The Official Wine Thread - Page 982

Having just posted a pic of a value French, of course there are wines to be found but my point is there is more overpriced stuff than nuggets. When I was buying for restaurants years back I was offered some quality cheap stuff but it would never sell. That cheap stuff, while cheap relative to the more famous regions is now 2x and 4x the price it was back then. Part if this is due to more educated buyers spreading their purchases, partly currency, partly what the word 'France' adds to a price.

Also, we all have different interpretations of what value is, one man's $10 bottle is another man's $40. Nice thing about this thread is it helps find stuff.



That is not my view, what I said was "value in general is outside of France"

I buy Kermit Lynch regularly, and they are reasonably price compared to some other outlets but I still find it expensive. The best way to buy for value is just bottled and sit on it. Most wine buyers want something that evening's dinner party and don't have storage or patience.
Edited by idfnl - 12/9/12 at 5:13am

I never understood the love of Dom Perignon until one of my friends brought over a vintage bottle, it was spectacular.

Dom is one of my favorites. The 2000 was a bit meh, but other vintages are still excellent. The '96 Oeno and '00 Rose rank up there as some of the most excellent Champs that Manton and I have had.

Mondays-Thursdays, I am a value wine person. And 90% of my purchases are France or Italy, plenty of values to be found in both countries. Not California.

"Value pricing" and "Left Coast" do not mix well. I find it nearly impossible to find a Left Coast wine for under $20 that's as good as $10 southern Rhone.

This. So true.

between $30-60, or some other arbitrary range that's above $30ish, I find that it's more of a style preference when it comes to Cali vs. others. There's well made wines from all countries in that range. But under $20, I find a huge amount of Cali reds to be gross.

One thing I will say in defense of Left Coast pricing is that price is a proxy for quality to a far higher extent than it is from France. Pretty hard to get something for $75 from the US that is not quality but I've found pretty easy to spend $100 and get a Burg that is next to undrinkable.

I'd agree with most all except for the last point.

You're an educated Burg consumer. For someone like me, who's not a fan of heavy brett, it's pretty easy to spend money on a Burg I'm going to find not very good.

IMO, the most "dangerous" price point for red Burg is $20-50, and this is where knowing a few good names can be key. Above that, I've found it much less dangerous.

also, from a few days ago. Not value plays.







sipping during the rain right now. It's ok.


for later. Had a bottle last night, but it was corked.

Speaking of Rhône values, the Belleruche '10 is pretty good too after some breathing. Maybe a tad too much alcohol but overall nice.

Spain is awesome for value. Drinking a Ribeira Sacra from Alodio for example. $20.

Would have to agree with this. $12, eh. But when you get crap for $45 you're pissed.


I haven't bought a California wine in eons. Wouldn't even know where to start. Too many fruit bombs.



Definitely. Save for Rioja which has gone the way of Chianti where every piece of shit with that name now gets a price.

La Manacha and Priorat are two good value plays right now.