I had a few wines over the holidays that, for me, were special occasion bottles- the kind of thing I’ll have a few times a year. It got me thinking that, of the most expensive bottles I’ve had, most were not worth the tariff. At least for me. For example, the 2001 Haut Brion I had at Christmas was very good, but I didn’t think justified the price tag.
The only recent exception that comes to mind is 2011 Le Pergole Torte. That wine was fabulous and was 100% worth the price.
I know everyone has a different definition of what constitutes high end. And there is a lot of value to be had out there. I’m not asking about value though. I’m curious about bottles that are above people’s usual budget that left them thinking, “oh yeah- that was worth it”.
I’ve always found Rousseau to perform as advertised. I suppose the village gevrey and the clos du chateau are perhaps tough at secondary market pricing, but they outperform if you buy at allocation. Everything else is pretty much fabulous every time.
“Most expensive”? Purchase price or ‘value’ today?
Agree with Andrew that there are many bottles. I think for the most part they need to be almost without exception a minimum of 30 years old.
If you’re old enough to have started buying 20-30 years ago, you probably have some or many of those. If you started buying in the last decade, unless you bought from auction, you’ll have less - at least fewer until 2040+ when better wines mature and become special.
Maybe I am lucky, but every (intact) bottle of classified growth Bordeaux in a top vintage has been worth it, certainly worth the price differential vis a vis off vintages. Maybe not Petrus et al - not because they are bad but because the price is insane. And yes there are plenty of Bordeaux in off vintages that really outperform. Just saying I have found the price of the great chateaux in great years worth it
Funny that Bordeaux is my love, but I do not generally splurge on the Uber-expensive wines, except Trotanoy, Lalande and Vieux Chateau Certan. So many lower priced options that deliver fantastic quality.
It depends on the wine, the bottle, the price paid, the buyer’s amount of disposable income, the occasion, and the purpose of the bottle.
One size never fits all.
There are several very expensive bottles of wine I think are well worth the tariff. There are inexpensive bottles I find overpriced. Value is in the eye of the buyer.
and I consider all those overpriced, as I bought them often decades ago at tiny fractions of current pricing. 99 Rousseau Chambertin was $110, 90 DRC LT $233, and MG grand Cris all $100-150, for example. Can’t fathom current hysteria. Can’t pay 4 figures for any of them.
Yes, of course, and that’s why it’s fun to hear about other people’s personal experiences. I know there is variability between drinkers, and that’s why I’m curious what you all think. I agree with Robert. Let’s hear what you think is worth it!
And there are numerous lower-priced wines I find overpriced!
You won’t like most of my value picks from the Right Bank, but I tasted a plethora of value wines from the Haut Medoc and the Medoc in recent vintages that I think are killer for the money. And yes, a few you would like as well!!!
It’s probably not at the level of a lot of other bottles that will show up on this thread, but in the fall I tried a 2018 Napanook that really shook up my understanding of what an $80 bottle could be. Super interesting wine and well worth the price IMO (though of course I’d love to hear about bottles that would prove me wrong!).
Reminds me of the idea that once a year everyone should be required to put a value on all of their possessions and tax should be assessed based on that. Caveat that anyone can buy anything you own at the price you set. Wonder what that would do to the secondary market…
Alan, I am in your boat and completely agree with you, as I open pricey bottles I bought for low prices. But, the truth is, once we open those bottles, we are paying that price
