77 replies to this topic

[iamthestretch]

Did some booze shopping in Magruders today. Not wildly impressed with the wine selection, though the beer lineup was more fruitful. Snagged a couple of cases of Eggenberger Hopfen Konig, my favorite pils. On sale, too. Otherwise, just an observation: I believe Magruders may have the most superannuated clientele anywhere North of the St. Petersburg Publix.

[Lori_Russo]

I have to agree wholeheartedly with the folks who recommend Wine Cellars of Annapolis. The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly and the selection is outstanding. In addition to the regular Saturday tastings (this weekend is Spanish wines), they usually have 12+ bottles of wine open for sampling. I have found some exellent inexpensive wines this way that I probably otherwise would not have tried.

I recently completed Ellen Spicknall's Introduction to Wine course at WCA, and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to formally learn the basics. It's well worth the $90 tuition.

If anyone will be there Saturday for the Spanish wine tasting, I'll see you there!
Lori

[dinwiddie]

What wine store is the best depends a lot on what you are looking for. If you just want a regular bottle of wine, Total is fine. If you are looking for older wines, or rarer wines, McArthur's or Schneiders are very good.

At least in DC you don't have to put up with the crap that you have to put up with in Montgomery County.

My favorite DC wine stores are, in no particular order:

Schneiders
McArthur's
Potomac Wine and Spirits (when I am looking for Kosher wine for Passover)
Bell
Circle

In Virginia I like Arrowine

[Joe H]

Magruder's on Connecticut Avenue is making a real effort with their pricing to have some impact. While they lack the expertise and style of C/W, MacArthur, Schneider's, etc. they have some very good wines at prices that are probably sparking some price wars. For instance in Weds. Post Marques de Moral was labelled, essentially, the best red wine in the world for its price-seven dollars. Magruder's has it on sale for $5 and some change right now. (I am drinking this as I type-I still prefer the Columbia Crest Two Vines which some places have in the six dollar range,(

On my last several trips from Reston into Calvert Woodley (I trust Pepe's opinions) and MacArthur I've found myself making stops at Magruder's also. No, I don't like it's ambience at all. But they have some interesting wine at prices that are worth an occasional stop and a manager whose taste seems to match mine.

I also cannot avoid Total. They have '01 Chateau Souverain cab for $15.99 with a 10% case discount that brings it down into the low 14's. Costco has it in Fairfax for $17.99 and it lists for around $22 or so. Open for 30 minutes this is a really good cab for that price.

[tjaehnigen]

I like Macarthur's & Circle. CW is tend to avoid because I always seem to go there when it is busy and the way they have it set up, it gets too damn crowded. Bah!

I keep mesning to check out Schneider's and WOW. I have been to Cecile's once, but definitely mean to get back there again.

In the greater DC area, I do avoid Total Wine in VA and Corridor Fine Wine (owned by Total Wine) as they suck.

[Joe H]

How can you say a store "sucks" when they sell wine by the case which is 40% cheaper than its list price? I used the example of Chateau Souverain cab but there are many that Total has the lowest prices in the Washington area. No, overall, I don't like Total. But for some wine/most wine I go where I can get the best price. Don't discount Total if you are willing to buy by the case. For many of the more popular wines they have the best prices of anyone when you factor in state sales tax vs. DC sales tax. I find myself at Magruder's, Total, C/W, MacArthur, Costco, even buying offshore and having it shipped here (i.e. Australian shiraz from Sydney). Total doesn't have anyone whose opinion I would trust-but shopping there for me is not about this. When I walk in their door I know what I want. C/W, MacArthur, Reston's Wine Cabinet (an outstanding store) are different. They also serve a different purpose.

[cjsadler]

I shop at Corridor alot. If you can find the wines you're looking for there, you simply can't beat the prices, which are often 20-30% cheaper than anywhere else.

[simdelish]

When I lived in MoCo, I made visits to Total in Va probably 4 times a year.

My first visit ever, was probably ten or more years ago (and I was ten years younger!): It was mid-morning (after rush hour), and I had my three year old son in tow. As I walked in for the very first time and gathered my cart, I stopped to look at my notes, giddy with delight, and hyperventilate at the vastness of the collection -- wine...wine as far as the eye could see. A kindly voice said "Miss, is there anything you need help with?"

