Archetype Wines for $150-350/bottle (drinking well now)

[Eric_Ifune]

Any of the recently released 50 year old Madeira. This was added as a category a few years ago along with 20, 30, 40 year old.

[J_D_o_v_e]

Chave is a fantastic choice for the Rhone, I think 2012 falls in the budget.

I would go for a lesser year that’s more mature. Of all the wines I collect, Chave is the one I enjoy most in off years. 2002 is beautiful and well within the budget. Other possibilities are 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997. Of course if bigger years fall into the budget they could be great options as well.

+1

Had the ‘99 a few weeks ago and it was an off bottle or in an odd place. Wasn’t corked. ‘97 is really nice.

[Robert.A.Jr]

Who the Phuck is Rob?

Hahahahaha. (I’ve never called you that before.)

You are robal though, which I always respect.

LOL, that robal Schmuck is a winebidding fool!

[Nathan_Smyth]

Clos Ste Hune
1/2 b of Donnhoff Eiswein
Vega Sicilia Unico

This is an outstanding list for recent releases, but with bottle age, the prices simply explode:

DEW
Someone in NY has a 1998 @$425
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/donnhoff+eiswein/1/usa

CSH
Rare Wine has some older bottles @$475
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/clos+ste+hune/1/usa

VSU
1968: $1500-$2000
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/vega+sicilia+unico/1970/usa
1970: There’s a bottle at auction right now
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/vega+sicilia+unico/1970/usa
1991: $550
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/vega+sicilia+unico/1991/usa
1994: There’s a bottle at auction right now
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/vega+sicilia+unico/1994/usa
1998: $480 to $650
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/vega+sicilia+unico/1998/usa
.

[Nathan_Smyth]

I have a friend who is interested in picking up a case of “top” and “ready to drink” red wines for $100-300 to help him discover which wine regions/grapes he likes, across the world. The average bottle price he wishes to spend is about ~$200. He wants to see what gives him an “epiphany”.

A few quick points:

1. In this market, you ain’t gonna find an “Epiphany” at $200, except MAYBE with a recently-released champagne [but note below here that the 1996 champagnes are already heading into the stratosphere].

2. GET A WINE-SEARCHER PRO PRESCRIPTION BEFORE YOU START PURCHASING.

3. My jaw dropped when I started looking at just the “lesser” Grand Crus, like Clos de la Roche and Clos Vougeot. It simply ain’t happening anywhere within a country mile of $200.

Here are some wines which appear to be available [i.e. physically present and actually on the market], right now in the United States, from what serious wine-snobs would consider to be rather down-market labels [meaning no Screagle, no 1st Growths, no DRC/Roumier/Mugnier/Rousseau, no Ramonet, no Keller, etc etc etc], but which I am confident would deliver for me:

1983 Brane Cantenac
~$200
Where to buy 1983 Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Margaux | prices & local stores in USA

1992 Corton Charlemagne Bonneau du Martray
? $200+ per bottle ? [auction for a “case” of two bottles]
Where to buy 1992 Corton Charlemagne | prices & local stores in USA

1989 Brane Cantenac
$245
Where to buy 1983 Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Margaux | prices & local stores in USA

1994 Togni
~$250
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/togni/1994/usa

1991 Togni
~$350
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/togni/1991/usa

1996 Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon
$385 ???
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/elisabeth+salmon/1996/usa

1996 Taittinger Comtes
$395
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/comtes+taittinger/1996/usa

1998 Donnhoff Eiswein
$425
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/donnhoff+eiswein/1998/usa

1989 Palmer
$500
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/palmer/1989/usa

1989 Dauvissat Les Preuses
$549
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/preuses/1989/usa

1983 Palmer
$625-$800
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/palmer/1983/usa

1999 Herbert Lignier Clos de la Roche
$1200
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/h+lignier+clos+roche/1999/usa
.

.

PS: If you were in Europe, then you could find some Rieslings & Gruners from Hirtzberger & FX Pichler, with some bottle age on them, but free Wine-Searcher isn’t showing any aged Austrian wine for sale in the USA right now.
.

[patrick_c_albright]

I’ve had three bottles of the 2004 VCC in the last 12 mos. an excellent buy, and like half the price of the new releases.

Agreed, great wine.

Add 1983 Pichon Lalande to the list.

Most older Chevillon are in that price range.

[Craig_G]

I’ve had three bottles of the 2004 VCC in the last 12 mos. an excellent buy, and like half the price of the new releases.

Crap, now I have to delay my retirement again.

[R_Frankel]

Still needs some work on Barolo. Your 2011 Rinaldi Tre Tine should be pretty good as an example of a young but drinkable Barolo. But your 2008 Conterno … too young. I wouldn’t touch that. Benchmark has some Giacosa Barbarescos - e.g. the 2004 or 2001 Santo Stefano- which would be better choices. Yes they aren’t Barolo but they will be excellent exemplars of how good Nebbiolo can be. Or hunt around for white label Giacosa Falletto Barolo from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, or 2004. Or splurge on a red label if you find one in your price range (admittedly a challenge). But these white labels are magnificent.

[Marcu_Stanley]

I would add the 2005 Geantet-Pansiot Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru, available for $215 and $225 if you search Winesearcher. Have not had that wine but have had the 2005 Geantet-Pansiot village wines and they are superb, that wine should be fantastic.