Best Cal cabs for the insane but common price of $150-ish?

The threads on Cal cabs with good QPR got me thinking: I usually fish in those $25-40 waters, with an occasional $70-85 bottle. But every once in a while, I spend $150-180 on something that provides value for that price – if anything can in fact live up to that. My gut tells me that sometimes a bottle like that can provide legit pleasures beyond what a $75 bottle can, but most of the time it’s questionable.

Every producer has some kind of reserve or single vineyard or solo barrel blessed by Jennifer Lawrence and harvested by dryads during eclipses and charges $150-175 for it.

Where should I turn for the recent vintages? My guesses would be Ridge Monte Bello, Heitz Martha’s Vineyard, Dominus, Vine Hill Ranch, Ovid, Blankiet. Then there’s a dilemma – $150 will only get you off-vintages of Insignia and Shafer HS. Do you go for those anyway?

What about Hourglass, J Lail Daniel’s Cuvee, Montelena, Pahlmeyer? Worth it?

What else?

Spottswoode Estate

Vine Hill Ranch
Ch. Montelena Estate
Tor Kenward To Kalon

Had a 2009 Pahlmeyer last night and it was really nice. I think you can get these in the $100 range.
Favia, Continuum, Peter Michael are nice in the $150-175 range.

Is Staglin still under $150.00?

Greer, VHR, Fairchild, Ridge MB

local safeway is selling 2010 insignia for $160 if you buy a 6 pack.

Is there no love for Realm on this board?

Dr crane
To-kalon

Quivet, Myriad & Rivers Marie

I’ll add Pott.

Carter Cellars To-Kalon bottlings

Second this.

Corison Kronos if you like “classically-styled” CS.

Among ones you can just buy without having to linger on a mailing list due to good sized production (greater than 1000 cases)…

Ridge Monte Bello (I recommend 2007 of earlier, at minimum)
Continuum
Phelps Insignia
Ch Montelena Estate
Spottswoode

All blue chip wines with long histories.

Holy hell, Spottswoode is $150 for current release? You could get the 1991 or 1994 for $60ish on winebid, in multiples, about 12 months ago. Yikes!

Great call

Roy, why only pre-2007 MB?
Tasting some recent vintages I wasn’t aware of significant decline or stylistic change…

+1

I also love the call on Pott, personally like Arsenal and Majesty’s Secret service. Other greats wines are: Myriad Dr. Crane Reserve/Elysian, Scarecrow M’Etain, Corra, Casa Piena, Shafer HSS, Kapcsandy, and Greer.

If we must land on 150, it’s Maybach Materium and Carter.

In addition to all the ones mentioned above, the Alpha Omega vineyard designate cabs bring a lot of pleasure for around $150.