ForumGarden

A SUCCESSFUL SCAM

I am not a credentialed wine expert by a long shot, nor one that has sampled all the wines in the world. I am just one guy that over the past 50 years has consumed lots of wine from many different countries and at many different price ranges.

In my opinion, the very high priced wines are priced high merely to recoup the aquisition costs of land that was purchased at a premium and the attendant start up costs and advertising rather than on the real quality of the wine.

I lived in the Napa Valley of California from 1959 to 1968 when there were probably five to six wineries of international acclaim. Today the Valley has over 400 wineries with web sites . It's subjective of course, but despite my diminished hearing and sight, my taste buds are acute, and trying to justify the aroma, color and flavor of a $100 bottle of Merlot vs. a $8 bottle just doesn't fly. Sure the $100 wine is fine, but $92 difference fine? My most recent trip to Spain, Portugal and France has re enforced my thinking re: wine comparisons. Tonight my evening meal with two glasses of Merlot ($8.00 USD 1.5 litre bottle) was superior to any of the wines that I had on my trip.

How many ways can you possibly describe a wine? Is there a special school that these folks go to that help them conjure such enticing descriptions such as "slightly lemony flavor with essence of mint" etc., etc.Have you read some of these descriptions? It's all BS.

The same people that will pay $100 or more for a bottle of wine are the same people that will pay $5,000 for a wrist watch. At least the watch is still around and has a value, but the wine of course, once consumed, is gone forever.:-2

I'm no wine expert either but I know what I like .

I do understand the grower though . it's about getting the best grape taste from that particular soil and that particular grape....or closest to the original.

Take your Merlot for instance, it tastes like a merlot does it not? .....now grow it. It's not as easy as it looks.

I'm intrigued you have 1.5 litre bottles all ours are 750 ml. four and half standard wine glasses. And if you've counted two glasses from that bottle and maybe your other half has two glasses ....I want one of those glasses they'd be biggens. lol

Best port I ever drank ...sweet with an Oaky aroma, reminded me of the scotish highlands of loch, and the misty kiss of tenderness upon the rose scented cheek of a moose.............<---- you mean that kind of a description of a plonk cask?

:-6fuzzywuzzy;1394027 wrote: I'm no wine expert either but I know what I like .

I do understand the grower though . it's about getting the best grape taste from that particular soil and that particular grape....or closest to the original.

Take your Merlot for instance, it tastes like a merlot does it not? .....now grow it. It's not as easy as it looks.

I'm intrigued you have 1.5 litre bottles all ours are 750 ml. four and half standard wine glasses. And if you've counted two glasses from that bottle and maybe your other half has two glasses ....I want one of those glasses they'd be biggens.

Best port I ever drank ...sweet with an Oaky aroma, reminded me of the scotish highlands of loch, and the misty kiss of tenderness upon the rose scented cheek of a moose.............


750 ml is the standard size bottle that is sold in all the stores but the 1.5 litre bottles which I prefer, are available as well. Your Aussie "Yellow Tail" is quite popular here and at $10.50 USD for 1.5 litre it's a good value. As a matter of fact. You Aussies have a number of great and reasonably priced wines.

My wife is not a wine drinker and I find that two 1.5 litres bottles (one white and one red) will last me most of the week.

It is, to an extent like the Emperor's new clothes.

No body wants to be the first to say it's mostly pretentious BS

I have never paid more than $20 for a bottle of wine.

That was for a nice Cotes du Rhone.

Usually, though, I shell out $2.29 for a nice MD 20/20