An Interesting Trend For Astute Wine Buyers

Whilst researching something else, I happened to notice an interesting trend in wine value that I would like to share with you because if used smartly, it could save you a fortune whilst not sacrificing quality. Let me illustrate with some examples so you can work it out for yourself.

(For notes on sources of pricing information * see below)

In short, from this table you can see that whilst the top shelf Foundation has gone up by 100% since 1994, the Partners has gone up by 30% so assuming both wines  still are the same quality, in relative terms the Partners is looking better and better value relatively speaking.

In the case of BRLH the Leasingham Bin 61 looks to be great value with only a 23% increase versus the icon Eileen (or even Classic Clare.)

Many of the icon wines seem to have gone up by enormous amounts (in percentage terms over the last decade but that’s not necessarily the case lower down the ladder.

The Best Bin 0 has been thrown in because it’s pretty typical of what’s happened in that price bracket. The majority of the 1994 vintage wines that cost $25 are now around the $40 or more mark but there are exceptions.

Astute wine consumers will pick up on this shift in pricing relativity and buy the wines that are now looking like better and better bargains. Most of the wines that have had lower than average price increases since before1994 are in the under $25 bracket now and they are the ones to seriously contemplate. Frequently they are also mass produced brands so availability is not a concern either.

In some ways it’s just as well the rich keep getting richer because they need to be to be able to keep up with the rise in icon wine prices. The trick is to find the icons before they become known icons and take advantage of the good value lower cost wines.

Finally last week I asked “what makes a great wine” and this week I will finish off with a slight different perspective of the same question, “what makes a wine great,” a very subtle difference but an important one. A great wine will have many hallmarks, perfect balance and structure, harmony, length, complexity and the list goes on but the single biggest factor in the enjoyment of a great wine is the circumstances in which you find yourself drinking it.

Imagine if you will having a bottle of one of the world recognised greatest all time wines open on your dining room table and having a fight with your partner whist you are drinking it. Do you think you will truly appreciate it and find it great? Don’t think so.

Now imagine sitting round a table with friends and having one of those nights when everything is ideal. The company lively and exciting, the food cooked to perfection and the main course arrives and a bottle of pretty special wine is open and it is a match made in heaven. That wine is going to appear great. Why, because of the circumstances that it was consumed help raise the wine to its maximum potential. And that’s one of the secrets of a great wine; they have to be consumed in the right circumstances to be great.

Cheers

Ric

* Sources of pricing information

Tatachilla Foundation prices are historic actual prices from one selected retailer and the Partners prices came from the same retailer.

Eileen Hardy are the prices I paid (on special) or in the case of the 1998 the lowest frequently advertised price. The Bin 61 prices were the prices I actually paid (on special) for all vintages.

Best Bin 0 prices were the actual cost prices from the same retailer as the Foundation and Partners.

Copyright © Ric Einstein 2003