I turned to see the legendary white pompadour himself. I began to chat with him, and within minutes, he called for one, then another assistant to help. There were certain things I came for, but also I just wanted to look around, see what's what, with the hopes of picking up a few new things to try. Haft asked for my list, sent one minion off to fill my order, then proceeded to "totally" sweep me off my feet... I sighed when I saw one particularly excellent bottle, don't remember now what it was, but it was in the $40-50, he gave a few quick/quiet motions to another ass't, who reappeared with a corkscrew and 2 glasses, and proceeded to open the wine and serve it to us. The next thing I know, a chocolate bar appears for my son.

The next two hours were spent leisurely wandering the aisles with Herbie Haft, a glass of wine in my hand, and a clerk following behind with another cart. Yet another clerk swept off my son and entertained him, feeding him grapes, cheese and crackers and chocolate. Mr Haft and I entered the rare wine room, where he opened two more bottles, one of which was an 82 Latour, and we sat and enjoyed quite a nice conversation about wines, wine regions, travels, his collection, my collection, etc. Finally I begged off, was met at the checkout by my carts magically filled and tallied, my son with a big grin on his chocolate face, and men who kindly took my keys to load up my car. All I did was hand over my credit card. The "babysitter" carried my son out and helped strap him in his carseat. Haft walked out with 2 little gift bags, giving me the rest of the 3 opened wine bottles, and he said "an extra gift" -- a bottle of champagne I had admired, but not purchased.

As I drove away, only concentrating on getting home and getting both my son and myself to bed for a nap, my son said "Mommy, I like wine stores. Can we come back here tomorrow?"

Needless to say, whenever I returned, even when I only bought a case, I was always recognized and treated extremely well. I never lifted a finger, often had a "personal shopper" to help me, and a few times when I had one of my kids in tow, the chocolate bars always came out.

darn, I miss those days!

[lperry]

*bump*

I live in northern Virginia and frequent a locally owned wine store that is run by a friend. She is unable to get a Spanish wine that I want because it is not distributed in VA, but told me that if I had it in a DC restaurant, a DC vendor could probably get it for me. I checked both MacArthur's and Schneider's websites and had no luck. Does anyone have a recommendation for a wine store in DC that can do special orders?

-L

[Busboy]

*bump*

I live in northern Virginia and frequent a locally owned wine store that is run by a friend.  She is unable to get a Spanish wine that I want because it is not distributed in VA, but told me that if I had it in a DC restaurant, a DC vendor could probably get it for me.  I checked both MacArthur's and Schneider's websites and had no luck.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a wine store in DC that can do special orders?

-L

You might try Calvert-Woodley, and you can even check their website to see if they have it in stock. Another thought is to get hold of Joe Riley over at Ace Beverages.

Best bet, though, is probably to track down the importer and see if any local distributors carry it, and work through them. Where did you get the wine in the first place?

BTW, you might get some idea if it's available by checking out the wine list at the consensus choice for best Spanish restaurant here, Taberna del Alabardera.

[Ellen Ivy]

I am quite fond of the Vineyard in McLean. A tiny place, tough to find even though it is at a major intersection (Chain Bridge Road) - its just tucked into this tiny, grim little strip of shops. And parking - don't even bother with their tiny little lot. Just park on the street. But worth the hassle. Amazing selection, very knowledgeable people.

We first went over there after hearing a discussion on WAMU about South African wines. My husband is South African and we've been finding it hard to find most of the good South African wines, including those discussed on the program. Then a few days later, I noticed that Jake Parrott had in his signature line something about "The Wild Grape" and when I clicked on his link, it took me to a site about South African wine. Turns out that they are importers, not retailers, but they directed me to the Vineyard, and ... well, let's just say that we spent way more than we'd intended to, but we don't regret it one bit.

Now, I am not really sure about this, but maybe they moved because when I googled to get their address and URL to post here, the site I found

http://www.thevineyardva.com/

says

Come visit us! We are located in The Palladium at McLean
1445 Laughlin Avenue McLean, VA 22101

And says that they sell gift baskets and food - the place we visited was floor-to-ceiling, barely room to walk filled with wine.

But looking at the list of South African wines, it must be the same place - as I'm recognizing the vineyards and vintners listed as among those we've purchased there and haven't been able to find elsewhere.

So perhaps they've moved. Call before going over there.

[lperry]

You might try Calvert-Woodley, and you can even check their website to see if they have it in stock.  Another thought is to get hold of Joe Riley over at Ace Beverages.

Best bet, though, is probably to track down the importer and see if any local distributors carry it, and work through them.  Where did you get the wine in the first place? 

BTW, you might get some idea if it's available by checking out the wine list at the consensus choice for best Spanish restaurant here, Taberna del Alabardera.

