Thanks John! Reading many of the above vino-legends’ suggestions, I tried to get my hands on Hyde Chard in NYC-area, and had no luck unfortunately… Far Niente '23 might just hit the spot here.
I would look to Rully or good Bourgogne. If you can find Meursault in that price range, it will not be from even a decent producer.
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WineSearcher shows better availability of the Ramey Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay in the NY area. It’s the qualitative equal of the Hyde, and has paired well in blind tastings I have done with 1er Cru White Burgundies.
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I had to drive to Varmax in Pelham to get a bottle for a tasting in the fall. Much or most of the Hyde is now sold directly from the winery.
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Yes – much easier to find, and the Rochioli is excellent. But if Jack has to settle for a village Burgundy or a good Bourgogne for budget reasons, I think the Fort Ross-Seaview could be a good pairing. I think the Rochioli might seem quite rich next to those “lesser” French counterparts.
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Perhaps. Why not stack the deck for California? 
The Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay has taken a few big steps forward in recent vintages as well.
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Agreed!
I don’t think the Fort Ross bottling would be disadvantaged. I just think it might be less obviously New World tasting blindly.
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Seems unfair to compare fresh Bordeaux to Napa, given greater structure and ability to age. Can you not use a 2016 or 2019 vintage wine (defer to others if those wines are open).
Not super sure modern bdx is dramatically different to Napa in that regard.
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TO SUMMARIZE MY THOUGHTS SO FAR (based on your recs, availability and keeping in mind similar price point/vintages):
WHITE:
'21 Ramey Rochioli Vineyard ($79) OR '23 Far Niente ($73) —vs— '21 Chateau de Quarts Pouilly-Fuisse 1er ($75)
RED:
'22 Lagrange ($55) —vs— '18 Heitz ($58) OR '19 Domaine Eden ($55) OR '20 Frog’s Leap Napa ($73)
OR if picking Brane-Cantenac as the Bordeaux rep, then
'22 Brane-Catnenac ($90) —vs— '19 Corison Cab ($90) OR '21 Ramey Rochioli Cab ($80)
To note on/assuage many folks’ (very fair) concerns about yanking the infant Clarets out of their cribs: based on my tasting of ‘22 Lagrange and the Brane-Cantenac’s (once at UGCB and twice after), I genuinely believe they have their own charm NOW (like that smart kid in elementary school with big ol’ dreams) and won’t be such an unfair dual. I very well could be wrong and none of the 40 people pick the Bordeaux, and I will be branded as the town (online wine community) idiot, which is probable. Oh, and also the reason that I keep going “price this price that” is threefold: (1) I somehow forgot how much it costs to buy 16 bottles of decent wine, (2) I just bought a '99 Chateau Margaux and a '06 Louis Latour Montrachet so my bank account is looking at me a little funny and (3) finding wines at price points that are approachable to my non-vino-crazy friends.
You’re seeing $79 for the Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay? Or is that the Rochioli Vineyard designate price? If it’s just the RRV you are being ripped off.
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was typo on my part, just fixed!
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I’ve never heard of that white burgundy producer. There are a lot of excellent white burgundies in the price range you’re looking for.
This entire exercise seems much less like a “judgment of Paris” and more like randomly comparing random wines from France to American wines. At least the American ones are somewhat from some of the best (or at least good) producers, at least.
Your point very well taken. If time was not of the essence, I definitely would have at least tried to do a better job with the selection. If you have a particular white burg in the $70-80 range in mind (available by 3/8 in NYC), with a banging QPR, I’m all ears! I think I just kind of gravitated towards a 1er from a lesser known vigneron instead of just going village-level from a well-respected one (and obviously the winemakers make all the difference). I’m meeting with my somm friend tomorrow to try to find another option for a white burg.
With respect to the French Red, if the whole ethos of the original Judgment of Paris was pitting the “the best of the best” wines from each side of the Atlantic, then I wouldn’t necessarily consider comparing a wine that’s (in my personal opinion – please do not come for me) one of the best sub-$60 Bordeaux for 2022 with a same-price-range cab from a well renowned Napa winery as “random”.
To reiterate, this is as “Pseudo” as it gets given certain inevitable temporal and price restrictions, so I understand your frustration but at the end of the day, I am just trying to host a fun event for my friends that want to get into wine.
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Come on man, it’s just a light-hearted framing to make it fun for people. He’s not literally aiming to recreate the Judgment of Paris.
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I mean on the white side the original judgment of Paris was also kind of random. That all being said, the reds were all first growths or top second growths, generally compared to some of the same wines you’re considering (with probably only the monte bello and Martha’s out of that price range.
As far as whites go, probably the dureuil janthial rully (or Chene or mazieres) from 20-22 would be your best bet. It should easily be sourcable; crush has the 22 mazieres for $69.
Thank you <3 taking a look now!! Appreciate your help.
For white, I would recommend getting a Pouilly Fuisse from Barraud or the Chateau de Fuisse.
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