I still have bottles of Chave Hermitage 1990, Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 1990, Ch Lafite 1990 and Billecart-Salmon N F Billecart 1996, all bought at Oddbins. The Chave cost £25, the HLC £20, the Lafite £70 and the NFB £40.
Oddbins was fundamental to the development of my interest in wine in the 1980s, as I suspect it was for many people from a background in which wine did not feature. Sainsbury's was the first supermarket to take wine seriously, developing an interesting range and democratising and popularising wine (they stocked Ch Musar and Fevre Grand Cru Chablis and Penfold's Grange, among others). From Sainsbury's you progressed to Oddbins, with its stupendous range, its enthusiastic, knowlegeable and helpful staff and its characterful premises. Traditional merchants could be intimidating, whereas Oddbins was welcoming. Also, you could buy by the bottle, which was great for impecunious types like me. There on the shelf in Sheffield were wines by the likes of Ridge, Yarra Yering, Beaucastel, Clape, Muller-Catoir, Albert Mann. It was a range that could compete with any decent regional independent. And the first time I went to the treasure-trove under Holborn Viaduct my jaw dropped. There were multiple vintages of all the First Growth clarets, and burgundies such as Carillon Bievenue-Batard-Montrachet, top Californian wines, great Barolos, Noval Nacional and the rest, all at competitive prices. Whenever I went to London on business, I made sure I could spend an hour or so in there and pick up a few bottles. I'm pretty sure I must have encountered Colin W in there, without then knowing who he was. And there was the relentless quest for new and interesting discoveries by Steve Daniels and his team - hence the creation of the Greek range.
RIP Oddbins and thanks for the memories. Actually, more than memories: the foundation of a life-long passion, which has also led to many valued friendships with like-minded people. (D Byrne & Co also deserves a mention here.)
All the best for the future, Louis. When one door closes another one will open.