Buying Charles Shaw is a little like gambling at a casino. You might get a winner or a loser, or something in between. This applies to any of the varieties of wine. There is the story regarding the Chardonnay winning a State of California award. Then again, sometimes you get a wine that must be poured down the sink. Some Shaw fans know how to arbitrage their purchases. They open a new case in the store, take out one bottle, purchase it and taste it in their car. If it is a winner, they return and buy the case. If it is a loser, they are only out $2.