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10:12 PM

June 2008 - Wine Spectator

Today's Wine Spectator Article

California Cult Wine Prices Are Going Crazy!


For those of you who have had the good fortune to get on the mailing lists of the "cult" wineries from California years ago you may be shaking your head in agreement as you read this note about wine prices. Those readers who have just started collecting top California wines may not have the same perspective due to current market prices in recent years.

This time of year some of the best boutique wineries are sending out to their mailing list customers wine allocations notices and pricing for the upcoming vintage. The list of top California wineries has been growing due to improved financial backing, better winemaking technology and sustainable agriculture practices; all of this is fueled by a very hot wine market. From my personal tastings, California's top "red" winemakers and ones you should get on their waiting list include: Harlan, Abreu, Colgin Cellars, Bryant Family, Dalla Valle, Shafer Hillside, Screaming Eagle, Sine Qua Non, Hundred Acre and Pride Mountain.

Consumers who have been on these winery mailing lists from the beginning have seen a steady rise in wine prices. For some wineries the price increases are staggering. The 2004 Screaming Eagle came out at $500 per bottle. Their first release in 1992 was selling for $50 per bottle. The 2004 Harlan came out at $350 per bottle. Their first release in 1990 came out at $75 per bottle.

The free market system tells us that "goods" sell at prices that the current market will bear. Today many cult wineries are having no problem selling their wines because of the small quantities they produce. But at what point do long time patrons of these wineries have to stop buying because they are either priced out of the market or find more compelling wines at lower prices?

Top California wines are approaching the bottle prices of the First Growth Bordeaux wines. I think this will be a critical intersection to watch since the French have established 100+ years of bottle aging data whereas the California newcomers have at best at 10-15 year track record.

I wonder if we are approaching some critical mass where the wine buying public starts to seriously look and purchase wines from other upcoming areas that reflect pricing of California wines from 10-15 years ago.

It is clear to me that one of the reasons Americans have fell in love with Australian wines in the past 5 years is that the quality to price ratio is often 1/3 that of similar California wines. Will the same hold true for wine from Chile, Argentina and Spain? Only time will tell.

One of the wine world's best stories in 2006 is the 95 points Robert Parker awarded to a $19.95 wine from Australia. The Mollydooker "Boxer" Shiraz has one of the highest price to points ratio in the history of Mr. Parker's notes. The wine made by veteran winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis defies gravity with a screw cap enclosure and a rip-off wine label "tab" that allows wine lovers to keep the name of the wine close to their hearts. So much for the snooty tissue paper wrapped bottles from the Napa Valley!

I would say that since this wine sold out in a matter of days post his review, American's appetites for $150+ California Cabernet's may be waning. In closing, one of the best wines produced in California is the Phelps Insignia which sells for around $130 per bottle. This is widely available at wine retailers and every vintage is a great value. Some of the best vintages can compare to the top cult wines at 1/3 the price. I'm still amazed why this wine does not sell off the retail shelves in the first few weeks of sale! I commend the Joseph Phelps winery for keeping this great wine priced for all to enjoy. I wish more wines of this caliber and aging potential were priced this reasonably! I just recently tasted the 1994 Insignia and it was superb!!!! This wine has a well establish aging profile so give it a try.



Wine Spectator and More

California Cult Wine Prices Are Going Crazy!


For those of you who have had the good fortune to get on the mailing lists of the "cult" wineries from California years ago you may be shaking your he...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Featured Wine Spectator Items

Black Springs Reserve Shiraz


The Black Springs Shiraz makes a triumphant return! The McLaren Vale of South Australia is where this big and bold reserve is produced. With challenging soil, a hot climate, and only modest rainfall to work with, the winemaker, Neil Mcguigan, has created a full-bodied and fruity Shiraz, the King of Aussie dry red wine. Perfect wine gift! BSS04 BSS04


Price: 35.99 USD



Headlines on Wine Spectator

Manager Shot In Face During Fast Food Robbery

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:29:33 PDT
Springfield Township officers said a gunman walked in through the back door of Lee’s Famous Recipe restaurant at 8319 Vine St. and demanded cash.

Ronaldo vs Bugatti Veyron

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:27:58 PDT
Ronaldo cica este mai rapid ca un Bugatti Veyron hahahha iti vine sa crezi ? arunca o privire !!!

11 Social Business Sites for Online Reputation Management

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:26:08 PDT
Is it a business directory, a networking site or an overambitious hybrid destined to over-extend itself and die on the vine? Regardless, LinkedIn and Plaxo have a bunch of lesser-known red headed stepchildren you should be using for online reputation management.

KUDZU:Pest or Saviour?

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:33:31 PDT
The vine that chokes the south could be used as a Biofuel.

phpVine's Domain Analysis Script

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:19:06 PDT
phpVine's Domain Analysis Script - AJAX'd - PageRank in 23 DataCentres, Site Valuation and More - Released!Demo http://www.phpvine.com/demo/domain-analysis/

Ilici + Base = Love

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:15:38 PDT
Domnul Iliescu, fost presedinte al Romaniei si actual presedinte de onoare al PSD, este foarte nervos. Se pare ca bunicuta a inceput sa vorbeasca urat. Vad azi pe HotNews ca l-a bagat in unitatea maternala pe iubitul nostru presedinte marinarul cu suvita. Nu stiu cat de adevarat este ca vine de la HotNews dar am vaga impresie ca e pe bune. Pare sti

The Original Bungee Jumpers: The Vanuatu Land Divers

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:58:03 PDT
Their safety net: none. Their equipment: wood and jungle vines. A sport born of folklore, these men have 2 goals: to jump from100+ ft. and to smell the ground without hitting it. This is the death defying sport of Vanuatu Land Diving.


