Second Labels

Many big wineries not only offer a premium line of wines, they also offer a line of reduced-price wines under a “second label”. Hugh explains:

Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60

Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite

VALUE = exceptional quality for the money

Here are a list of some of the better known second labels and their high-end counterparts.

Bordeaux

• Ch. Haut-Brion (1^st growth) Le Clarence de Haut-Brion
• Ch. Lafite-Rothschild (1^st growth) Carruades de Lafite-Rothschild
• Ch. Margaux (1^st growth) Pavillon Rouge
• Ch. Léoville-Barton (2^nd growth) La Réserve de Léoville Barton
• Ch. Gruaud-Larose (2^nd growth) Sarget de Gruaud-Larose
• Ch. Cos d’Estournel (2^nd growth) Les Pagodes de Cos

Elsewhere

• Sassicaia (Italy super-Tuscan) Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto
• Onrellaia (Italy super-Tuscan) Le Serre Nouve, Le Volte
• Vega-Sicilia (Spain) Valbuena 5°
• Duckhorn (Napa) Migration, Decoy
• Harlan Estate (Napa) Maiden
• Screaming Eagle (Napa) Leviathan

Whereas none of these second labels are cheap, they are significantly less expensive than the ultra-high-end premium wines from the same estate. For instance, Gruaud-Larose would be about $150, Sarget de Gruaud-Larose would b about $35.

All of these wines can be purchased at Kenilworth Wine and Spirits.