A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with my parents, and my dad opened a bottle of Chardonnay he had recently bought on a wine auction site he uses. WineBid.com, I think it was. I don’t know what he paid for it exactly, but I’m sure it was well under the suggested retail price at release of $47. In fact, I bet it was half that.

These online wine auctions are a fun way to taste a wide range of wines at great prices. Yes, there are risks. Beyond simply not liking the wine you buy, I’m not sure how many meaningful guarantees are in place about how the wine has been stored, etc. But it seems like my dad has been pretty happy with the wines he’s bought this way — and sometimes, like this one, they’re fantastic deals.

Paul Hobbs 2001 Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain Richard Dinner Vineyard ($47 at release/$65 for current vintage). A rich gold color, showing some maturity but far from over the hill. With some still-vibrant fruit, great intensity, silky texture, and an apricot marmalade character that lingered on the full finish. Really pretty. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.