Originally posted by EagleGrafix: I am a man. I do not want "to have the biggest house, fastest car, prettiest wife, the best job, the most money, the best of everything, including the best wine."
What kind of man are you? Of course we want those things! You want a run-of-the-mill house, an average-sized member, a medium paycheck? Male human beings evolved to be competitive; otherwise we'd all still be hunter-gatherers. You think Board-O doesn't have an enormous ego that's tied in with his appreciation of wine? Of course he gets great pleasure from drinking the best and knowing about the best - but he also gets off on feeling superior to those who don't have his expertise. It's in our genes to want to have more than our fellows and to feel that we are the best or at least among the elite. Obviously that's not universal, and women tend to be competetive as well, but when we were evolving it was the men who were physically stronger and needed to compete for food and possessions. Let's try to be honest here.
Originally posted by EagleGrafix: I am a man. I do not want "to have the biggest house, fastest car, prettiest wife, the best job, the most money, the best of everything, including the best wine."
The thing that I love about how much the 1st growth pricing fluctuates is the gaps between vintages. People rush to get the newest and greatest reviewed, leaving the better values behind for the rest of us. I love to see vintages like the 06 come in because it often helps to "devalue" neighboring vintages. Wine companies/stores often get in a position to mark down these wines to get some value back from their purchase.
The part that does stink is that being a collector as well as an enthusiast/drinker, it really puts a gap in the vertical collection. It just means that in off (more expensive) years, I can only buy one bottle as opposed to a few in the "cheaper" years. Sure marketing is hard to resist and owning something rare is a pleasure, but it all boils down to your choice, and your wallet.
As for the bickering, this is the main reason I post/read here less often. I would like to propose we bring the MTH (Madder than Hell) thread back. That way, I can read about wine when I want to, and can skip the soap opera--you hurt my ego--no you hurt mine--childish rants. It is especially disappointing when I see forumites, whose knowledge and palates I greatly respect, reduced to mudslinging. Drink up and let the shouted opinions roll off your back. Post what the clever posters do, use a single emotation to express your opinion without turning a perfectly legitimate topic into a battle of the sexes.
Posts: 900 | Location: Plano, Texas | Registered: Nov 17, 2003
Getting back on topic, I happen to think that the majority of Premier Cru chateaus offer tremendous value for money. Only one other region on earth comes even close in terms of quality, value and ageing potential, and that's Tokaj.
Oh, I'm sorry. You were talking about the reds. Yeah, they suck.
http://scmwine.info
Posts: 6577 | Location: Santa Clara Valley AVA | Registered: Jul 02, 2004
Well, it's true for a good deal of the 55 grands crus classés. And a few St-Emilions and some Pomerols. And maybe one or two I'm forgetting.
But, it's not true: Bordeaux, I mean the rest of the 12,000 producers don't sell their wines too dear!
Some of them are selling crap, of course, but that's exactely the same in any other part of the wine world. But when you guys really want spending something like 50 dollars on a bottle of wine, you can just as well find a great wine in the Bordeaux appellations.
I was in the Fronsac region last week, bought me a very decent - no, a very nice - Fronsac at about 9 euros per liter (hell, it was in a five liter cubitainer, but who cares, we've been drinking it with much pleasure). These people care about their wines, now how to vinify, can handle a ripe grape... Why would one want to drop them?
The Cheval Blanc question is of course a gentle provocation. It has nothing to do with the rest of the Bordeaux wine region except for it to get a bad name of being to expensive (some of them still struggling to get a euro per liter).
I tasted Cheval Blanc a few times, some of the vintages being among the best wines I've ever tasted, but it's just cabernet franc, folks, it's not worth 700 dollars a bottle.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rik,
I just saw the 03 Cheval at my wine shop for $800. I touched it, smiled and moved on. Oh and they just got all three Guigal La La's in and are charging $600 a bottle which is $120 a bottle more than the suggested retail price.
Posts: 5206 | Location: minneapolis minnesota usa | Registered: Dec 17, 2003
I got some 03 Moulin Haut Laroque from Fronsac with my 03 bordeaux futures and while young now I think will flesh out to be a 90 pt wine in a few years. Paid $20 from premier cru.
Posts: 5206 | Location: minneapolis minnesota usa | Registered: Dec 17, 2003
Originally posted by mpls wine guy: I just saw the 03 Cheval at my wine shop for $800. I touched it, smiled and moved on. Oh and they just got all three Guigal La La's in and are charging $600 a bottle which is $120 a bottle more than the suggested retail price.
FWIW, $600 for an 03 La La is the best price for that wine in the country. Out of curiosity, where did you see a suggested retail price? I have never seen that for a Guigal or other high end wine before?
