Let Loose in the Candy Store:

Ever have the experience of walking into one of larger national wine retail shops and just feeling overwhelmed?  Even for those of us well versed in world of wine, it can ignite a sense of hyperventilation followed by desperation and impulsivity to grab any bottle off the shelf with an “expert” rating of 90 or above.  Somehow, your brain is just certain that if you miss that special wine, it will disappear from sight forever.  Can’t you just hear the voice: “don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.  Order now before it’s too late!!”  Lucky for you, we are in a buyers market.  Chances are that that wine WILL reappear somewhere and soon.  In fact these days, under the cloud of a fractured economy, nearly EVERY wine will be available and likely discounted as well.  So where do you begin?  How do you determine what wines to buy as you launch your collection?  Whether a novice or budding collector destined for the auction hall of fame, there are a few tactics that will assist you in making some sense of the process.  First up…..the education.