Today’ big decisions: should I buy the 2015 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc, my all-time favorite for only $14 or should I go with another fav, 2015 Sbragia Monte Rosso Cabernet for $59.00 or the Robert Craig Merlot for $49?
Oh wait, two websites are offering the 2017 Ridge Gerserville, a classic, another offers the new vintage of the rare Dominus and even a few wines from Rams’ Gate are available online.
The choices are fascinating. But the real deals wont last long.
As winery and restaurant doors begin to open, the window featuring fine wines rarely offered online is beginning to close.
With restaurants basically on hold now for 3 months, wine producers have been forced to find outlets for their often allocated wines. Mostly small wineries from California and Oregon have turned to online sellers. But also quite a few imports, usually favorite restaurant exclusives, have also been showing up online.
Many but not all of the wines are discounted by 10% to 60%. A few are not discounted, but these are normally severely allocated.
Since it is crucial to act quickly, here are the best 6 wine sellers working hard to offer unusually great, often impossible to find wines during these most unusual times.
The following are the current leaders and the wines /wineries I’m considering:
www.wineexpress.com Heitz Cabs, Silver Oak, Caymus Cab, Flowers Pinot, 2015 Bordeaux
www.vivino.com Sullivan Vineyards, Rams Gate, Chateau St. Michelle Ethos Reserve
www.winespies.com Dash Cellars, Robert Craig, Spy Valley from New Zealand, Morgado Cellars
www.wineaccess.com 2015 Burgo Viejo Palacio de Primavera Rioja Reserva, and Cabs from Rudius, Anderson Conn Valley, Larkmead, Coho Headwater
www.wiredforwine.com 2019 Domaine Ott Rose, Booker, and Pinots from Big Basin, Anthill Farms and Cakebread.
www.firstbottlewines.com Williams Selyem Pinots and Zinfandel, Ridge Geyserville, Bergstrom Pinot Noir, Von Strasser Cab, Turnbull Cabernet, Scherrer Vineyard Zinfandel and Dutton Estate Pinot.
Time’s up. I hit the “Buy” button.
And you? Better get moving. You can thank me later.
Norm Roby's Unfiltered Guide to Savvy Wine Shopping 