Looking for a Good Bordeaux...

[Maggie Dodson]

I recently found that the wine I favor is Bordeaux--but I'm a wine novitiate and don't know what to look for when I go to the store, pearl st. beverage, etc. I wondering if anyone has any suggestions about a cheaper wine that might taste similar to Bordeaux, something that my college student budget could cover?

As for the Bordeaux--does anyone know any good bottles I should try?

[latenac]

A trick I learned from a wine store in Chicago is to look for "Bottled on Property" or "Cru Bourgeois" both of those are usually cheaper Bourdeaux and can be as good as the more expensive ones. When I found out about this the wine guy handed me a $12 bottle that he said the staff likes more than the $65 bottles. It will take some trial and error though to find a producer you like. Also, Bourdeaux consists of some mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère grapes. There are a lot of nice, cheap South American wines that use those grapes.

[wineguy]

Bordeaux can either be Merlot based or Cabernet based.  Big difference, so find out which you prefer.   Vintage really matters in Bordeaux, since the weather can be challenging some years.  The best bet is to go into a nice wine store you trust, and ask for a suggestion.  Someone who has tried the wines should be able to steer you in the right direction.