Value Price Ratio on Wine. What does it Mean?

Here is a question that I am asked daily. What is the best bang for the buck wine in Bodega Bar? This open ended question tends to need follow up questions. For example, what price point and do you have a varietal preference are the top 2 questions I need answered to help a guest with this question.

If I tell the guest Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac 2000 at $150 / Bottle, I am most likely to get a blank stare. Would my answer be wrong? Technically probably not, Lynch Bages has a cult following and is one of the most coveted 5th growth Bordeaux's in the market today. It sells for $1,000 less a bottle in some vintages compared to it's rival Estate's (Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Pauillac 2000 currently trading at well above $2,000 / Bottle or Chateau Latour Pauillac 2000 currently trading at above $1,800 / Bottle.) What about wine critics like Robert Parkers reviews - Lynch Bages (97), Lafite-Rothschild (98+) & Latour (98)! Yes maybe Bordeaux is the extreme on perception of value. The industry credits the Asian market with Skyrocketing prices on the top end of Bordeaux and Burgundy. 

Let's Say that most of us in the fine wine world are really looking for the Home Runs that cost us under $20 a bottle on the retail shelf or under $40 in our favorite wine bar (like Bodega.). Most of us are looking for fuller flavored and bodied wines as well. Obviously, Lynch Bages is a "no-go" in this scenario. I might ask if the guest prefer new world or old world styles of wines. New World typically more fruit forward and Old World is typically a touch more earthy with a more mineral edge and brighter acidity.

More times than not in Bodega most people enjoy the more Fruit Forward styles of wine. Usually all I have to do is mention Malbec and the response is generally "I love Malbec!" Argentina continues to deliver some very high quality wines at still the lower end of the price scale on fine wine. If you look at some of the reviews of these wines they score just as high if not higher than wines double the price from other wine regions. Don't forget about some wonderful wines coming out of Washington State as well. They may push into the mid $20's but there are some real gems and values in the market. If you are a die hard California fan, than look into some of the wonderful wines coming out of Paso Robles especially in the Rhone Ranger style.

Speaking of the Rhone Rangers, some of the guest tend to lean towards Old World style of wines. This is where I think you can truly get good value drinking wines with or without food. The "Great" bottles of wine are still priced out of this price category but one can easily find some wonderful interesting wines from Europe for less than a bottle of Caymus Conundrum. Cote-du-Rhone, Rosso di Montepulciano, Ribera del Duero (one of my favorites) & pretty much any wine region in Spain minus Priorat are easily accessible at under $20-$25 retail. These wines are often times released by wineries expecting that you drink them while waiting for the more tannic and expensive wines to cellar longer.

So What does Value Price Ratio mean? To me, I enjoy and savor every sip of wine. When I am choosing a bottle to share with my wife, I choose enjoyment over price. Sometimes price plays into how much you can enjoy something. If you are constantly thinking about how much you paid, you paid too much. In my opinion, the phrase "it isn't bad for $10's" baffles me. I would never take my family to a restaurant because it isn't bad for a certain price. If I wouldn't eat it or be happy with it for any price, than I choose not to subject myself to it. One should never choose anything solely based on price, choose based off of enjoyment. After all consumed in moderation, wine can truly be a perfect compliment to your life.


Here are some wines that have really won me over on quality with a low price point this week (May 1, 2012):

(Bodega Bar = Price to purchase and drink it in our wine bar)
(Retail = Price to purchase to take off-site un-opened)

White
Muga Blanco 2010 - ($20 Bodega Bar, $16 Retail)
Naia Rueda Verdejo 2010 - ($25 Bodega Bar, $17 Retail)
Inama Foscarino Soave Classico 2009 - ($30 Bodega Bar, $25 Retail)

Reds
Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano 2009 - ($20 Bodega Bar, $16 Retail)
Cellar Pinol Ludovicus 2010 - ($20 Bodega Bar, $12 Retail)
Vina Cobos "Felino" Malbec 2010 - ($30 Bodega Bar, $20 Retail)


Remember life is too short to not enjoy the wine in your glass!

Amier