A lot of people have asked me for wine buying tips. It’s a tough question because each label is different, each palate is different, and obviously I’m not an expert.
BUT…I can always try, right? So here are some basics I’ve been using lately when buying California wines. These are tips gathered from people smarter than me so presumably they are accurate. They focus on the vintage — not the brand or the varietal — because it’s simpler to remember.
– The best year for sale right now is 2012. The growing season was perfect and I’ve been told the guru of all wine rating judges, Robert Parker, called it a “100 point vintage.” So if you are in the store and not sure what to buy, default choice is a 2012 vintage.
– The worst year for sale right now is 2011. It was a tough year to grow grapes and even the super high end wines are “good” but seldom “excellent”. Basically everything got knocked down a notch. That said, if you find a 2011 you love, buy it (I have several in my cellar). I just wouldn’t speculate on the year.
– Good years are 2009 and 2010. Not great, but solid. Some fantastic wines were made, and some duds, but that’s more the vineyard location or the winemaker. The climate was good in each year.
– The 2008’s are coming into their own right now and are good drinking wines. They won’t last many more years. So if you have any 2008s in stock, drink them. Invite me when you do.
– The 2007’s continue to be amazing. If I see a 2007 for sale, I tend to buy it. Seldom go wrong with the vintage. It’s a bit like the 2012 year; everything is better than expected. Of course it’s also pricey since it’s now an 8-year old vintage and hard to find.
– With the exception of high end wines that cost $50 or more, everything before 2007 should probably be drunk now.
– Want a bargain wine? Um, sorry, but I won’t touch the topic. Some people think Two Buck Chuck is a bargain wine. Some think it’s Kool Aide laced with alcohol. Just no way to suggest a “bargain wine” and make people happy!
– On the other hand, want to splurge? A sommelier friend sent me a list of “cult” wines that are very hard to get and extremely expensive. They include Realm (my personal favorite), Vine Hill Ranch, Checkerboard, Dana Estates, Sloan, Ovid, and Tusk. But good luck finding them, and better get your credit card ready because they are all at least $150 a bottle! Oh, and if you drink them invite me over!