Methinks whenever you’re talking about trophy wines the question leading this thread, “worth it”, is always very complicated to respond to.
I generally avoid trophy wines, as I think they are often poor values and are fertile for disappointments…for many reasons. But, I’ve bought Clos Ste Hune, mainly from ‘90s’ vintages, though I haven’t drunk many. (And, that '97 was problematic.).
I love Alsace and its wines and, particularly, its rieslings and pinot blancs. Trimbach has had a very effective, intense and prolonged marketing effort, particularly in the US. They make really good wines that have, in the recent, hotter/sweeter epoch, been more useful at the table than most. I have lots of Trimbach (and Boxler and Barmes-Buecher). But, it is important to keep in mind that both the Clos Ste. Hune and CFE are brands. As such, the domaine is constrained to strive to make the same type of wine consistently to keep up the image and the perceived quality (which is high.) No one even really knows what the vineyard for CSH is or where it all comes from (though some have good guesses; there is no such vineyard in Hunawihr; I’ve tried to find it.) Likewise, the CFE is a blend of two grand cru vineyards. Some winemakers in Alsace denigrate Trimbach by claiming that the only way it can produce wines in that style consistently is by harvesting early, high yields and young vines. It makes some sense that that would be the case, though even the Trimbachs have had to make lots of VT and SGN examples of those vineyards in recent years.
Is it “worth it”? I guess it depends on what one is willing to pay for. It will almost always be pleasing and satisfying wine, particularly with some age and the right setting (had a wonderful '96 CSH on NY eve into 2009…in Maine with lobsters and good friends.) There is a certain value, even to cynical me, to experiencing what many/most consider the top of the heap. But, “value” is so individual…and, I’m very much into Lew Dawson’s criteria: “a well-informed buyer can get 98% or 99% of the quality for 50% of the price.” This is where “I reside”, too. I get just as much pleasure from an aged Boxler grand cru from Brand or Sommerberg…or a Barmes riesling Steingrubler or Hengst…for a fraction of the price (and, pretty much the same pleasure from a CFE, too.) So, I’d guess I’d answer by opining that …it can be “worth it”…on occasion. But, the premium provides very fertile ground for disappointment, too…as does any premium/trophy label on the bottle. As long as one understands that (and I recognize it with CSH and buy it, though I don’t ever buy other trophies, particularly in Burgundy). It is important, though, to understand what Lew points out…and I think he might be understating the numbers, too…ie, one could get the same gratification at less than half the price as CSH.
IMO, FWIW