Liquor Stores in PH - best values

tracy

I can't believe this hasn't been a topic before, but don't remember it. Anyway - which liquor store in PH has the best prices and a decent selection. Am interested mainly in wine so need a pretty good selection. We normally go to the ones on Flatbush, Vanderbilt or the big one on Washington. Any help appreciated.

alafairnadia

Subject: Re: Liquor Stores in PH - best values

tracy wrote: I can't believe this hasn't been a topic before, but don't remember it. Anyway - which liquor store in PH has the best prices and a decent selection. Am interested mainly in wine so need a pretty good selection. We normally go to the ones on Flatbush, Vanderbilt or the big one on Washington. Any help appreciated.

to be completely honest, my wine purchasing lately has run toward fermented grapes and/or fresh direct. the three liquor stores on washington btwn atlantic and e.pkway that carry wine have all sold me corked wine on multiple occasions. and mei's, the place on flatbush by chase bank, has also sold me corked wine.

I'm sure they all take returns, but you know what? I don't want to return wine. I've actually started to go into these stores and say "hey, so which wine are you selling the most of and getting the least returns?" I've talked to the owners about corked wine. they all know about the issue and all want to avoid it. but they can't - they don't store wine at the right temp, they all buy it at a "special" price, etc.

often you get lucky and find a good case or good batch. but you might also find a corked case or bottle. and that's so horrible it's hard to trust the store again.

I've never have a corked issue with fermented grapes or fresh direct.

armchair_warrior

newb here whats cork wine?

veggiequeen

I think it's when the cork has been contaminated in some way... but I don't know any specifics.

sweet tea

corked wine tastes like swamp water. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corked_wine

for good: fermented grapes

for cheap: 4/5/Q to union square trader joes

alafairnadia

I think something like 1 in 100 corks goes bad. when you come across a lot of corked wine, though, that is more an issue of improper storage - if the bottles are stored upright, for instance, the cork isnt' kept moist. also, if the bottles are kept at an improper temperature - aka the liquor store doesn't air condition the store when it isn't oepn and the storage area at all - everything is gonna get corked unless it moves fast.
so unless you are buying yellow tail (which isn't bad stuff - it has the advantage of being cheap and moving quickly in local liquor stores) don't bother with the wine - it's a gamble. a lousy one, at best.

carnivore

From cellarnotes.net:

18 wrote: Corked Wine[/size]

A 'Corked' wine is a wine that has been bottled with a cork that is contaminated with TCA (2,4,6-Trichloroanisole). TCA contamination usually comes from corks but can also come from barrels, other cooperage or even, apparently, from wood within the cellar including walls or beams. The term 'corked wine' is applied to all wines with TCA contamination because corks are the souce of most of the problems. The wine industry estimates that as many as 3% to 7% of all wines have TCA contamination at levels that can be detected by consumers. Because most people are not trained to recognize the smell and taste of TCA, only a very small fraction of these bad bottles are ever returned to stores or sent back at a restaurant.
Even a very tiny amount of TCA in a wine can ruin it. Most people become aware of TCA in quatities as small as 5 parts per trillion and some individuals are even more sensitive. When TCA is present in quantities high enough to be evident to a person, it comes across as 'musty' aromas and flavors. Even when TCA is not evident in the smell or taste of a wine, very small quantities can subdue the aromas and flavors of fruit that the wine would ordinarily exhibit.
TCA does not pose a health risk (at least in the levels found in wines). It just imparts the aromas and flavors that are objectionable when found in sufficient quantity. Many wines have levels of TCA that are below the threshold of perception. Wine is not the only place you can find TCA. It is also found in some municipal water supplies as well as in some teas.
A great deal of work continues in the cork industry as well as at wineries to develop methods to eliminate corked wine. So far, no completely reliable method has been found.
There are other causes of bad bottles of wine, but TCA contamination is the primary fault you will find in otherwise well-stored bottles. Other faults can include wines that are oxidized, lightstruck or have undergone unplanned secondary fermentation.
If you get a 'corked' wine, you should return it to the store from which it was purchased or refuse it at the restaurant. Most wineries completely stand behind their wines and will work to ensure customer satisfaction. Do make sure that you check the wine when it is opened and before it is poured around the table. Wineries and stores are less likely to accept the return of an empty or nearly empty bottle with your claim that it was bad. The tasting ritual of a freshly opened bottle of wine developed over the years to allow the host to check and make sure that bad (corked) wine was not poured for guests.

