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Tasting with the 1%...

73.189.124.124
Posted on February 12, 2017 at 13:37:16
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...some friends with a connection went wine tasting over the weekend at some pretty exclusive wineries on Howell Mountain and above Lake Hennessy in the Napa Valley - here's their report:

First stop was Neal Family Vineyards. Great place especially the no tasting fee. I liked this place the best. Bought a $90 2003 Cab and two 2012 cabs. You need a reservation to go and you will enjoy.

Second stop was O'Shaughnessy. Nice place with cool caves. Wine was ok but priced a bit on the high side. Tasting fee $50 per person and can't apply toward your purchase. That's BS.

We left Howell Mt and went to Ovid which is a very exclusive winery up above Lake Hennessy on the ridge overlooking the Napa Valley. Today you could see all the way to the Santa Cruz mountains. Fantastic place. Wine tasting fee $175 per person. Thank god we were comped as Sandy knew a good friend of the owner.

They only poured two Cabs. If I had paid, well I wouldn't have, the $350 I would have been really pissed off. When I looked at the price list I just about had a heart attack. You had to buy a three pack and the cheapest was $800.

I'll go back to Neal any day of the week.

 

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RE: Tasting with the 1%..., posted on February 23, 2017 at 14:06:29
triodesteve
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Location: Walla Walla Washington
Joined: September 4, 2001
 Um, wow. And to think I fretted when going from $5 to $10!

The question I always have is "Who is buying this wine?"
Sure there are wealthy people, but only so many. And believe me no one has enough
friends to come back vintage after vintage.
99% of restaurants aren't going to carry wines that expensive (exceptions to restaurants inside Napa Valley maybe.)

It baffles my brain....

And btw, there is nothing they could do on the expense side to make a wine worth that much. I guess you are paying for the land and the building?



 

Tasting with the 1%..., posted on February 26, 2017 at 10:35:19
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...maybe you haven't been to Napa Valley lately :-)

 

RE: Tasting with the 1%..., posted on February 26, 2017 at 15:12:54
triodesteve
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Location: Walla Walla Washington
Joined: September 4, 2001
 I haven't. Lots of people are walking in and buying $300 bottles of Cab?

 

How times have changed, posted on February 13, 2017 at 09:38:41
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 Those are some extraordinary prices. Were they good pours? Did they serve a six course meal with them?

I wonder how much business they get at $175 a pop. Maybe they are just rich owners who don't really want to be bothered. They just want to be part of the exclusive Napa winery owners club.

 

Tasting with the 1%..., posted on February 13, 2017 at 09:45:10
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...I suspect Ovid is for serious collectors.

Or people with too much money.

 

RE: Tasting with the 1%..., posted on February 13, 2017 at 11:04:25
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 I'd go with option 2. But if you have crazy money, what difference does it make, you gotta spend it somewhere

Seriously though, how big a pour do they give for $175?

 

RE: Tasting with the 1%..., posted on February 13, 2017 at 11:07:45
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...I wasn't there.

But when we were at Ridge Winery last October, they offered us a 2 oz pour of a 2009 Monte Bello for $40.

We passed.

 

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