Wine Shopping

It's Friday night and you're looking for a little something for the weekend. You walk into your local shop and see aisle after aisle of bottles all neatly arranged with one purpose, to confuse and mystify the casual wine drinker. Seriously, if you don't understand some basics, you'll need a GPS and a decoder ring to find something tasty. When it comes to wine most people feel there is a relationship of price to quality so if you spend more you're going to get a better bottle, right? Not always. We'll try to work through some of that here in future posts but let's get back on topic.

So you're standing inside the entrance to the store and a friendly salesperson/stockboy approaches and asks the question that paralyzes you with fear, "Can I help you?". Your palms begin to sweat and sounds begin to come from you're constricted throat, "I'm looking for...........a bottle of wine". No S*** you're looking for a bottle of wine!!!! What the hell brought you in here if you weren't looking for a bottle of wine? Now you're having an out of body experience as the guy/gal in front of you walks you through aisle upon aisle of bottles. You look like Robin Williams in Moscow on the Hudson shopping in the coffee aisle. He eventually has a panic attack and passes out.

Hopefully this person you are talking to has seen the blank look you're displaying before and asks you some simple questions to find out what your needs/wants are. The first thing I'd ask is what the purpose of the bottle was. If the answer is to get a buzz I'd point you towards the glue and cough syrup. If the answer is to have something to drink with a meal or just sip as a cocktail, he or she has something to work with. The next question would be to describe the food or setting and to get a feel for what you've had in the past that you have liked. This is not the time to try to impress whoever you're talking to but to give them information. If for example you are preparing paella and list the ingredients, a competent wine geek could steer you towards Spanish wines with a flavor profile that would compliment the food. Have a plan. It will tell you immediately whether the person you're working with knows their stuff.

Some things avoid when selecting a wine shop:

Try to find places who's specialty isn't Powerball Lottery sales.

If it's a freezing winter day and you walk inside and remark; "Oh, it's so nice and toasty in here!" split. You may like it warm but wine is perishable does better in a cool environment.

A shopkeeper who says "I don't drink wine but this got 90 points from.........." People who don't drink and can only repeat scores aren't going to be able to find your own tastes.

Some things to look for:

People who get really excited when you ask their opinion about what to try (you can't fake passion).

Stores that run periodic tastings. Nothing like trying before you buy!

Folks that are willing to take the time to educate you because they really want you as a customer for the long term.

Today's tasting note:

Michel Ecard Savigny-Les-Beaune Premier Cru "Les Serpentieres"
Burgundy, France
Beautiful bright ruby color. The nose jumps out at you with aromas of cherries and earth. Medium bodied and laser sharp on the palate. Excellent balance with a long, seamless finish.
$33.00 and an excellent bargain. I bought a case for myself. This is drinking extremely well right now.

For those of you new to wine: Please allow me to explain my tasting note. The wine comes from Savigny-Les-Beaune which is a small village directly to the north of Beaune (The main town and center of Burgundy).
The town produces only Pinot Noir.
Premier Cru 'Les Serpentieres'-In the Burgundy quality hierarchy this would be one notch down from Grand Cru which is the best.