A Sane Value in an Insane Wine World

Look out Rhone-aholics, there’s another lights out value to keep a keen eye out for in 2005 Chateauneuf and it comes in a Vieilles Vignes package from la Milliere. This young red is composed of 60 plus percent Grenache, with Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault rounding out the cuvee. The deep, but transparent ruby color foreshadows an enticing perfume of licorice, violet, dark cherry, mesquite spices, grilled steak and imbedded Provencal herb notes. While the wine begins slowly, this model of restraint slowly unfolds to gain intensity and depth in the palate, exhibiting a savory, supple profile that easily tames this 2005’s muscular backbone. The wine fleshed out beautifully over the course of the evening and should continue to blossom over the next 15 years. This is a fantastic young Chateauneuf, 92+ points!

This is yet another textbook counter-example to all the widespread pricing panic echoed amongst all the outspoken, frustrated circles of fine wine buyers throughout cyberspace. While Americans are faced with all the consequences that surround the feeble strength of their U.S. dollar, I hope that outstanding wines of this caliber will help assuage some of the jaded emphasis that surrounds the maniacal pricing of the blue chip players in the fine wine game. In spite of the insatiable demand for high end, luxury ticket items at bull-market auctions, the global competition and proliferation of information has made the 25-50 dollar price point a particular sweet spot for consumers to find phenomenal juice across the globe. I’d argue that the quest for quality wine at reasonable prices has never been easier, assuming consumers are willing to give up their love for high brow labels.

PS, this wine is widely available for less than 30 dollars.

-Another cute little note....my wife actually commented that she liked this so much that I was 'allowed to buy more,' recanting on her previous ban that she imposed on my purchasing wines in this calendar year