Mass. guys: Know anything about '08 Pichon Baron in NH?

[JimHow]

I see they have 2008 Pichon Baron in stock.
It is rated 95 points by HWSRN.
It is selling for $97.
If they have any in stock when they have their 15% sale, it seems to me that might be a buy at $82.
Do you know how much they have in stock?
The site doesn't seem to indicate the quantities in stock.

[Gerry M.]

Sorry Jim, I've been shirking my duties on monitoring NH lately. To be honest its's due to dwindling interest with the pricing and selection. I'l;l tey and check it out ASAP and let you know.

[JimHow]

Thanks Gerry, just re-read the note of HWSRN, he raves about it. I probably won't bite at $97, but would if some becomes available at $83.

[JEP_62]

I thought at one point the inventory showed some in stock and now it doesn't. I took this as it already sold out but you never know with NH. The wines released (per the web site) haven't changed in weeks.

Like Gerry, I wasn't that interested so I really didn't pay that much attention.

Andy

[Houndsong]

What's the link to the website? This can't be it: http://www.nh.gov/liquor/pllicen.shtml#0087. I don't recognize hardly a single wine there priced less than $50. Their buyers must really beat the bushes to find the likes of Ch le Pavillon de Boyrein. I was hoping to pick a case of some decent cru bourgeois as a house warming present for some friends in a couple of weeks. Or maybe a $30 Cantemerle or something. This is lame.

Jim, is the d"Arcins any good? It doesn't even say what vintage it is. 2008?

[Bacchus]

So Hound, what's a not-wealthy Bordeaux lover to do? Do we buy the same labels we're used to, only fewer bottles? Or do we search through those new and unfamiliar under-$50 labels for the next up-and-coming Pontet Canet? If we can't get by on the new labels (if they're just uninteresting wines), and it's too difficult to come up with $250+ for the old standbys, do we switch countries, switch to fruit juices, switch to fast cars, or commit suicide?

One of my strategies is to buy up some of the older vintages, esp those that are quickly disappearing from the store shelves. This mornings take includes 5 bottles of the 2004 PC (the local stores are almost out of it -- maybe a case left in the province), the last 9 bottles of the 06 d'Armailhac, the last 4 bottles of the 06 Lynch Bages, and 4 of the remaining 9 bottles of the 05 Haut-Bailly. I'm not the only one doing this either; it's as if everyone is aware of the big price increases coming down the pipe and what to get what they can at the old prices. Unfortunately, in Canada it isn't legal to bring alcoholic beverages in from outside the province! So I have to get what I can from within the system . . . or become an outlaw!!

[JimHow]

It does not appear to be the '08, Hound. I'm guessing it is the '07. I liked the '05, a great value that sold out quickly at $25.

[Houndsong]

So Hound, what's a not-wealthy Bordeaux lover to do?

I'm at a loss. My inclination always was to try the lesser wines and find the gems. This worked quite well when I lived outside DC and could run down to MacArthurs or Calvert Woodley and grab some of this or that. I could sample the wines in due time to load up on things I liked.

Now I live in bumf*ck and all my shopping is on the internet. For the most part I rely on prior experience with a couple dozen petit chateau and lesser crus classe, coupled with reviews and grapevine and order blind. I can't just order in a sampler case of no-names; By the time I find a good-un it might be sold through.

Especially I figured NH would have some $25 or $30 Bdx I had personal experience with or felt confident in it's reputation to grab a case on the way up I-95. It does not appear so.

[Houndsong]

Why don't they put the vintage on the site? Are all vintages the same, or am I supposed to know?

27651 Ch de Pez St Estephe Red 750mL

This is $39. Never had it but it's a well-respected estate. With 20% discount it's worth it for a gift even if I could find something as good for $20 elsewhere.

[Houndsong]

07 de Pez

Tasted by WinePimp1 on 6/8/2010 & rated 92 points: Gorgeous nose of bright red fruit, delicate floral notes and classic Bordeaux graphite. More reminiscent of Margaux than St. Estephe on the nose. The wine enters big on the palate with big tannins, black fruit, scorched earth and cedar. A well defined flavor and good length along with great balance and structure. This is drinking well now but will definitely improve with some years in the bottle. 2014-2017 (401 views)

Guy seems legit based on his other reviews.

[Gerry M.]

This is the correct link to view NH inventory:

http://www.liquorandwineoutlets.com/

[Bacchus]

Houndsong, I think I know where you live. It was just the other day that I drove through a town with an asterisk in its name!

Sorry, never tasted de Pez or d'Arcins.

[Houndsong]

Thanks Gerry. Not a real user-friendly search function. The 2008 "Release" is discouraging. Fonroque @ $40 I paid $26.

[JEP_62]

Yes, the 2008 release looks really lame so far. I thought that was just the first round like they've done in the past but it hasn't really changed in weeks.

NH may be dead as a place for Bordeaux at decent prices.

Andy

[Gerry M.]

Jim,

I was in NH on Saturday adn saw that they had approx a case on the shelf. The listing appears to have been pulled from the website so I have no idrwea what they have for a total inventory.

I was going to ask a friend there to look up the inventory but the store was crazy busy due to the close out sale (current store closing with new store almost completed).

[JimHow]

Thanks Gerry, I'll probably pick up a couple bottles.

[JimHow]

I see NH has some 2005 Pichon Baron for $135.
Does anyone know what did HWSRN rated that wine?

[Bacchus]

Here's "everyone's" ranking, Jim: http://www.farrvintners.com/wine.php?wine=4014

[JimHow]

Thanks, Bacchus, it seems to rank lower than the lower priced 2008!

[Houndsong]

Who cares what he rated it. 89 or 98 pts, it's the same wine and you know it's going to be good. Buy Buy Buy (just six-seven years ago I passed on the '96 for $35).

[JimHow]

...for $135? Is that what the Purple Baron is going for these days? Ugh.

[Houndsong]

avg ww price 96 pichon baron $174 per winesearcher, avg score 92 pts per ct.

I bought the 96 lagrange and the 96 poyferre for $29-35 dollars from zachys of all places at the same time I passed on the baron. sigh.

[Houndsong]

96 lagrange 91 pts ct $92 ws
96 poyferre 92 ct $139 ws