As a relative newcomer to the scene, I’m curious to hear from those with much more experience than myself.
We all constantly hear about how great it was back in the day when you could buy a bottle of Lafite for the price of a hamburger or whatever. Even over the few years I’ve been into wine I’ve seen prices steadily creep upwards. Surely, many of us newer to the hobby feel a pang of jealousy hearing about the cases of back-vintage First Growth Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy that was purchased on release for a pittance. A constant refrain from the more experienced among us seems to be “I miss those days.”
On the other hand, from what I understand, the overall quality at all price points is higher than it’s ever been. The wine consumer of today has more options than ever before. Opportunities abound to try wines from many areas that were all but inaccessible until recently. The online marketplace has also made it much easier to source old bottles. More and more producers are making wine in an environmentally conscious way.
So, were the old days all that they are cracked up to be, especially in comparison to today? Was it better to be experiencing wine decades ago, or is it getting better and better? I’m so curious to hear the opinions of those older and wiser than myself. Thanks!