Originally published on January 27, 2008.
So, I have this grid that keeps me on the straight and narrow when I’m buying wine for the store. I’ve roughly laid out which regions, which grape varieties, and which price points I want to have on the shelves. With room for only 150 – 175 wines in the shop, I have to be pretty rigorous about which wines to carry. Not that I don’t break the grid all the time – what’s the fun of owning a wine shop if you can’t be prone to flights of fancy and decide, against all logic, to buy deep on Moroccan Syrah, Hungarian Gewurztraminer, or a funky white blend from Uruguay.
I’ve been pretty good at controlling these fits of buying off the grid, except when it comes to my apparent weakness for red blends from the South of France. I have just a few more than I probably should. And since no one ever comes asking for a Merlot-Cinsault-Carignan-Cab blend from the VdP d’Herault appellation, I need to remind myself these little gems are there and find a way to help them shine. Maybe it’s time for a wacky blend 3-pack? Next week – right after the Superbowl 3-pack has its time at center court. Stay tuned.