What Cab blend (claret) producer gives you the best value?

Year in and year out?

Over time, I’ve had several. From France, Pichon Baron and Ducru. From CA, Ch. Montelena and Dehlinger.

I still purchase Dehlinger cabs and a few others, including Arnot-Roberts and Corison. All, IMO deliver value.

For my palate and wallet, however, the best claret value, year-after-year is Ridge Monte Bello for $90. In today’s wine world, a bargain that you just don’t find much any more.

In the past, I would’ve said Larkmead. However, while it’s still great wine, the price continues to go up every year and is now beyond my usual self-imposed ceiling.

I’ve only opened cabs from '08 and '09 so far (haven’t opened my '07 Quivet Spring Mtn. yet), but would have to nominate Mike Smith’s wines from Myriad and Quivet. Really, really good - even the least expensive bottlings (which run $48).

Great question, by the way. I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

Andy

You could get two bottles of Lucio Gomiero’s Vignalta Gemola Colle Euganei Rosso (a frequent Tre Bicchieri winner) and a good bit of change back from that $90.

Roberto, I’m totally unfamiliar with this wine. I assume it is an Italian Cab-blend?

It’s a very famous Bordeaux style Merlot / Cab Franc blend from the Southern Veneto.

http://www.comunianvini.it/gemola-vignalta.html

The owner is also the radicchio king of the planet with hot houses from Oxnard to China.

I had a bottle of Ramey Claret last night, and for around $30.00 you could do a lot worse.

Cantemerle

It must be nice to live in a world where $90 represents a “best value”. Honestly, how much do you guys who think nothing of dropping a hundy (or more) on a single bottle spend on wine per year? I almost never pay more than $35 for a single bottle and I about crapped my pants when I calculated that I’d spent almost $5K on wine last year.

It is scary how quickly this hobby adds up, but it really depends on how you define value. For instance, I think the Educated Guess represents good value in the 12 dollar range, and the Myriad Three Twins value in the 50 dollar range. Others include Lewelling, and Shelter 27-29. I think “value” needs to be interpreted in the context of wines at similar price points. Everyone has there own limits beyond which value seems unobtainable.

In my cellar, the best values in this category are the Ch. Meyneys from the 80’s. It’s rare for such inexpensive wines to develop so nicely for so many years. Sociando-Mallet and Chasse-Spleen have also done very well. I’m not sure which lesser Bordeaux Chateaux are still on that long-aging track, but I suspect there are some that still sell for under $40, and maybe some sleepers for $20-30.

Value can be found at $15 or $150+. You commented on my prolifigacy, but you didn’t answer the question.

Newton Claret newhere

Can be very consistent. Good call.

Depending on the lot #, Cameron Hughes.

Columbia Crest Walter Clore and Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells from WA

Any love for White Rock Claret. We used to sell the crap out of that when it was like $40 and they are VERY nice people too…

Mike,
As far as absolute quality/dollar, irrespective of price, I definitely agree with you on Monte Bello. We had the opportunity to visit the Calluna property and winemaker this weekend, and it is a stunning piece of ground, with some very nice wines in the early stages. Polished, restrained, California Bordeaux-style blends.

Alan, thanks for the note on Calluna - I’ll have to give these a taste!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Paul - upon reflection, you make a very sane point. What are you doing on this Board? [wink.gif]

Embarrassing to speak of a $90 wine as “value”, but for me, Ridge Monte Bello delivers, relative to the world’s finest clarets.

YES! I really enjoy the Laureate from White Rock; technically it’s cab @75%, but with a good dollop of Cab Franc, and a few drops of Merlot and Petit Verdot. Yum!