Originally Posted by
lhgreengrd1
You might try drinking wines, rather than labels. There are some pretty amazing wines in the $30-60 range. I find it difficult to even find a New World Syrah that costs $75, let alone those which would actually be worth it. The same is true with Malbecs that cost over $100. I can only think of a handful that cost in the $75-95 range, and just about none in triple digits, with the vast preponderance of Malbecs costing $15-$60. And I'd stack the ageworthiness of most of the $45-60 Syrahs I buy with anything that costs double that range or more.
The only wines I could see paying > $100 a bottle for would be classified growth Bordeaux, Premier Cru or better Burgundies, and small domain Super Tuscans, Barolos, and Barbarescos and wines from a handful of domaines in the Rhone region.
Speaking of wine shop prices, not restaurant prices, of course.
So don't pay more than $100! I'm not trying to tell you what to buy or spend.
For aging, there are better wines (in my opinion) that we like better. What it's worth is relative. Compared to the comparable ageabilty of French wines, ours are much less expensive. Only American Pinot Noir IMO can't quite compete with the French red Burgundies; but other top New World wines can compete quite easily and at better price points.
Before you judge us as preferring "labels" I think you should consider the wines below--most of which I'll assume most people have never heard of before. We switch to new wineries only when we like their wines more consistently for many years more or with better prices. Whether you approve or not, these wines have tremendous history and ability to age, and that is important to us. In my opinion, top California Cabs/Syrahs age as well if not better than most Bordeaux, so we save money by sticking with California for the most part.
We also have visited every one of the below wineries as part of our extensive wine travels, as I love to see the places from where the wines come that I like to drink. I also am enrolled in the winemaking certificate program at UC Davis, so I'm a fairly serious person about wine--making it as much as drinking it.
Our wines include:
Cabernet/blends: Pahlmeyer $125, Peter Michael $175, Hundred Acre $275, Abreu $325, Colgin $350, Bryant $425, Harlan $550, also Meerlust (South Africa) $45, Woodlands (Margaret River Australia) $90
Syrahs: Saxum $85, Alban $120, Sine Qua Non $160.
Chardonnays: Aubert $80, Kongsgaard $75-175, Morlet $90, Peter Michael $100-175, also Pierro (Margaret River Australia) $75
Pinot Noirs: Aubert $90, Pahlmeyer $80, Morlet $90, Sea Smoke $65, also Felton Road (New Zealand) $65
Malbecs: Vina Cobos $100-180 (Argentina), Achaval Ferrer $125
I appreciate that not everyone spends for wine like we do. Not everyone appreciates or enjoys aged wine as much as I do (even more than my husband). Fair enough. But no need to cast stones.