So this afternoon I'm in a store in Tarrytown. A rep from Metrowines is
pouring a few wines. I try 2- a Montagny and a Bordeaux. While I'm
trying the Montagny, the rep is explaining to another customer that the
1999 Chevalier du Gruaud-Larose is the second wine of the famed Gruaud
Larose, "one of the most famous ..nadda nadda" I'm perplexed, and ask
"isn't Sarget the second of Gruaud?" Yes, the rep says. The other
second. The Sarget is the less than 15 year old vines, and the
Chevalier the 15 and older vines.

I'd never heard of Chevalier before today. Anyone have any info? I'll
post notes, but this wasn't anything to write home about. A bit thin.
Who'd want a 2nd wine from a ok drink-now vintage anyway?

On 23 Apr 2005 19:38:06 -0700, "DaleW" wrote:

So this afternoon I'm in a store in Tarrytown. A rep from Metrowines is
pouring a few wines. I try 2- a Montagny and a Bordeaux. While I'm
trying the Montagny, the rep is explaining to another customer that the
1999 Chevalier du Gruaud-Larose is the second wine of the famed Gruaud
Larose, "one of the most famous ..nadda nadda" I'm perplexed, and ask
"isn't Sarget the second of Gruaud?" Yes, the rep says. The other
second. The Sarget is the less than 15 year old vines, and the
Chevalier the 15 and older vines.

I'd never heard of Chevalier before today. Anyone have any info? I'll
post notes, but this wasn't anything to write home about. A bit thin.
Who'd want a 2nd wine from a ok drink-now vintage anyway?

Dunno about the Chevalier, but I opened the first Sarget of 2001 last
night. It got a high rating in a review in the Wall Street Journal
about a year ago and was at the right price point, so I bought a case.
The WSJ was right. An excellent wine at $18 US.

Also tried the '01 Ch. Lascombes which was similarly recommended. At
$45 US, it was clearly a better wine, but not 2.5x better--at least to
my palate.

Both wines will hold for several years and both show great potential
for development.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

"DaleW" wrote in message
oups.com...
So this afternoon I'm in a store in Tarrytown. A rep from Metrowines is
pouring a few wines.


what store was that?? I live in the area.

It was Grape Expectations in Tarrytown. Not a place I frequently shop.
Below is my take on Westchester stores (posted in answer to a question
on another forum):

Rochambeau (Dobbs Ferry) - I'm biased as I live and work in Dobbs
Ferry. But objectively they do have a wide selection, especially in
Bordeaux (good place especially for modern-styled Right Bankers like
Chambrun, La Confession, Barde-Haut, etc), Burgundy, and CalCabs.
Pretty good in Piemonte, Rhone, Alsace, etc. Improving in Loire and
Germany. Seem to have lots of Cal PN , but that's not my thing. Easily
the everyday price leader in Westchester. Good service, good storage.
Twice a year they have a very nice tasting at Harvest in Hastings
-worth getting on their mailing list for that (next is 5/21, when alas
I'll be in Japan).

Zachys (Scarsdale)- wide selection, but prices can be scary (16% off
usually means same as Rochambeau everyday). But during sales there can
be some real bargains, and storage/provenance on older bottles is
impeccable. Usually something worthwhile being poured on weekends,
though it can be a zoo.

Suburban (Yorktown)- prices are all over the place- some good, some
bad. More US/Oz centric from what I've seen. Frequent big tastings.

Varmax (Portchester)- Moderate selection; with mixed case coupon, can
be a place for bargains. I've gotten 02 Huet demisecs and 01 Cap de
Faugeres here for less than I've seen anywhere else.

Grapes (Rye) - smaller than others, but some interesting stuff, often
including older Bordeaux.

Others:
Bedford Wine Merchant- can challenge Zachys for high prices, the Park
Ave Liquor of Westchester, but occasional deals.
Aries in White Plains occasionally has something interesting in
backroom.
Soundshore Liquor Pantry - almost same stuff as Varmax
Stew Leonards- big selection, but of mostly dreck. Moderately high
prices
Dodds in Millwood- I no longer stop here- "life's too short for cooked
wine"
Grape Expectations in Tarrytown- small selection, nice staff, high
prices
Rockwood & Perry (Hastings) - nosebleed prices, some unusual
selections.
Westchester Wine Warehouse- third tier wines at premium prices