Is The '89 Lynch Bages The Most Overhyped Wine Ever?

[Johan]

Kinda knew that would get your attention, Jim.

So very happy to see BWE alive and very much kicking! And so many familiar names still sipping away. Proves the move to a private forum almost two decades ago was the best thing to do. Jim, you and the guys have done a fantastic job keeping the forum so alive and active.

Guys, I have a question about gifting and shipping wine to a couple of american friends that I have. I came to the conclusion that it is easier to buy from a US shop rather than to ship something from my own cellar to the US. Then I ran into something called state law. OK, stop laughing. So I figured it would be best to find a Cali shop to ship to my friends who both live in CA.

Both gents needs to be saved from the Napa swill they are currently drinking so I would like to find something like '89 Pichon Baron (Hello, Ian), '89 Montrose, '90 Cos or Pichon Baron or something else that is drinking well.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Cheers,

Johan

P.S. Jim, KL Wine has some '89 LB for 400. Is that price OK..........

[JimHow]

OMG Johan!

WOW!

It has been years!

I just won a bid for two bottles of 1989 Lynch from K&L for $276, plus 5% premium.
I'm still trying to get MichaelP to sell me his case for a rational price.

Awesome to hear from you.

For you youngsters on the site, Johan is one of the original BWE legends!

Long live BWE!

[Johan]

LOL. Sooo good to hear from you. You will be pleased to hear I met JS a few years ago in Havana. We sat in the same tasting panel hosted by Habanos S.A. I did not bring up the '96 vintage.

So at least KL is reputable enough to buy from although overpriced.......

[JimHow]

It's great to hear from you.
I'm still in awe that this site is still going strong 19 years later.
A lot of great memries!
Yes, K&L is very reputable.

[marcs]

I am one of the newcomers who doesn't know Johan and when I saw the title I was like "holy shit, this newbie is really throwing down the gauntlet!" lol!

[JimHow]

Johan is a great guy, he was one of the early BWEers who helped really get the site going.

[Johan]

It was either that or something about the Red Sox. But I thought the LB hit a weak spot........LOL

[stefan]

Hope you start hanging around again, Johan.

Sometimes it is better to ship across state lines in order to avoid paying sales tax. Shipping wine into CA is not a problem from any place in the USA.

[Comte Flaneur]

Johan, where have you been all these years? In a Benedictine monastry?

[Nicklasss]

Hi Johan.

Where you shy to participate all these years because being stuck in a hyper dense California Cab black hole?

Welcome back.

Nic

[Johan]

LOL. Very funny guys. No, the truth is I lost my source, the ex banker turned bootlegger, hauling wine from France and England into Sweden in the back of his van. Our state run Systembolaget has none of the wines mentioned here, so quite frustrating.

Talked to MacArthur's and they do ship but it takes 4-5 days, they said.

Any other shops in CA that you can recommend?

[jckba]

Besides K&L, Benchmark, JJBuckley, Wine Exchange all have aged Bdx offerings that could suit your needs.

[William P]

I've brought from K&L for over 20 years and never had a problem with them. Very solid organization. Also bought from Wine Exchange but not as often.

[DavidG]

In California, I've had good experiences with K&L, Wine Exchange, BPW (just changed their name to First Bottle, I think).
Surprised Macarthur's doesn't offer 2-day or overnight shipping.
It's still hot in Southern California so keep that in mind.

[Johan]

David,

They got their Fedex account yanked one day before I talked to them. Which is a shame because they offered two day shipping. And UPS missed picking up 20 parcels the very first day after being contacted, so the shipping guy was not..........happy. It was 28C in LA yesterday, maybe I'll just hold for now.

Thanks for the help, gents.

Ian, had to change keyboard after checking your 100 list, mate.

[Chateau Vin]

If the shipment is within CA, I think K&L might offer GSO overnight shipping offered by Golden St Overnight... I am not sure if they still do...

[AKR]

LOL. Very funny guys. No, the truth is I lost my source, the ex banker turned bootlegger, hauling wine from France and England into Sweden in the back of his van. Our state run Systembolaget has none of the wines mentioned here, so quite frustrating.

Talked to MacArthur's and they do ship but it takes 4-5 days, they said.

Any other shops in CA that you can recommend?

We visited Stockholm a year or so ago, and I thought the state run liquor stores were terrible. The prices were high, the selection low. A great war crime.

For my tastes, shopping within CA, I like K&L, Winex and then (in person) Raleys (!), Costco, and (rarely nowadays) TotalWine. K&L is turning into a dominant category killer merchant, albeit they tend to ask full offer side pricing most of the time now. Service is excellent though.

[Johan]

Totally agree with you regarding state run shops.

[Claret]

For my tastes, shopping within CA, I like K&L, Winex and then (in person) Raleys (!), Costco, and (rarely nowadays) TotalWine. K&L is turning into a dominant category killer merchant, albeit they tend to ask full offer side pricing most of the time now. Service is excellent though.

Raley's has the best supermarket selection in Reno. I was in the store off Mt. Rose Hgwy. for the first time last week and was suprised by the selection of imports, albeit nothing not much high end and no Bordeaux of note. Very competitive pricing when you buy 6, buy less and over pay.