Paolo Bea is another producer that I really like, but every time I look at them, they just seem a little more than I’d be willing to pay, other than the San Valentino.
That’s an interesting question - What wines are a little too expensive (but not crazy expensive).
My first thought is that it’s relatively common to find wines with a 25% discount if you’re willing to look around and delete 50 emails a day.
Almaviva and Don Melchor come to mind. They have both risen higher in price than I’m willing to pay, but they’re not insanely expensive. I’m a buyer for Clos Apalta at 50% of the current prices.
Maison Leroy Bourgogne’s have increased beyond my comfort level. They’re lovely wines but not at $80.
Sine Qua Non is right at my threshold or a bit over. A 25% haircut would keep me buying it.
I’m a huge Tyler Winery fan, love all of their stuff but particularly the Chardonnay range. I was only on the club list for 2 years and just dropped due to being priced out. Now I hunt auctions to get them for cheaper, but I’d rather buy direct.
The silver lining is that there are some good and very good deals out there on their wines if you hunt around and are flexible about which vineyards and which vintages.
I have mostly not kept track of their prices so I’m not sure if any of these are still within 25%, but these are wines I used to buy and stopped buying when they went over $100 that I would gladly buy again if they were still double digits -
Chave Hermitage
Back vintages of Gentaz (yes, it was so)
Chevillon Vaucrains and LSG
d’Angerville 1ers
Mugnier 1ers (and even, briefly, Moose)
Giacosa B & B
Monprivato
Sass/Orn/Sol aias
Ridge Montebello
LMHB
PLL
Montrose
I would have bought Aubert at full price when offered if they didn’t require a six-bottle minimum. I couldn’t commit over $700 in one throw, even for wine that has a very long shelf-life. But even at a 25% reduction in price, I would not have made that big a one-time commitment. I’d have paid full price for three or less. So, not quite the same thing, but sort of.
Agree on the Leroy, and to your other point, Zachys had the ‘19 Bourgogne Gamay for $43 (“reg.” $95) via email end of August. Of course their shipping killed any significant savings…