Last week's foray into CO turned up a few nice wines as well as further proof of PA's idiosyncratic pricing policies.
1) Marcus James Malbec 2010: this pleasing Argentine red from the Mendoza Valley has the usual chocolate elements with a touch of licorice at the finish. On sale in CO at $5.99, in PA the 1.5 liter bottle goes fo $8.99. Grab it!
2) Olivares Altos de los Hoyos 2009: a truly distinguished wine, this red from Spain's Estremadura has potent but restrained dark berry flavors, soft tannins and a peppery finish. $9.99, a whopping six dollars more in PA.
3) Georges Duboeuf Macon Villages 2009: a Chardonnay from the Burgundian giant, this is on the thin side, rather bland, but certainly drinkable. $7.99, four dollars more in PA. (We're waiting to hear from you, Governor).
4) Le Dome du Grand Bois Cotes du Rhone 2010: this youngish red is beginning to come into its own, with pleasant deep plum elements and an even finish. $7.99, not available in PA.
5) Los Cowboys Malbec 2010: in spite of its insinuating name, this Argentine red from Mendoza is a superior wine, with beautifully restrained indications of all the best qualities of that country's Malbecs. A pleasure to drink. On sale at $9.99, not available in PA.
About Me
- Paul P Bernard
- I recently moved to PA, having lived for many years first in CO, then in IL. Like any wine lover with limited financial means is bound to be, I was appalled by what I found. The state controlled liquor authority in PA is a sinister joke. As with all bureaucracies with no bottom line, one finds uninformed, indifferent, and often surly personnel, and a seemingly endemic disability to bring the cash registers into accord with the advertised specials. If one then complains about being overcharged one is subjected to long delays and made to feel the whole thing is one's own fault. But, not enough, to heap injury upon insult, the price structure is ludicrous. The claim is that the mass purchasing power of a state agency passes on savings to the consumer, particularly with the "Chairman's Specials". Anyone can test the veracity of this claim by crossing over into NJ, where every single bottle on special in PA is routinely on offer for a quarter to a third less. In spite of these evident handicaps, I decided to see if it is possible to purchase a decent bottle in PA for under $10 ($12 for special occasions). It hasn't been easy, and this blog will be an ongoing report on my efforts.
Arnulf and Michaela, sommelier onboard MV Constellation
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