Pete Rose, Lamborghinis, Bo Jackson and Ferraris. Mix in a couple more pro sport stars, and fast cars from the 80s and 90s, and that’s every poster that hung on my bedroom wall as a kid. Well, there may have been an Elle Macpherson poster too. Not knowing any better, young boys dream of athletic success and expensive stuff. Those posters are long gone, and somehow the Lamborghini transformed into a Toyota with two car seats and a few cases of wine for sale.
Our taste for wine evolves in a similar way. When new to wine, we want ones we perceive are the best or what others tell us are the best. It’s the equivalent of having a poster of Screaming Eagle hanging on your closet door. We have yet to experience wine in the same way that kids have yet to experience life, and we confuse the best with what is best for US.
When it comes to wine, certain types get most of the attention. Walk into your local wine shop and you don’t have to go far before bumping into Cabernet, Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. Another step will likely put you face to face with bottles of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. Because there is greater demand for these wines, prices are usually inflated a little.
As our experience with wine grows, we learn the “Moneyball” approach to wine shopping. Eventually, we recognize that some wines are overlooked because of their image (or lack of one), not because of their quality. Our Lot 104 Vacqueyras is one of these wines.
Vacqueyras (vah-keh-rahs) is a little spot in France's southern Rhone valley where Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre are harvested to make a blend with elegant aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum along side more subtle flavors of cracked black pepper and anise. Think of it as a super sized Cotes du Rhone, or a baby Chateauneuf du Pape. Either way you’ll discover an affordably luxurious red that’s more pleasing than bottles twice the price.
There are few things that are as pleasurable but prone to anxiety as wine. Like a middle school dance, the thought of wine can produce heart-pumping excitement and paralyzing fear. Like posters on our bedroom walls, the wines we first think we want aren’t always the ones we fall in love with in the end.
Cheers,
Want to try Lot 104 Vacqueyras for yourself? It's 15% off ANY quantity in our online store, now through Thursday 8/14 at 2PM EST! Click here to purchase.
What's a commonly overlooked wine that you have tried and loved? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter and Facebook!
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