified Growths, picked up for a song. Some prices may be higher now, I would need to check.
All of these wines are readily available and are exceedingly well priced for the quality. You should also check out Clerc Milon, Haut Bailly, Les Carmes Haut Brionā¦
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This is a bit of thread drift, and unrequested advice which may be totally off base, butā¦ if you are buying wines with the plan of aging them for at least a decade to try to make your female best friend happy maybe you should ask her on a date/start dating her.
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Before you invest some money for wines she/you wonāt drink for several years, you would be wise to ask her what she likes if you donāt already know. Bordeaux is a big place where you can start with cab dominated vs merlot dominated and at some point decide if @Robert.A.Jr yak-palate preference for leaner wines with a whisper of fruit 
is her jam versus those that like the riper vintages. In addition to many Bordeaux threads here, @Jeff_Leve 's website is an amazing resource that can provide good information.
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Enthusiastically second the recs for dāIssan, DDC and Giscours. All three have greatly improved IMO in the last decade or more, and prices havenāt really caught up.
Iāll add Meyneyā especially the stonkingly good 2019. Yeah, a solar year and itās in the wine, but man is it tasty. BTW not for your friend but For Science: the 2013 Meyney, while far from a great wine, is drinkable and for me a great success in a vintage that generally I would boil down and use for shoe polish.
And @Robert.A.Jr, I say nice things because theyāre true. Your tireless evangelism has improved my life in at least three ways:
Roilette - Beaujolais come back, all is forgiven
BAMA - mind blown
Baudry - the price should be missing a zero.
So thank you!
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Wtf are you talking about? We drink a ton of wine and really only collect Burgundy, Brunello, and Barolo. She really enjoys Bordeaux, so I am throwing that into the mix to make her happy.
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Well I was going to make a joke about pumping up his egoā¦ but you took care of that. Should have said something about his mama as well.
Terrific advice here on vintages and wines. I think it fits the OP parameters perfectly.
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Iām down with OPPP (OP Parameters Perfectly)
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Another vote for @Robert.A.Jr recommendations! The only other person that knows more about cheap (Pardonnez moi, value) Bordeaux would be Victor Hong.
Bitch, I can drop some bombs here if you will open your wallet, Jorge!!! But sadly, you no longer have connections in the wine industry for the unicorns. 
Just be happy you goaded him over to WB - he never visits, so hereās another āwinā for you!
Go ahead and drop them. I am more than willing to open my wallet for bottles that are worth it.
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I donāt think we are that close. He would probably come run me down on his bicycle if I disparaged his mama 
Trotanoy
Vieux Chateau Certan
LāEglise Clinet
Montrose
Pichon Lalande
Figeac
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If it was me, instead of taking suggestions from strangers that recommend wines āThey Like,ā what style of wines does she like?
And are these wines for current drinking, or special occasions down the road?
I like many of the suggested wines, but you will be better served if you let us know what she likes ā¦
Just a thought ā¦
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