| For those of you who have had the good | | | | aging data whereas the California newcomers |
| fortune to get on the mailing lists of the | | | | have at best at 10-15 year track record.I |
| "cult" wineries from California years ago you | | | | wonder if we are approaching some critical |
| may be shaking your head in agreement as you | | | | mass where the wine buying public starts to |
| read this note about wine prices. Those | | | | seriously look and purchase wines from other |
| readers who have just started collecting top | | | | upcoming areas that reflect pricing of |
| California wines may not have the same | | | | California wines from 10-15 years ago.It is |
| perspective due to current market prices in | | | | clear to me that one of the reasons Americans |
| recent years.This time of year some of the | | | | have fell in love with Australian wines in |
| best boutique wineries are sending out to | | | | the past 5 years is that the quality to price |
| their mailing list customers wine allocations | | | | ratio is often 1/3 that of similar California |
| notices and pricing for the upcoming vintage. | | | | wines. Will the same hold true for wine from |
| The list of top California wineries has been | | | | Chile, Argentina and Spain? Only time will |
| growing due to improved financial backing, | | | | tell.One of the wine world's best stories in |
| better winemaking technology and sustainable | | | | 2006 is the 95 points Robert Parker awarded |
| agriculture practices; all of this is fueled | | | | to a $19.95 wine from Australia. The |
| by a very hot wine market. From my personal | | | | Mollydooker "Boxer" Shiraz has one of the |
| tastings, California's top "red" winemakers | | | | highest price to points ratio in the history |
| and ones you should get on their waiting list | | | | of Mr. Parker's notes. The wine made by |
| include: Harlan, Abreu, Colgin Cellars, | | | | veteran winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis |
| Bryant Family, Dalla Valle, Shafer Hillside, | | | | defies gravity with a screw cap enclosure and |
| Screaming Eagle, Sine Qua Non, Hundred Acre | | | | a rip-off wine label "tab" that allows wine |
| and Pride Mountain.Consumers who have been on | | | | lovers to keep the name of the wine close to |
| these winery mailing lists from the beginning | | | | their hearts. So much for the snooty tissue |
| have seen a steady rise in wine prices. For | | | | paper wrapped bottles from the Napa Valley!I |
| some wineries the price increases are | | | | would say that since this wine sold out in a |
| staggering. The 2004 Screaming Eagle came out | | | | matter of days post his review, American's |
| at $500 per bottle. Their first release in | | | | appetites for $150+ California Cabernet's may |
| 1992 was selling for $50 per bottle. The 2004 | | | | be waning. In closing, one of the best wines |
| Harlan came out at $350 per bottle. Their | | | | produced in California is the Phelps Insignia |
| first release in 1990 came out at $75 per | | | | which sells for around $130 per bottle. This |
| bottle.The free market system tells us that | | | | is widely available at wine retailers and |
| "goods" sell at prices that the current | | | | every vintage is a great value. Some of the |
| market will bear. Today many cult wineries | | | | best vintages can compare to the top cult |
| are having no problem selling their wines | | | | wines at 1/3 the price. I'm still amazed why |
| because of the small quantities they produce. | | | | this wine does not sell off the retail |
| But at what point do long time patrons of | | | | shelves in the first few weeks of sale! I |
| these wineries have to stop buying because | | | | commend the Joseph Phelps winery for keeping |
| they are either priced out of the market or | | | | this great wine priced for all to enjoy. I |
| find more compelling wines at lower | | | | wish more wines of this caliber and aging |
| prices?Top California wines are approaching | | | | potential were priced this reasonably! I just |
| the bottle prices of the First Growth | | | | recently tasted the 1994 Insignia and it was |
| Bordeaux wines. I think this will be a | | | | superb!!!! This wine has a well establish |
| critical intersection to watch since the | | | | aging profile so give it a try. |
| French have established 100+ years of bottle | | | | |