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From: c-hunt@tesla.UUCP (Charles Hunt)
Newsgroups: net.wines
Subject: Cheap Bordeaux
Message-ID: <942@tesla.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 23-Feb-86 18:35:38 EST
Article-I.D.: tesla.942
Posted: Sun Feb 23 18:35:38 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 05:24:29 EST
Reply-To: c-hunt@tesla.UUCP (Charles Hunt)
Organization: Cornell University, Electrical Engineering Dept.
Lines: 24

I agree with the previous writer that Robert Parker is NOT necessarily the
final word on good Bordeaux.  For example, he consistently favors the very
expensive first growths (costing minimum $35) and rarely has nice things to
say about fifth growths (costing mimimum $6).  But Michael Broadbent, writer
of "the Vintage Wine Book" and famous British palette, for years has lauded
individual "lesser wines" above the ancient "greats".  Cases in point: in
1953 and 1970, Broadbent had higher ratings for Ch. Cantemerle and Ch. Pontet
Canet (both cheap 5th cru) than several 1st and 2nd's which, at this point
in time, cost an order of magnitude more.

Good sources for "less" jaded opinions on French jugs: The Wine Spectator (if
you omit Terry Robards' column, which is sheer snobbish drivel); The Inter-
national Wine Review; The Wine Advocate.
Books: Hugh Johnson's Pocket Guide to Wines; Time/Life Good Cook Series: Wine;
Signet Encyclopedia of Wine (E. Frank Henriques); The Vintage Wine Book.

My experiences--> Cheap but good: Ch. Marbuzet, Ch. La Tour de By, Ch. Greysac,
Ch. Fourcas Hosten, Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte, Ch. Carbonnieux, Ch. Baron Segur.
$10 or so, but great: Ch. Prieure Lichine, Ch. LaLagune, Ch. du Tertre, Ch.
Bouscaut, Ch. Meyney, Ch. DeSales, Ch. Duhart Milon Rothschild, Ch. D'Angludet,
Ch. Cantemerle, Ch. Ormes de Pez, Ch. Cantenac Brown, Ch. Clos du Jacobins...
In order of preference, look for vintages: '78, '82, '83, '79, '81, all good.

Cheers!                                                 =Charles E. Hunt=