Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Meh on Wine.Woot

Over the past year, I've placed eight orders from Wine.Woot.com.

The first order was for a Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Trio. I must say, that wine was brilliant.

So, I figured I'd try it again. I ordered a Block 13 Cabernet Sauvignon 4-Pack, about $14/bottle. It was very good, and definitely worth $14/btl.

I concluded that Wine.Woot is a good way to try new wines at discount prices ... a way to learn wines. Wine.Woot had earned my trust. Over the next few months, I placed the following orders (given with my ratings):
  • Colores Del Sol Argentina Malbec Trio ($14/btl) = sux
  • Titus Vineyards 2-Pack ($32/btl) = particularly disappointing
  • Clos La Chance Trio ($18/btl) = 1 good, 1 meh, 1 sux
  • Roessler Winery Pinot Noir Trio ($22/btl) = sux
  • Vino Noceto Sangiovese Trio ($22/btl) = I don't even recall
  • Roessler Bluejay Pinot Noir Trio ($22/btl) = sux (think I'd have learned the 1st time)
Conclusions:

1) Don't use Wine.Woot as a way to learn about wine. It's too hit & miss. Recently, there have been few bargains, as they keep selling 3-for-$65 wines that don't save much over street price (fortunately, today has a Zin 4-pack for $55).

2) You're much better off going into any good local wine store and asking the staff for recommendations at $20 or less. I've switched to this, using a nice local wine store that's close by, and its hit rate (defined as "better than meh") is 75%.

3) I waste waaaaay too much money ordering crap online.