Almost Famous

                             ALMOST FAMOUS  (GOING BACK FOR SECONDS)

                             ( Sampling  the world’s best at a fraction of the cost)

Hello fellow Oenophiles and bargain seekers.Wanna know a little secret known only to the 

wine cognoscenti that saves you a boatload of dough while drinking like the rich and famous?

Da? Of course you do. Well my friend, welcome to the world of “second labels”. “What is that, 

you ask?” Good question. Quickly, these are wines that have been deemed by the producer 

 to be unworthy of  the Chateau’s Grand Vin (top tier) designation.This could be for one of  

many reasons including unanticipated variations in weather , soil , pests and the like.  Ah, 

“second”, not a place that one would aspire to.  Afterall, it's the first loser, not good enough to 

win, defective or flawed. Who would want seconds when you can have firsts?  Well, you do my 

friend and of  course  I am going to tell you why. See, in the world of wine, the concept of 

“seconds”  does not  have the same meaning. That is because the best second labels wines 

have their own individual character and charm which some might actually prefer. They could for 

example be a bit  less concentrated than the growers intended but in the glass  you may find 

them  softer, more approachable and ultimately more enjoyable.Just because the finished 

product failed to thrill the master vintner  (man plans and god laughs) doesn’t mean they are not 

going to thrill you.They are still  after all , very high quality offerings ,  produced  with the same 

know-how,  blending and care as their top line. There could be times, for example, if you are 

toasting some special event that you may want their “Grand Vin “ but under  most circumstances 

these wines  are going to taste just delicious  with your lamb chops.You are in effect, getting 

90% of the value for 50% of the cost and  that is math that I like. Not surprisingly the whole  

concept  all started in 18th century France , particularly Bordeaux when early winemakers were 

faced with a conundrum of what to do with perfectly fine grapes that did not make the final 

cut.Tossing them made little economic sense and blending them with non Chateau grapes was 

uber illegal. Intent upon softening the economic blow of a total loss , some enterprising growers 

began to bottle and release these wines under a different label and at a much lower price point.

 It was a win-win for the less affluent  Bordeaux bunch (Bordelais)  who could now afford to 

consume these second labels with their day old  baguette au fromage or organ meat of the 

week. Nowadays, second labels  have  become a  savvy way for top wineries to  increase their 

brand awareness , using it  like a gateway drug to hook unsuspecting peasants like us to 

someday splurge and pony up for their top shelf stuff. Some other  producers  take a different  

approach , showcasing their best juice by offering  a  higher priced  smaller second label as their 

luxury brand much like Toyota and Lexus. Now as fascinating as you may find this information to 

be, you may be asking yourself “ Self, what does it mean to me?” It means fellow value seeker 

, that you can drink some very yummy wine grown by the world’s best producers without paying 

the stiff price of admission. So if I can ever stop talking,  let's take a look at some of the best and 

most affordable second labels:

Le Volte (Dell’ Ornellaia). A personal favorite of mine by the makers of Ornellaia a $200 Super 

Tuscan. At $27 this  silky blend of Merlot, Cab and Saniovese is a super value, and a great 

introduction to the world of fine Italian wines.

Decoy . From the makers of Duckhorn, Decoy  may be the best known of the second label 

wines with a reputation for delivering great quality at an excellent price point . Now offering a 

“ Limited “ higher quality version ($30).

Bonanza  . From the Wagner Family , producer of my all time favorite “Caymus.”  Uber

 affordable at $20,  this “Baby Camus” though a bit sweet, is a real crowd pleaser.

Termes . From Bodega  Numanthia  ($18) . This Tempranillo is serious stuff , vibrant and 

complex. From 200 year old vines, not for the faint of heart.

Cloudline. From Dreyfus Ashby ($16) . Now in its 19th vintage this very popular Willamette 

Valley  Pinot Noir is fruit driven and spicy.

 

Kali Hart . From Talbott ($15) While not too  complex , this refreshing easy to drink 

Chardonnay is the secret house wine of many restaurants, named for Talbott's daughter Kali. 

  

Just a note.  Second labels are all the rage in Bordeaux. Just about every major producer offers

 them at a lower price point. I have omitted them here because even they cost less, they are still 

too pricey for the fiscally conservative (  bargain hunting cheapskate). Also because I don’t 

know crap about them and you already have enough useless information . As my father  once 

said “stick with what you know”, which is either really  good advice or  the reason that I worked  

at the same job for 38 years. Hmmm.