The way to avoid almost all corking? Get wine with a synthetic cork or a screwtop!

carnivore

alafairnadia wrote: I think something like 1 in 100 corks goes bad. when you come across a lot of corked wine, though, that is more an issue of improper storage - if the bottles are stored upright, for instance, the cork isnt' kept moist. also, if the bottles are kept at an improper temperature - aka the liquor store doesn't air condition the store when it isn't oepn and the storage area at all - everything is gonna get corked unless it moves fast.
so unless you are buying yellow tail (which isn't bad stuff - it has the advantage of being cheap and moving quickly in local liquor stores) don't bother with the wine - it's a gamble. a lousy one, at best.

Here's a great article from New York magazine about common wine problems .
It sounds like the wine you're talking about has been oxidized or maderized, not corked.

armchair_warrior

after reading all this info. where can one pickup cheap sweet tasting wine and start testing out.

sweet tea

armchair_warrior wrote: after reading all this info. where can one pickup cheap sweet tasting wine and start testing out.

I'd recommend Trader Joes -- better quality than you'd expect at their prices. If you like sweet, maybe try a Riesling.

Alternately, get on the Fermented Grapes email list -- they have free tastings all the time and usually give a description in the email of what will be poured.
The ones I've been to have been very interesting and also low-key -- okay to ask questions, okay to not buy the wine being poured.

carnivore

Fresh Direct has a pretty decent selection of inexpensive wines from Best Cellars. It's not Two Buck Chuck, but probably better overall.

armchair_warrior

I'll be a alky in training :P. whats a two buck chuck lol?

vanilla

armchair_warrior wrote: I'll be a alky in training :P. whats a two buck chuck lol?

uh-oh. bad, armchair!

alafairnadia

Carnivore wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]I think something like 1 in 100 corks goes bad. when you come across a lot of corked wine, though, that is more an issue of improper storage - if the bottles are stored upright, for instance, the cork isnt' kept moist. also, if the bottles are kept at an improper temperature - aka the liquor store doesn't air condition the store when it isn't oepn and the storage area at all - everything is gonna get corked unless it moves fast.
so unless you are buying yellow tail (which isn't bad stuff - it has the advantage of being cheap and moving quickly in local liquor stores) don't bother with the wine - it's a gamble. a lousy one, at best.

Here's a great article from New York magazine about common wine problems .
It sounds like the wine you're talking about has been oxidized or maderized, not corked.

ahh. I'm not that wine-smart. I just know that cork smells like dogshit and the wine tastes like ass.

carnivore

armchair_warrior wrote: I'll be a alky in training :P. whats a two buck chuck lol?

Surely someone with your internet savvy is familiar with Google. :P

alafairnadia

alafairnadia wrote: [quote=Carnivore][quote=alafairnadia]I think something like 1 in 100 corks goes bad. when you come across a lot of corked wine, though, that is more an issue of improper storage - if the bottles are stored upright, for instance, the cork isnt' kept moist. also, if the bottles are kept at an improper temperature - aka the liquor store doesn't air condition the store when it isn't oepn and the storage area at all - everything is gonna get corked unless it moves fast.
so unless you are buying yellow tail (which isn't bad stuff - it has the advantage of being cheap and moving quickly in local liquor stores) don't bother with the wine - it's a gamble. a lousy one, at best.

