My experience with Bdx second wines is very limited, and more disappointing than I would like. For the most part, I would try to stay away from seconds in all but the very best vintages.

Probably my favorite "second" wine has been Shafer's "One Point Five" cabernet, or the precursers variously labeled simply "Napa Valley" or "Stags Leap District".

Do NV Champagnes count as "Second Wines"? If so, I have a few more ideas for this thread.

I enjoy the M. Etain offering from Scarecrow, as well as The Maiden from Harlan.

Good call by Board-O with the Finca Dofi. I would probably add the Flor de Pingus and Vega Sicilia Valbuena no 5 to the list.

quote:

Originally posted by Impulse:
Good call by Board-O with the Finca Dofi. I would probably add the Flor de Pingus and Vega Sicilia Valbuena no 5 to the list.

Agree on all counts

All this talk about second wines compelled me to pop a 2005 Blason d'Issan tonight. The palate is a bit hollow and puckery, but what a nose! Mainly red berry fruit on the nose along with cedar, vanilla, a hint of leather, and a fantastic floral perfume that pervades all that. Rather smell this than drink, but that's okay.

My favorite is Seavey's Caravina Cab. It's a little more fruit-forward and approachable when young than their primary cab, but both still improve with age.
I have found that most of the other Napa "2nd labels" cabs are a far cry from their counterpart, although my experience is limited.

when i was a cigar smoker a million years ago "second labels" were often distanced from there bigger and more recognized "primary label". I used to think napanook was a 2nd wine to dominus until I was put in my place when I meet Christian Moueix (sorry if I misspelled his name, did not look it up going off of memory) a million years ago.