Are wines like Grgich Caberent worth the price?

[mike_pobega]

With the 2005 Yountville Selection Cab on WTSO for $79.99, I am curious to know who still buys these?

[Brandon_Tai]

Seriously…I had the same thought. I’d be amazed if this doesn’t make it to the midnight cutoff.

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

For that matter, is there anybody still buying 2005 Silver Oak Napa for $64 a bottle

[Roberto_Rogness]

More people buy stuff like that than populate every wine board on the planet. Remember, “No one ever got fired for buying IBM”? Same deal…

[mike_pobega]

Bill, I know people who love the stuff.
Crazy huh?

[Steve_Sliger]

9:39 EST and it’s gone. ya never know…

[john_enea]

no

[G_D_y_e_r]

@Bill Tex Landreth

For that matter, is there anybody still buying 2005 Silver Oak Napa for $64 a bottle

I was recently in Full of Life Flatbread in the small town of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County, and at the adjacent table there was an important looking guy in an expensive suit taking what appeared to be his son and girlfriend out to dinner. He had a bottle of Silver Oak Napa on display for all to see.

For the casual wine snob, this is as good as it gets. For more advanced snobs such as wine forum folks, these wines are less appealing.

[T_Altmayer]

@G. D y e r

@Bill Tex Landreth

For that matter, is there anybody still buying 2005 Silver Oak Napa for $64 a bottle

I was recently in Full of Life Flatbread in the small town of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County, and at the adjacent table there was an important looking guy in an expensive suit taking what appeared to be his son and girlfriend out to dinner. He had a bottle of Silver Oak Napa on display for all to see.

For the casual wine snob, this is as good as it gets. For more advanced snobs such as wine forum folks, these wines are less appealing.

There’s a local sports show where the hosts talk about getting free Silver Oak at the Laker Games Press Box and how that is “real living.” Makes me laugh every time.

Not sure I would put Grgich Hills in the same category as Silver Oak. Haven’t had it in years, but I remember it being more restrained and not overblown with oak. Many of the Grgich Hills Cabs I had from the early 80s were pretty good.

[mike_pobega]

@Tom

Many of the Grgich Hills Cabs I had from the early 80s were pretty good.

Tom, me too.

I guess what brings me to this is everything I remember drinking from those days was so different that what we are getting today, and Grgich being a traditionalist, I was curious where it fits in today (just shy of buying and trying).

I am sure there are many whom seek the style if in fact it still is old school. ((cue Greg T and the bottle of 1980 he bought from me a few years ago…))

[Bob_Kaminski]

@mike pobega

@Tom

Many of the Grgich Hills Cabs I had from the early 80s were pretty good.

Tom, me too.

I guess what brings me to this is everything I remember drinking from those days was so different that what we are getting today, and Grgich being a traditionalist, I was curious where it fits in today (just shy of buying and trying).

I am sure there are many whom seek the style if in fact it still is old school. ((cue Greg T and the bottle of 1980 he bought from me a few years ago…))

I like Grgich (loved the Zins and the Chard back in the 80s). Many wineries “caught up” to them and they lost their buzz. Still solid wines, but like most wines coming out of Napa, they just do not offer compelling value.

I still buy Chateau Souverain for sub $20, so for me that is a good deal and it tends to be my house Cab. Still buy regular Montelena but when it hits over $50, I am out as again it (to me) is not a good value. Of course there is a huge range of prices from the $50-$150 range where (IMHO) it is hard to understand the price differentials as the wines do tend to deliver about the same quality, at least to my aging palate.

[Berry_Crawford]

@G. D y e r

I was recently in Full of Life Flatbread in the small town of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County, and at the adjacent table there was an important looking guy in an expensive suit taking what appeared to be his son and girlfriend out to dinner. He had a bottle of Silver Oak Napa on display for all to see.

About two years ago I was waiting for my wife to get done with her Yoga class and I went into a nearby Ruth Chris steakhouse to sit at the bar and have a beer. There were about 6 tables in the bar and every table had either Silver Oak or Opus One.

