The 2005 vintage of Bordeaux has been hailed by countless wine critics as the finest, most outstanding and impressive vintage of the last 50 years, and quite possibly in the entire history of the region. Simply put, most critics have never tasted any vintage that can compare, with many wines garnering scores approaching or even equaling a "perfect" 100. Given that winemaking has never been more advanced and refined than it is currently, it's not a stretch to consider 2005 to be the best vintage ever. But, unfortunately (albeit predictably), the explosion of hype about the vintage has created a price frenzy that is leaving many wine lovers wondering how to enjoy the vintage without breaking the bank. For instance, standard 750ml bottles from some First Growth chateaux like Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour can cost as much as $1,500-$2,500 each(!) through certain retailers, with $150-200+ dollars being the norm for the wines of many other producers of classified growth status.

That being said, for those of us who would like to drink great Bordeaux and pay our mortgage, there are actually plenty of options. While it may seem that 2005 does not represent good value, it's not necessarily the case. The 2005 vintage was terrific not just for the premier producers but for the region as a whole, and many less esteemed producers have created truly stunning offerings that are the finest ever produced by their estates and are available at very reasonable prices; there are a myriad of 90-93 point wines available in the $20-$40 range. In this way, the 2005 Bordeaux vintage represents a great value at the lower price points, with wines emanating from some cru bourgeois producers that rival and better those of many classified growth producers from normal years. However, be aware that many (though not all) of these wines are exceptionally tannic and concentrated, and may need at least a few years before reaching optimal maturity.