2004 Chateau HautRian

I agree that's it's good to support local retailers. And shipping costs can make less expensive bottles a questionable idea. But....will your retailer really get you this without making you get at least a case? Most retailers require a case for special orders. If you've tried, great. But what if your tastes don't agree with mine?

Unsure if they ship to Ohio. But you might consider ordering a mixed case from Chambers Street Wine. Besides the Haut Rian ($8.49 before mixed case discount), they've got a lot of nice under $10 stuff, and LOTS of great stuff in the teens (in my opinion, probably the preeminent store for things like Beaujolais and Loire in the country). You could try a lot of things and then see if you could get your local to order a case of your favorite (or favorites).

As to shipping v. local- I too generally support my local stores (although my true local store has a current issue they need to deal with!). Unless there's a big price difference, or a wine I can't get locally. But as to the calculus of value- most of the retailers I deal with charge $24-35 for ground shipping a case , for freight and packaging (though with recent oil prices more are closer to the top). Figure $2.50 to 3.00 per bottle. Offsetting that, out of state retailers don't charge sales tax. In my case that's about 8%. So under $30 I'm probably better off locally for same price wines, over $30 better elsewhere. For a $10 bottling it would cost me $10.80 locally, $12.50+ from CA. For a $50 bottle it's $54.00 locally, $52.50 from CA.

cheers!