Here's a great article from New York magazine about common wine problems .
It sounds like the wine you're talking about has been oxidized or maderized, not corked.

ahh. I'm not that wine-smart. I just know that cork smells like dogshit and the wine tastes like ass.

actually, reading that article reinvigorates my argument that these bottles are all corked. or the effect of heat/improper care is corking. the flavor is moldy, funky, and nasty. the texture of the wine isn't different - it isn't flat, or bubbly, when it shouldn't be. it simply tastes like various forms of woody mold.

whyfi

Carnivore wrote: [quote=armchair_warrior]I'll be a alky in training :P. whats a two buck chuck lol?

Surely someone with your internet savvy is familiar with Google. :P
You're still using FF, right AW? Highlight, right-click, 'search web for "..."' Easy even for lazy bastards like me.

carnivore

alafairnadia wrote: actually, reading that article reinvigorates my argument that these bottles are all corked. or the effect of heat/improper care is corking. the flavor is moldy, funky, and nasty. the texture of the wine isn't different - it isn't flat, or bubbly, when it shouldn't be. it simply tastes like various forms of woody mold.

But corking is inherent to the cork itself, and isn't related to how the wine is stored.

alafairnadia

Carnivore wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]actually, reading that article reinvigorates my argument that these bottles are all corked. or the effect of heat/improper care is corking. the flavor is moldy, funky, and nasty. the texture of the wine isn't different - it isn't flat, or bubbly, when it shouldn't be. it simply tastes like various forms of woody mold.

But corking is inherent to the cork itself, and isn't related to how the wine is stored.

but read the effect on the flavor/texture - that's what I'm talking about. the flavor/texture of the wine is most consistent with corking. obviously it doesn't make sense, with the definition of corking, that entire swaths of wine in stores are corked. but that's the flavor/texture being received. the champagne, for instance, isn't flat, or doesn't taste like vinegar. the sancerre doesn't have bubbles, and it doesn't taste like vinegar. these all taste like mold. moldy wood. old socks. and that's the FLAVOR of corking.

carnivore

That's weird though. I don't understand why one store would have more corked bottles, since it's not related to storage. Maybe you just got unlucky with them?

alafairnadia

Carnivore wrote: That's weird though. I don't understand why one store would have more corked bottles, since it's not related to storage. Maybe you just got unlucky with them?

doubtful. has been an issue for years. and in multiple stores, honestly.

jamielevin

I bought some corked wine from Love Wines on Washinton a few months ago (I'm afraid I can't remember what bottle). I went back the next day to return it and the owner gave me a very hard time. Finally, he agree to discuss the matter with his distributor. A week later he gave me a call and asked me to come in to pick up a replacement. I was very pleased until I got home and opened the bag that he gave me--it was a very cheap bottle of red (at least a third of the price of the original bottle).

tess

I have gotten wine and liquor at The Wine Exchange on Vanderbilt. So far I haven't gotten corked! Just like Fermented Grapes, get on their email list and they will notify when they are having tastings. The tastings I have been to have been great as I have picked up some good Holiday gifts of wine at a 20% discount since they were the wines that were being tasted that night.

carnivore

jamielevin wrote: I bought some corked wine from Love Wines on Washinton a few months ago (I'm afraid I can't remember what bottle). I went back the next day to return it and the owner gave me a very hard time. Finally, he agree to discuss the matter with his distributor. A week later he gave me a call and asked me to come in to pick up a replacement. I was very pleased until I got home and opened the bag that he gave me--it was a very cheap bottle of red (at least a third of the price of the original bottle).

Don't ever buy anything from that place again. They are supposed to replace corked bottles.

armchair_warrior

WhyFi wrote: [quote=Carnivore][quote=armchair_warrior]I'll be a alky in training :P. whats a two buck chuck lol?

Surely someone with your internet savvy is familiar with Google. :P
You're still using FF, right AW? Highlight, right-click, 'search web for "..."' Easy even for lazy bastards like me.

i had to uninstall last week to see whats wasn't.

as of today i am .

armchair_warrior

vanilla wrote: [quote=armchair_warrior]I'll be a alky in training :P. whats a two buck chuck lol?

uh-oh. bad, armchair!

that seems like what its always talked about here on these boards hehe.

armchair_warrior

Carnivore wrote: [quote=armchair_warrior]I'll be a alky in training :P. whats a two buck chuck lol?

