1996 Cinq Cepages

[Drew]

Sorry to beat a dead horse but the 96' Ch. St. Jean Cinq Cepages was released in Baltimore at $69.95 per bottle, how disgusting!

[Bucko]

Even more disgusting -- they will sell out.

Bucko

[chittychattykathy]

Most discusting at all... would be paying over $20 for that wine! I just did a double blind tasting of this and six other Meritage styled wines. Joining me were eight eager tasters, three them "industry" folks. Over all, the St. Jean did not even finish in the top four!!! In fact half the tasters even preferred the Lyeth Meritage, over the St. Jean, (and it retails for $14). It did not even come close to BV Tapestry, the St. Suprey, and a 95' Millennium (which I admit, is over-priced as well, but so nice).

[Thomas]

This is the true joy of tasting, but as we all know, out there in FAD world the price of a wine often has little to do with its quality; it is in the marketing.

I have seen Wall Streeters in NY City throwing around hundreds of dollars on wine in restaurants because the wine is expensive, not because it is drinkable. High-end marketing is usually aimed at those people, as are many damned magazines.

Should I be in the Rant forum?

[winoweenie]

I take it Chitty-Chatty that you didn`t get a whale of a lot of the 96 Cinq from your local dist. I`ll give you a bet that in 4 years the Cinq will crush the Lyeth, and I agree the Lyeth is year after year a nice Meritage. Unfortunately, 90% of the wines we drink would benefit from ageing. I do think every retailer should remember this and when you friendly dist. saleasman brings his St. Jean products in tell him not to let the front door hit him too hard on the way out. I said on receiving the Spectator that they have screwed-up another fine wine.Winoweenie

[Bucko]

I found the 96 Cinq to be a very tasty wine indeed, WS hype and all aside. What I find distasteful is the pricejacking that goes on, far and above what could be justified by increased production costs. However, this is a business and a business is out to make a profit. If they can sell it for these inflated prices, more power to them -- they just won't be selling to me.

Bucko