How times (and wine prices) change!

Back in the days when I was young and foolish and had much more disposable income to spend on wine than I do now. I was into buying trophy wines. I can recall picking up a couple of bottles of 1987 Opus One for the, then, steep price of $75 (Canadian) each.

Am just flipping through the catalogue for the LCBO's March 29 release of wines and see they are selling half bottles of the 2004 Opus One for $151.95 Twice as much as I paid for half the wine.

Nowdays I stick with value wine hunting.

I can recall picking up a couple of bottles of 1987 Opus One for the, then, steep price of $75 (Canadian) each.

What did they taste like? Do you remember? I had a bottle of 1997 Opus One that I brought to a trade show to raffle off. Some guy won it and then said he didn't want the bottle; even though I told him it was supposed to be very good. I kept it for a while and gave it away again at a dinner party, thinking the hostess might open it just to see what it tasted like, but she didn't (kind of like the life of the Red Violin). So I have no idea how Opus One might stack up against, say, as similar priced Bordeaux.

I am afraid not. It was some time ago. I think I might have posted a WTN, but that would have been on Robin's old site.

Bruce,

I get depressed just looking at the prices that I was paying for wine only 3, or 4 years ago. The price increase for Burgs is particularly irritating. I have definitely stepped up my search for value at the low end of the price spectrum thanks to the perfect storm of the devalued dollar, and a daughter in college. The good news is that I have found some value among the South African, Argentinian, and Australian wines as well as a few others. I continue to snap up every 2000 lesser chateau wine that I can find as well.

I have definitely stepped up my search for value at the low end of the price spectrum....

My attitude over the last several years has been that any fool with enough money can buy good wine, but the real challenge and fun is to seek out cheaper wines that offer interesting, not run-of-the-mill drinking experiences and which taste expensive. If I can find a $12.95 wine that tastes like it should be selling for $20 or $25, then I am a happy camper.

I was reflecting on icon wine prices recently.

It's clear that the nearer the peak of critical acclaim and the more scarce the wine, the price escalates at a phenomenal rate. However then compare this to cars, watches, etc. and you tend to see a very similar set up. I suspect the spread of buyers changes significantly with the price of the product. At low prices it's very price sensitive and it's about getting the most (or at least the perception of the most) within a tight budget. At mid points you typically have more that seek quality, but still seek some sense of value. At the top end, it increasingly becomes something where the enthusiast can still play, but they're buying alongside those for whom the cost is not so significant as the prestige, or suggested quality. Apparently David Beckham likes DRC La Tache. Is that because he's developed his palate preferences and worked out that that the wine suits his preferences? Or is it because it's reputedly one of the great wines and indeed one that suggests great class and style.

But that's not the point I'm trying to make...

There are many things I've sought out in life, fine food, good hi-fi, a decent bicycle. For others it might be a sunglasses, a car or a boat or something completely different. Rarely have I aspired to experience 'the very best'. I suspect that would be true of many here. I'm usually happy to make do with something really good, something that I can clearly distinguish as better than the bland mass-produced equivalent. Wine should be no different and if a wine becomes critically lauded and quadruples in price, it may become the vinous equivalent of a Ferrari, or (for those of a certain age) a Nakamichi Dragon tape deck. This makes me sound like I don't suffer from aspirations, I do. Just that I should ensure I don't lose sight of where I find value. If a favoured wine escalates in price beyond it's value to me, I'll buy others instead, but I can still keep fond memories.

Ramble over!

regards

Ian

Rarely have I aspired to experience 'the very best'.

Is this because the best is usually out of your reach, or do you really not care for the best of something even if, say, somebody were to give it to you?