Surely someone with your internet savvy is familiar with Google. :P

oh you don't realize how lazy i get sometimes!!!

withachaser

Subject: Re: Liquor Stores in PH - best values

alafairnadia wrote: [quote=tracy]I can't believe this hasn't been a topic before, but don't remember it. Anyway - which liquor store in PH has the best prices and a decent selection. Am interested mainly in wine so need a pretty good selection. We normally go to the ones on Flatbush, Vanderbilt or the big one on Washington. Any help appreciated.

to be completely honest, my wine purchasing lately has run toward fermented grapes and/or fresh direct. the three liquor stores on washington btwn atlantic and e.pkway that carry wine have all sold me corked wine on multiple occasions. and mei's, the place on flatbush by chase bank, has also sold me corked wine.

I'm sure they all take returns, but you know what? I don't want to return wine. I've actually started to go into these stores and say "hey, so which wine are you selling the most of and getting the least returns?" I've talked to the owners about corked wine. they all know about the issue and all want to avoid it. but they can't - they don't store wine at the right temp, they all buy it at a "special" price, etc.

often you get lucky and find a good case or good batch. but you might also find a corked case or bottle. and that's so horrible it's hard to trust the store again.

I've never have a corked issue with fermented grapes or fresh direct.

do you recommend anything from fd, specifically? the idea of getting my wine, cheese, bread, olives, coffee, and toilet paper all delivered at once -- negating the need to ever don shoes, 'cept to walk the dog-- is just too disgusting and wonderful to pass up. i'm most into crisp no-oak whites and bold spicy reds.

tia!

alafairnadia

Subject: Re: Liquor Stores in PH - best values

withachaser wrote: [quote=alafairnadia][quote=tracy]I can't believe this hasn't been a topic before, but don't remember it. Anyway - which liquor store in PH has the best prices and a decent selection. Am interested mainly in wine so need a pretty good selection. We normally go to the ones on Flatbush, Vanderbilt or the big one on Washington. Any help appreciated.

to be completely honest, my wine purchasing lately has run toward fermented grapes and/or fresh direct. the three liquor stores on washington btwn atlantic and e.pkway that carry wine have all sold me corked wine on multiple occasions. and mei's, the place on flatbush by chase bank, has also sold me corked wine.

I'm sure they all take returns, but you know what? I don't want to return wine. I've actually started to go into these stores and say "hey, so which wine are you selling the most of and getting the least returns?" I've talked to the owners about corked wine. they all know about the issue and all want to avoid it. but they can't - they don't store wine at the right temp, they all buy it at a "special" price, etc.

often you get lucky and find a good case or good batch. but you might also find a corked case or bottle. and that's so horrible it's hard to trust the store again.

I've never have a corked issue with fermented grapes or fresh direct.

do you recommend anything from fd, specifically? the idea of getting my wine, cheese, bread, olives, coffee, and toilet paper all delivered at once -- negating the need to ever don shoes, 'cept to walk the dog-- is just too disgusting and wonderful to pass up. i'm most into crisp no-oak whites and bold spicy reds.

tia!

their vinho verde is fantastic. slightly pricier than the ones at union square wines - they're more like $4-5 - but are deliciously crisp and NOT oaky.

their cava (which one is it, Carnivore?) and the Desert Storm sparkling wine are delish. DELISH. guh.

I rarely drink red so I leave that to others.

jamielevin

Almost forgot. Bought a mid-priced bottle ($20) of red at Fermented Grapes about 6 mos ago. It was vinegar tainted (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_fault). Tasted and smelled foul--just like salad dressing. I brought it back to the store and the owner took a swig and said that the wine should taste like vinegar! Never will I go there again!

pensodyssey

You can get a litre of Powers for about 25 bucks at the wine exchange (formerly known as the bullet-proof lotto and liquor emporium) at vandy and bergen.

That's my 2 pennies.