Matthew Smith, Wine Consultant

When it comes to delicious wines at bargain prices, it is difficult not to think of Varsity Liquors.  Part of our daily routine is to sample dozens of wines, which are shown to us by various sales representatives from a broad range of wineries and distributors (a tough job, however, someone has to preserve quality control).  This means that our staff has sampled over ninety percent of the wines we stock, with only those exhibiting superior quality and character for their value making the shelves. 

Before I began working in the liquor industry, one of my favorite hobbies was reading about great wines and then seeking them out at my local wine shop (like Varsity Liquors, for example).  It always seemed logical to me to buy wine by the case in order to obtain the discount that came with such a purchase.  My case would usually consist of eight to ten wines, purchased at twenty dollars or under, for everyday consumption, and two to four bottles of more expensive wine, that I would save for special occasions or for cellaring.

 Purchasing wine with this technique has prompted me to acquire quite a nice selection of higher end wines.  What makes it even better is that I was able to obtain them by paying fifteen percent less than the sticker price without having to purchase an entire case of expensive wine to do so!  Through the years, I have passed this tip onto quite a few friends of mine who have followed my advice and are happier wine drinkers today because of it.

With my savvy wine buying strategy in mind, I have selected five well-priced gems that you may want to incorporate into your own buying scheme.  Many people who are not familiar with higher end wines are interested to know what they taste like, yet are reluctant to purchase them for fear that they will waste their funds on something that does not excite them.  If this situation applies to you, or if you are a seasoned veteran in search of inside information on a few beauties, then you have been reading the right article.  Let my detailed descriptions entice your senses and prime your palates for, what I believe are, some absolutely fabulous wines that are worthy of gracing any occasion.  After all, wine is a celebration of life, and I encourage you to celebrate life responsibly as often as possible!

1999 Chateau Leoville Poyferre, France ($36.99)

The '99 Poyferre is a great example of St-Julien Bordeaux.  Loads of black cherries, black currants, and licorice in the bouquet, with more black fruit, earth, and ripe tannin in each delicious mouthful.  This medium-bodied fairly dry wine is drinking well now, yet should last for at least another ten years.

1997 Domaine Marcel Deiss Riesling Grasberg,  France ($36.99)

When I first smelled this wine I almost fell over because I was smacked so hard in the face with apples, apricots, and minerals.  This medium to full-bodied monster is accompanied by honey and pear flavors.  Do not let the low acidity fool you, for this one will last until at least 2010.

2000 Fernand & Laurent Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet ($31.99)

This wine is the definition of Chardonnay on steroids!  This young white offers buttery oak, green apples, grass, must, and honey suckle in the nose and a medium-body mouth feel.  Tasting will provide you with flavors of butterscotch and apples, along with medium dryness, and well-integrated oak and acidity.  I tasted this wine over the course of a week and at day seven, although it had lost some of its original pizzazz, was still showing as if it were freshly un-corked!

2000 Hanzell Chardonnay  ($52.99)

This hard-to-find Sonoma Chardonnay has been a favorite of mine every since I tried the 1995 release.  Hanzell's Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are made in a more Burgundian style than they are California.  Citrus, oak, and minerals in the nose followed by more of the same in the mouth, with high acidity and medium body.  More accessible than the 1999, this one will last another ten to fifteen years. (NOTE: Hanzell wines age particularly well as far as Californian wines go.  At the winery, they recently tasted wines from the 60's that were still delicious!)

1998 Clark-Claudon  ($84.99)

Critics say 1998 was a difficult vintage in California for grape growing.  Someone must have forgotten to tell the winemaker at Clark-Claudon.  This limited production wine comes from the eastern side of Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley.  It is hard to believe that a wine of this quality came from this vintage.  Mountains of fruit galore and oak grace the senses as the well-balanced, full-bodied mouth-feel makes you reluctant to swallow.  Drink now or cellar until 2015.