[CFu]

@Berry Crawford

@G. D y e r

I was recently in Full of Life Flatbread in the small town of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County, and at the adjacent table there was an important looking guy in an expensive suit taking what appeared to be his son and girlfriend out to dinner. He had a bottle of Silver Oak Napa on display for all to see.

About two years ago I was waiting for my wife to get done with her Yoga class and I went into a nearby Ruth Chris steakhouse to sit at the bar and have a beer. There were about 6 tables in the bar and every table had either Silver Oak or Opus One.

I think steakhouses single handily keep those wineries alive.

[brianmcbrearty]

I tasted a Silver Oak Alexander a couple weeks ago in a store tasting. The poor guy pouring was beyond confident. “Isn’t that fantastic?” he said. Gotta figure he’d heard all day that it was just wonderful.
The wine just before it in the lineup was Rombauer, btw. Same local sales person or something like that perhaps?
Anyway, Roberto’s answer is impossible to argue with. Who’s buying these? Everyone 'cept us.

[Doug_Milch]

In the 80s i thought the Grgich’s were pretty good to better. I think i remember a zin as being way under the radar good, if memory is correct. Value was decent and the wines were always bit more restrained a lot of the other “names.”

Last month i bought a bottle of the chard as a memory lane project. Actually poured most of it out. At $36 plus it was little more then sugar water. Was it me or the wine…wife agreed as well. Wonder about the current state of the reds.

I love the posts on steak house wines. I also recall early 80s cakebread fondly as well. Alas it seems to have gone the Ruth Chris way…

OTHO not to hijack, but speaking of “steak house” offerings Was with a non wine drinker last month and the only 375 offering at the steak house was a beringer knights valley, a brand scoffed upon lately. Since my buddy was paying i did not want to be a pig and ordered it because it was priced well. It was actually very very good. Nice to see a “mass produced” offering still holding its own. Flame me if you will.

[M_A_T_T_H_A_R_T_L_E_Y]

@Berry Crawford

@G. D y e r

I was recently in Full of Life Flatbread in the small town of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County, and at the adjacent table there was an important looking guy in an expensive suit taking what appeared to be his son and girlfriend out to dinner. He had a bottle of Silver Oak Napa on display for all to see.

About two years ago I was waiting for my wife to get done with her Yoga class and I went into a nearby Ruth Chris steakhouse to sit at the bar and have a beer. There were about 6 tables in the bar and every table had either Silver Oak or Opus One.

It is the ultimate steak house wine

[brianmcbrearty]

We find ourselves saying it all the time, not just around here but generally, “I remember back in the 80’s or 90’s that stuff was excellent.” Personally, I remember all kinds of things fondly, but I can’t say I would put much stake in it today, particularly here.

@Doug Milch

Flame me if you will.

In good company with a decent steak, anything can taste good now and again. Go get one from the store, share it will someone you don’t like much and tell me how it goes.

[Jay_Winton]

I just bought a case of the 2005 James Johnson Vineyards “CALIN” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from bpwines at $32pb They tend to get deals on low production wines that will never make it to the east coast and I’ve liked what I’ve purchased from them in the past. $9 a case ground shipping is nice as well.

[Lance_Smith]

I used to love Grgich Hills wines and still enjoy a nice aged one. But considering the deals on WTSO recently, the 06 Leoville Barton deal, the 05 Langoa Barton deal and today’s Thelema bottling are better deals for great wine IMO.

[Doug_Milch]

@brianmcbrearty

We find ourselves saying it all the time, not just around here but generally, “I remember back in the 80’s or 90’s that stuff was excellent.” Personally, I remember all kinds of things fondly, but I can’t say I would put much stake in it today, particularly here.

@Doug Milch

Flame me if you will.

In good company with a decent steak, anything can taste good now and again. Go get one from the store, share it will someone you don’t like much and tell me how it goes.

excellent point!