Best of Boston

2000 Best Wine Shop, City

Brookline Liquor Mart

From the outside, this sprawling liquor store looks like any other rundown rendezvous for drunken booze-hounds. Inside, however, you’ll find one of the finest selections of vintage wine in New England. It’s for the latter that we just can’t seem to get enough of this store. Laid out in neatly labeled rows are bottles of liquid gold that may cost you more than a month’s rent. But no matter: Even if you’re not a millionaire collector, the knowledgeable staff will help you find a reasonable red to go with the venison stew that’s bubbling at home. Especially strong: Rhone, Burgundy, and Bordeaux selections. Expand your vino repertoire at the Mart’s regular tastings or by clicking through their encyclopedic Web site. And don’t miss the bargain basement (which is exactly what it sounds like); it can be a treasure trove if you hit it at the right moment.

1354 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston, 617-734-7700, blmwine.com/