We had it at Jaleo (I know, controversial choice, but I am one of the lucky ones who has always been there on an "on" day), so it should be out there. It's a 2001 Rioja. I found it for sale at a New York retailer just by Googling.

No luck at the Calvert-Woodley website. I may just check a map for the closest place to me and give them a call. I checked the Bodegas Riojanas website for a distributor and only found one in Spain - how might one track down a local distributor?

[Busboy]

You might try Calvert-Woodley, and you can even check their website to see if they have it in stock.  Another thought is to get hold of Joe Riley over at Ace Beverages.

Best bet, though, is probably to track down the importer and see if any local distributors carry it, and work through them.  Where did you get the wine in the first place? 

BTW, you might get some idea if it's available by checking out the wine list at the consensus choice for best Spanish restaurant here, Taberna del Alabardera.

We had it at Jaleo (I know, controversial choice, but I am one of the lucky ones who has always been there on an "on" day), so it should be out there. It's a 2001 Rioja. I found it for sale at a New York retailer just by Googling.

No luck at the Calvert-Woodley website. I may just check a map for the closest place to me and give them a call. I checked the Bodegas Riojanas website for a distributor and only found one in Spain - how might one track down a local distributor?

This is going to be a hardship but you'll likely have to go back to Jaleo, order the wine again and scrutinize the back of the bottle to see who the importer is and, crossing your fingers, see if there's a distributer label of some sort, as well. And, if that doesn't work, you'll have to drown your sorrows in another bottle -- or just ask the F&B manager at a slow point in their day. Alternately, you might begin by shooting them an e-mail at downtown@jaleo.com to the attention of the Food and Beverage manager and see if you get a reply (I suspect you will), but that's not nearly as much fun.

[lperry]

This is going to be a hardship    but you'll likely have to go back to Jaleo, order the wine again and scrutinize the back of the bottle to see who the importer is and, crossing your fingers, see if there's a distributer label of some sort, as well.  And, if that doesn't work, you'll have to drown your sorrows in another bottle -- or just ask the F&B manager at a slow point in their day.  Alternately, you might begin by shooting them an e-mail at downtown@jaleo.com to the attention of the Food and Beverage manager and see if you get a reply (I suspect you will), but that's not nearly as much fun.

And I thought I was being clever keeping the cork with the winery information on it.

[Gary Tanigawa]

Another option is to call/go to the Jaleo in Crystal City, and see if the retail wine shop in the restaurant carries the same wine.

Edited by Gary Tanigawa, 09 November 2007 - 04:22 AM.

[lperry]

Another option is to call/go to the Jaleo in Crystal City, and see if the retail wine shop in the restaurant carries the same wine.

Hmmmm. That's a Virginia location, but I'll give it a shot. Right now the nice people at MacArthur's are seeing if they can special order for us.

[dinwiddie]

How can you say a store "sucks" when they sell wine by the case which is 40% cheaper than its list price?  I used the example of Chateau Souverain cab but there are many that Total has the lowest prices in the Washington area.  No, overall, I don't like Total.  But for some wine/most wine I go where I can get the best price.  Don't discount Total if you are willing to buy by the case.  For many of the more popular wines they have the best prices of anyone when you factor in state sales tax vs. DC sales tax.  I find myself at Magruder's, Total, C/W, MacArthur, Costco, even buying offshore and having it shipped here (i.e. Australian shiraz from Sydney).  Total doesn't have anyone whose opinion I would trust-but shopping there for me is not about this.  When I walk in their door I know what I want.  C/W, MacArthur, Reston's Wine Cabinet (an outstanding store) are different.  They also serve a different purpose.

Joe,

I think tj's comment was more because he does not buy "popular wine" and is not usually interested in buying a case of the wines that Total or Corridor sell (and he lives near Corridor). It is true that if you want to buy the ordinary bottle of wine by the case, Total is the place to go, but they seldom have what I want. I've also found that by establishing a relationship with a good wine shop, that sells the kinds of wines I'm interested in, I get just as good a discount. Hey, if you want a tool, you can go to a good hardware store, or you can go to Sears. I'd rather go to the hardware store. It isn't just price, it is also the service.

Edited by dinwiddie, 28 December 2007 - 01:47 PM.

[exawb]

The best way to get great selection in Maryland is for us to be able to have direct wine shipment legislation passed. The state only has about 15,000 wines available in it via distributors while there are roughly 90,000 wines produced in the US. Please join our organization to help those in the Free State get more wines: http://www.mbbwl.org.