Question on a Bargain Gruaud-Larose

I still get bummed out if a wine that I paid much more than $20 for turns out to be a loser.

I'm not particularly thrilled if a $10 wine is a loser.
$20 is less pleasant, $50 is a real frowner. But as you say, won't affect your life really.
If it never saw any real extreme temps, then you're just facing the normal risks of wine being corked or not to your taste. A year at 70 might make it more advanced, but won't kill it.
Look forward to your notes when you do open, and if you do go into hip-hop hope you can afford more blingy wines.

Have you worked for a major corporation lately?

I basically agree. The entrepreneurs are benefiting most from extra effort. If you are stuck at a big company desk job, it makes sense to spend your time thinking about a bottle of wine. If you didn't have that, it is much to easy to think about the foxy lady in the next office or cube, which can cost you a lot more than most bottles of wine.