Wine Quotes
Chianti Classico

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5:51 PM

June - Riesling Wine

Riesling Wine For Your Reading Pleasure

Elegant White Wines of California


California produces more wine than any other state in the US. California vineyards are collectively trending towards growing more red grapes, and thus producing more red wine varieties. This means that white wines from California will be slightly harder to find as time goes on. However, the demand for elegant white wines of California will probably never diminish, so they are likely to stay on your store shelves for many years to come.

Wines of California come from varietals of white grapes. The most widely planted varietal that produces elegant white wines of California is chardonnay. This varietal grows well in coastal regions and is appealing because of its fruity flavors. The trend of chardonnay growers has been to produce a more delicate chardonnay to improve sales of the wine. French Colombard varietal is most common in inexpensive wines. Sauvignon blanc is another type of varietal that is known for its tartness. Some connoisseurs say that this varietal has a "grassy" or "herbaceous" taste.

California white wines can also be table wines. A cheap table wine known as chenin blanc is grown mostly in the flat, expansive Central Valley. Chenin blanc is also produced on the coast to vintners who want to expand their selection of varietals. This wine has a delicate taste that some would describe as refreshing. One of the most elegant white wines of California is pinot gris, also known as pinot grigio.

This wine has a fruitier taste and is considered very flavorful. Sparkling wines produced in California use similar techniques to those used in the Champagne region of France. Perfect growing conditions for these wines exist in the cooler areas of California. These wines use pinot noir and chardonnay grape varietals in their manufacture.

Find wine, bar and alcohol accessories online at WineandBarAccessories.net: whether you're hosting a dinner party or a wine tasting event, there are a variety of wine and bar accessories any good host should have on hand. From wine racks to cabinets and glasses and corkscrews, a variety of items exist for the wine lovers and hard liquor drinkers in your life. For more on information on fine wines of the world visit Killerwines.com



Riesling Wine and More

Elegant White Wines of California


California produces more wine than any other state in the US. California vineyards are collectively trending towards growing more red grapes, and thus...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Recommended Riesling Wine Items

Ausbruch Mini Case Special


Beautiful selection of our very popular and delicious blends of Hajos-Bajai Kekfrankos Ausbruch, Blaufraenkisch Ausbruch, Dornfelder Red Volz Ausbruch, and Marom Merlot - Red. The full-bodied variety is excellent will all types of dishes. We'll pay the tax and shipping! Order a 12 bottle case, 3 of each for just $247.00 delivered, (save $90). Order a Mini Case (1 of each) for $89.00 (save $30.00). Prices include tax and delivery. AUSBRUCH-MINI


Price: 119.00 USD



Current Riesling Wine News

WINE EVENTS For expanded listings of wine events, visit www.oregonlive.com and type keywords Wine Events. (The Oregonian)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:15:18 PDT
Wine 101 featuring Terra Blanca: 7-9:30 p.m. Sat, June 28; learn how to taste wines, describe flavors, pair with foods and serve properly; Salut Wine Co., 16020 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Suite 105, Vancouver; 360-891-5505; $35.

Alsace wine growers looking for a cheesy boost (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:43:35 PDT
The wine growers of the Alsace region in northeast France, close to the Rhine river on the border with Germany, are trying to boost sales by promoting the combination of their mostly white wines with cheese.

6 wines under $15 to serve with barbecued pork ribs (Dallas Morning News)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:26:57 PDT
This month, the panel brought wine to bear on a sticky subject: barbecued pork ribs.

Tickled Pink By Wimbledon

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:52:12 PDT
Wimbledon is upon us. A chance to eat strawberries and cream whilst sitting in the rain listening to Cliff Richard, should you require one. What better way to kick off the week than with an English wine. Welland Valley Wines produce the delightfully named 'Tickled Pink', a sparkling pink wine. It's a delicate rose pink, with a fine, enthusiastic mousse. It smells of strawberries and lemons. It tastes of strawberries too along with zippy redcurrants. England's sparkling wines are proving to be

An Italian Red, for Hot-Weather Sipping (New York Times)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:59:01 PDT
But in Milan this year, an unusual red wine, Anthos, has become popular.

Wine with a cause at upscale Napa Valley auction (Reno Gazette-Journal)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:18:55 PDT
Under a sun-splashed sky, smartly dressed wine-lovers stroll past fluttering white tents, glasses of Napa's finest at their manicured fingertips.

Strawberries and muscat (Salem Statesman Journal)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:26:14 PDT
Fresh Oregon strawberries pair beautifully with sparkling wine or a semi-sparkling Muscat. A light, crisp, sparkling wine such as Argyle will complement the acids, while not overpowering the berry flavors. A Muscat from Silvan Ridge would do nicely as well.


Wine Caddy

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