Posted on 07/25/2012 4:34:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
WHAT’S the right price for a bottle of wine? Silly question, I know. All sorts of prices are right, depending on the quality of the wine, the scarcity, the demand and other economic, social and psychological imperatives.
Strictly speaking, a wine can be a great value at $10 or $200, though for most of us, a steal at $200 is small consolation, like a $5 million apartment deemed an excellent deal because its price has dropped by half.
Beyond the realm of the theoretical, though, there are wine bull’s-eyes where high values intersect with low prices. On the low end, that sweet spot ranges from $15 to $25; practically speaking, let’s call it $20.
Now I admit: $20 a bottle is not cheap. For that price, you could buy 10 bottles of Two-Buck Chuck, headaches no extra charge! For a little more (say, $10 a bottle), you can find wine that is perfectly palatable. But is palatable good enough?
Not for me. I want wine that excites me, that feels so good to drink that one sip urges on the next and the next after that. I want a wine that tells a story of a place and a people and a culture, that is not the predictable equivalent of a franchise restaurant but more like a little mom-and-pop’s, where you’re not always sure what you’ll find but you know it can have the capacity to inspire.
You might be able to find a bottle like that for $10. But it’s rarer than you think. At $15 to $25, though, the odds swing decidedly in your favor. With a little experience, you can find dozens of joyous bottles, plucked carefully from the ranks of the routine.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I like Kendall Jackson. It’s just shy of $20.
$2.98.
'nuff said.
/johnny
J. Lohr cab is my fav. Not bad priced, have gotten it at Costco for $9.95.
I have found some very tasty ‘Victor’ Merlot and Cabernet for $10 to $16 (Italian)
I’ll have to keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the heads up.
I bought a bottle of Malbec last week and liked it a lot....some of you winos...er..experts out there....any suggestions on the best Malbec’s?
I would rather spend $40 on a good bottle of Scotch with four times the alcohol content of a bottle of wine; I figure I’m ahead. Plus, with less carbohydrate; I make up on with good appetizers.
Is it 5:00 PM yet?
It’s always 5pm somewhere...
I think the article is pretty darn close with the 20 dollar thing.
I wish I could help, but I don’t know a great deal about wine. Being in college, my typical buy is a big bottle of Yellow Tail Merlot. Kendall Jackson is for special occasions. Hopefully someone else can help you out.
Victor has a Pinot Noir that runs about $16 that is sold under the ‘Gabrielle’ label. It us under-priced and could easily be $25 or $30 a bottle. We loved it.
http://wine.woot.com is my favorite stop for wine - typically slightly above the $20 mark, but counting shipping and winery direct, it seems worth it to me. If you do stop there, read the discussion. Frequently you’ll be talking to the vintner as well as references to ratings and previous offerings.
I'll have to look for that one - if for no other reason than the "label."
Also in the U.S.
http://www.mapquest.com/places/victor-wines-california-llc-beverly-hills-ca-270325527/
(not sure where you are)
I worked security for Redwood Creek at several fairs and food tastings. Good and inexpensive.
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