Château Vieux Robin, Cru Bourgeois

You can rub your eyes, refresh the page, even pinch yourself, but I assure you this isn’t a dream state: Today’s offering is indeed a 20-year-old, cellar-direct Bordeaux well under $50, and you won’t find it anywhere else in America. There is no sorcery involved here—just a rare opportunity and a right-place, right-time moment to acquire a perfectly preserved value bottling from the prestigious Left Bank of Bordeaux. It’s got a little bit of everything for everyone: prime evolution, flawless provenance, blue-blooded pedigree, world-class terroir, old-school character, you name it.As for the year in question, 2001? Ten years ago, Jancis Robinson called it “the forgotten vintage” of Bordeaux because the reds had gained incredible depth and charm whilst living in the shadow of legendary 2000. Well, ten more years have since passed by, and after tasting Vieux Robin’s perfectly cellared ‘01, everyone in our camp is now changing her quote to “the unforgettable vintage.” At this low price, Vi