ransos - definitely a Grand Cru Classé and not just a plain ol' Grand Cru?
Not wishing to teach you to suck eggs if you are familiar with it, but the distinction between the two is substantial IMO.
Does it not depend on local weather conditions, etc so you have to take each year as it come?
My personal approach is to assume that 50% of the wine quality comes from the [i]terroir[/i] (which will include climate), 25% from the wine-maker and 25% from the weather.
Variations in the weather will certainly impact on the quality (or more accurately [i]qualities[/i]) of the wine but a good producer on good sites with good vines will still manage something in poorer years.
try tesco finest kulapelli carmiere - they normally ask £9 a bottle but occasionally goes half price, very nice full bodied red!
CaptainSlow - yes, The Wine Society are very good. They do everything from everyday drinking wines at a fiver to finest Bordeaux and Burgundy. You have to be a member - a lifetime share is £40 or thereabouts - but once you are in, you'll get it back quick enough, especially as they seem to be maybe 10%-20% cheaper than most other sources where you can compare.
They have a vast list of wines - which can be a bit daunting - but also do themed offers - mix of regional ones and varietals as you might expect but they do other themes too - e.g. try something different, benchmark bottles - typical wines from their region - and other more imaginative stuff like that. Best thing they do is mixed cases at all price points (from the £70 mixed dozens upwards), and all the offers have a few mixed cases in there so you have an easy way in.
They also do cellar plans (pay £25/£50 a month and get a 4 x half cases a year laid down for you) and wine without fuss, which is similar idea but for drinking now.
Other big benefit is they have a good selection of mature wines, not just recent vintages, at reasonable prices, which is hard to get elsewhere as most fine wine sold in the UK is too young to drink at its best.
Can honestly say I've never had a bad bottle from them.
I'm a wine peasant, I'll drink anything at all, but I do like stuff from here http://www.someyoungpunks.com.au/
Who could resist a wine called 'Naked on Roller Skates'?
Yes, it a seems a bit 'trying too hard', but it really is good stuff.
