Are pricey wines worth the price?
By By Stan Torgerson / Wine Columnist
August 11, 2004
My argument with most wine reviewers is they discuss wines most of you will never buy. With all due respect, you're not going to stop at your favorite package store and pick up a $100 bottle of wine for dinner.
Yet you can hardly be blamed for wondering if that $100 bottle is actually five times better than the $20 bottles you often purchase or 10 times better than the $10 bargain wine you normally enjoy.
I am asked about that a lot. Are the pricier wines really worth what they cost? That's a common question. The answer isn't that simple. Sometimes it's yes. Most of the time, in my opinion, the answer is yes and no. Yes if your knowledge of wine allows you to properly evaluate the quality of such wines. No if you've never had the opportunity to become acquainted with the nuances that make one bottle more valuable than another. The differences in flavor that justify price structures are subtle. Recognizing them is an acquired skill rather than one natural born.
Of course, another factor is scarcity. The less produced, the more it normally costs. It is why beef tenderloin is more expensive than round steak. There's less of it.
We've thought about this often. The result is the August wine tasting which I am calling for the sake of simplicity, "Wines that you would never buy for yourself."
We will serve a collection of wines that I know 99 percent of you have never tasted and probably have never hoped to taste. Two of them are $100-a-bottle wines. Others are in the $50 a bottle and up price range. There will be a California cabernet at $99.50; a French Bordeaux that sells for $103.50; and a truly great Italian wine at about $60.
We are in the process of putting this rare collection together. To the best of my knowledge, other than private tastings in homes of serious wine collectors, Meridian has never seen anything like this.
Most of these are older wines, the type you can no longer purchase in most stores. Two are from the 1993 vintage. Others are from most recent years. But all have been properly aged and should be at their peak. They are in the possession of a local wine store, have been offered for sale but for reasons of price have not been purchased.
There is not a big demand in Meridian for these upper level wines. Now for the first time, you'll be able to taste them without mortgaging the house to do it.
Several of the wines are still being negotiated, so it will not be until next week before I can give you the complete list, the wine, the price, the vintage. I do know this: The six wines we plan to serve would cost between $400 and $500 if you were to purchase them for your own table or cellar. All are red wines. Most 11 year old white wines would not be drinkable. Red ones should be at their peak.
We project the price for this tasting at $35. Don't ask me how that is possible. Obviously, it is only possible by negotiation with the present owner. We've done that on some and are continuing to do it on others. That's why you'll have to wait a week to see the list.
We are, however, accepting reservations for the tasting now. Seating will be limited because the supply of these older and distinguished wines is limited. We can't just tell the store to bring along several extras just in case because there are no extras. To make your reservation call 482-0930.
The date of the tasting is Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Northwood Country Club. Anyone may attend. This is not exclusively for club members. We say that each month because some people still do not understand the public is invited, but they are.
Incidentally, I have been asked when the next wine and cheese tasting is scheduled. That will be Sept. 30 and will feature, as always, a collection of world class cheese never seen or sold in Mississippi, paired with the proper wines to bring out their maximum flavor.
It is our most popular event and is always a sellout. We anticipate that will be $35 also.
I'm really excited about this upcoming tasting. There are several of these wines I've wanted to taste but because of price have not done so. Now, for the first time, we will venture into wine's upper price levels. It should be a learning experience as well as a pleasurable one. It truly will be a tasting of wines you would never buy for yourself.
