Originally Posted By MonteZooma


I was studying the prices, with a Frenchman stood next to me doing the same. As he succinctly put it "At these prices, it's only for the Chinese tourists these days!"



Let's be right - Chateaux Margaux, Petrus, Mouton Rothschild have long been beyond the reach of ordinary folk. There are plenty of excellent wines available for more sensible prices if you know where to look - particularly if you're prepared to lay it down & be patient. For example, last night we drank a bottle of Lacoste Borie (Pauillac) 2005. It's the second wine of Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste, I bought a case of it about 5 years ago for less than 20 euros/bottle. It was fantastic.

I've never had the good fortune to taste Chateau Petrus, but Chateau Margaux and Chateau Mouton Rothschild I've sampled on a few occasions. In the early 90's when we lived down in the south west of France & I was going through a very tough time in business & struggling to pay the bills a very dear friend of mine gave us a bottle of Chateau Margaux 1966 (one of the finest Bordeaux vintages of the 20th Century). We drank it with Egg and chips. The best thing about that bottle of wine is the happy memory it gives us from what was a difficult chapter in our lives.

As to malt whisky.....I love it, but I'd never pay stupid prices for it.


Giles. Mogless in Paris.