T-bone, we have never had one bad bottle since we started the club. Of course, we always check the ullage and the cork. So we've been fortunate.
The best buys for any wine, we have found to be on Winebid.com It is a wine auction site, and may good buys are to be had there. For example, the 27 Y'Quem was under $300, and all the 82s we drank were under $400 each. Both of the older vintage La Conseillante were under $100 each. You can get 82 Cos all day long there for well under $100 per bottle. You do have to pay shipping though. At our local wine merchant, the 82 Pauillacs that we had all retailed at over $1000 each. So we saved 60% by buying on Winebid. They show photos of the bottle, list ullage and storage conditions, label condition, and a writeup on the wine by Parker or Wine Spectator. Thus far, it has been foolproof and money-saving for us. Money comes and goes, but a great wine experience is with you always.
The best buys for any wine, we have found to be on Winebid.com It is a wine auction site, and may good buys are to be had there. For example, the 27 Y'Quem was under $300, and all the 82s we drank were under $400 each. Both of the older vintage La Conseillante were under $100 each. You can get 82 Cos all day long there for well under $100 per bottle. You do have to pay shipping though. At our local wine merchant, the 82 Pauillacs that we had all retailed at over $1000 each. So we saved 60% by buying on Winebid. They show photos of the bottle, list ullage and storage conditions, label condition, and a writeup on the wine by Parker or Wine Spectator. Thus far, it has been foolproof and money-saving for us. Money comes and goes, but a great wine experience is with you always.