Wine Stores with great bottles

[lucyj]

I'm looking to buy an expensive (at least in my terms ~ $150) bottle of wine for a wedding gift. I have some idea of what I'm looking for but would also like somewhere that I may get a little help (although that's not necessarily the priority). Clearly the corner wine store isn't going to have what I'm looking for but thinking some place like Sherry Lehman may have a higher markup than some other places. Anywhere that I can make my money go far but that will also have a decent selection of bottles in my price range? Will go anywhere in the city but closer to East Village is preferable. Thanks!

[vodkasniffer]

Try Tinto Fino, it is a spanish wine only store on 1st and 5th street I think.. some hard to find bottles for a interesting and unique gift!

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Tinto Fino
85 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

[RCC]

Do you know what wine you intend on buying? Not necessarily the exact wine, but perhaps a region and the vintage(s)?

If you have ideas re my questions above, then try winesearcher.com and you may find what you're looking for in another state, but at substantial savings even with shipping costs. Just make sure to ask about bottle condition and storage.

Chambers Street and Crush are 2 very good local merchants. I've been a customer (Chambers, especially) for many years now, especially if you like natural and bio-dynamic stuff. Plus, I've had no issues with buying mature vintage wines from them.

While some may say that Sherry-Lehmann prices are high, they have a far wider selection of, say, Bordeaux and Burgundy, than any local merchants, as far as I know. Plus, their wines are well stored and always arrive in good condition, just as Chambers and Crush. So, sometimes prices are higher in some store(s) but they have greater/wider selection of a particular region than others and their bottles are in A+ condition, which is very important to me when shelling out that kind of dough on a bottle.

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Crush Wine & Spirits
153 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022

Sherry-Lehmann
505 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022

Chambers Street Wines
160 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007

[gutsofsteel]

Go to Rosenthal!

[RCC]

Why?

[gutsofsteel]

Best selection of Burgundy in the city, among other things. Its a great store. They sell what Neal Rosenthal imports. It's my favorite wine store in the city by far.

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Rosenthal Wine Merchant
318 E 84th St, New York, NY 10028

[RCC]

I've bought a few Neal Rosenthal imports before, iirc, Burgundy and some Italian. Didn't know he has a "dedicated" store in the city. If that's all he sells, wouldn't that be pretty limiting

[gutsofsteel]

Not at all. It's not "his" store. It's called Rosenthal Wine Merchant. It's on E. 84th St. It's very very good. Go. You'll see. Their Saturday tastings are a treat. They are not free. They are worth paying for. Rosenthal imports a lot of stuff. A lot.

Look:

http://www.madrose.com/htmlIndex.html

That's also not a complete list. For example they have a lot of Swiss wines (some quite good) and they are not on that list. Get on their email mailing list - well worthwhile.

[kevin]

Do they have a wide selection of older Burgundy from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s?

thanks.

And how much do the Saturday tastings cost?

[gutsofsteel]

I don't buy wine like that retail. Retail is not really the place to buy wine like that. If you want that kind of stuff, go to the auctions. Acker, Christies, etc.

Or get in touch with Geoff Troy at the New York Wine Warehouse. He can hook you up with old Burgundy. Be prepared to spend some big bucks.

Plus Neal Rosenthal wasn't importing in the 50s and 60s. Started in the late 70s.

The cost varies for the tastings depending on what they're pouring. Call the store and get on the email list.

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Acker Merrall & Condit
160 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023

[kevin]

Is Neal's store wholesale only?

How much would a tasting be of late 70s Burgundy and or Bordeaux?

Thanks. And do you happen to have the number to get on their e-mail list?

Thanks a bunch.

[gutsofsteel]

It is not Neal Rosenthal's store. He owns the importing company. The store is owned by Will Helburn. The store sells that which Neal Rosenthal imports. The importing company is called Madrose.

http://www.madrose.com/

I don't know that they ever do tastings of older bottles. I don't know that they keep those in inventory. I buy on release to cellar.

The store, on E. 84th St. is a retail store. The importing company is a wholesale importer.

Call the store and ask them to email you the list of upcoming tastings.

Rosenthal Wine Merchant
318 East 84th Street
T: [phone]

If you are interested in tasting, events, etc involving older wines - start by contacting Acker Merrall and asking about their events and getting on their list. For example you just missed (on Nov 10) a dinner which focused on Domaine Faively - it was $795 per person.

http://www.ackerwines.com/Workshop.cfm

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Rosenthal Wine Merchant
318 E 84th St, New York, NY 10028

[kevin]

thank you.

[wew]

Park ave. Liquor has one '59( a DRC at 11 thousand), four from the 60's, seven from the '70's, fourteen from the '80's - a Jayer for you?

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Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017

[scoopG]

I like Sherry Lehman too - their selection of good wines is ample, I can order online and they deliver for free.

[gutsofsteel]

Same with Astor. Most wine stores deliver for free, assuming it's not too too far away and you buy enough.

[deepfry7]

I'm not a big wine person, but how is Millesima on 72nd and 2nd? I walked in there once randomly and was surprised to see some big name bottles in there.

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Millesima
1355 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021

[loratliff]

Sherry-Lehmann is really the best, and their markup isn't that bad compared to Astor and some of the other big places.

Astor will definitely be able to help you, and I also second the recommendation of Chambers St. and Le Du. Also, the Chelsea Wine Vault in Chelsea Market has had a few interesting things in their cage (on the right side of the store) the past few times I've been in.

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Sherry-Lehmann
505 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022

Chelsea Wine Vault
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[gutsofsteel]

Sherry-Lehmann is the best at what?

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Sherry-Lehmann
505 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022

[lucyj]

Great, thanks so much, I'll look into these!

[Stuartmc910]

It may be too late for you but www.wtso.com always has some great buys on $150+ wines at 40-50% off. Free shipping and no tax to NYS.

[lucyj]

Not too late will definitely check that out, thanks!

[gutsofsteel]

Chambers St
Rosenthal
Astor (most convenient for you)

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Chambers Street Wines
160 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007

Astor Wines & Spirits
399 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10003

Rosenthal Wine Merchant
318 E 84th St, New York, NY 10028

[Alan Henderson]

The places where I feel like I get the best help from the staff when I sort of know what I'm looking for are:

Chambers St. Wines
Moore Brothers Wines
Le Du's Wines

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Chambers Street Wines
160 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007

Moore Brothers
33 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

Le Du's Wines
600 Washington St, New York, NY 10014