'98 Van Duzer Pinot Noir

[Drew]

Celebrated Dad's 76th birthday tonight and had this with salmon at a local restaurant. A little light for an Oregon Pinot but good flavors of black cherry, cola and vanilla with a nice finish. 13.5% Alc/vol. The restaurant charged $45 for an $18 release wine, which I thought was a little extravagant given the dining experience was just so-so.

Drew

[Cole]

$45 for a $18 bottle is a bit rich, but not unusual these days. I refused to pay $85 at a Portland, OR restaurtant for a '99 Ken Wright that I paid $38 for!!

And as for the van Duzer PN, in my experience, they are not among the best OR producers, and even at $18 I have not really enjoyed their wines that much. But, on the East Coast, I know your selection is more limited!

[Thomas]

Let me see: the general rule is that an $18 retail price means at wholesale the wine would cost about $10. The restaurant, then, would have paid $10 for that bottle. From what I understand, the basic formula for restaurant wine pricing is to triple the wholesale price --$10 = $30. On the basis of this information, I would never eat at that place again. $45 indeed!

[Drew]

Cole, actually we have good selections on the right coast....this restaurant had only 2 pinot selections?????

Drew