2018 California Cabernets Quality Price Ratio

Wine Spectator has just published their November 15th issue and the lead article is “Blockbuster Cabernets From Napa”. For one thing, it is an exciting article in that I leave for a wine tasting trip to Napa in 4 days so it could not be more timely. To be sure it is an extensive article and covers the 2018 vintage, one of the best in the past 10 years. On page 50 and 51 of the magazine you will find listings for the Top-scoring 2018s, Top-Scoring Late Releases, and Smart Buys. If you have been reading my blog you will find previous articles discussing wine pricing in general as well as prices for what many consider “marquee” or top shelf cult wines as compared to ordinary everyday wines. On those two pages mentioned you could not find a more starker comparison. After years of tasting thousands of wines including the top-shelf ones I have said that yes there is a difference and for those who can taste that difference and have the money by all means enjoy those wines. 

But to me and others that difference is marginal and for me I have trouble justifying buying a bottle of Harlan Estate for $1,620 that is listed on the same page with Kirkland Signature Cabernet. The difference in rating is 97 to 90. For you math nerds out-there that is $230 difference per point. Another way to look at it is you can own 108 bottles for what you pay for the Harlan. I have had more than one glass of Harlan. I have met John Harlan. He is a visionary and has made spectacular wines, but at some point you just cannot justify what I would consider price gouging despite the winemaker being a great guy. Number 2 on the list are wines from Colgin. Again, I have visited the vineyard, I have tasted the wines, in fact the IX Estate is one of the greatest Cabernets I have ever tasted. When I visited the vineyard the wines had been offered under $500 a bottle. After my visit Colgin was sold and the new owner now sells the wine on release at $675. My question to myself is the greatest Cabernet I have ever tasted worth $675? I have had and purchased Bryant and have met the family but at $600 is it that good? Also listed are Hall and Spottswoode both of which I have had and visited. For the most part their wines are more reasonable around $200 a bottle and are presented along with the other higher priced wines. 

Now look at the Smart Buys. Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet is the pick of the litter at $44 and 93 points. I can unequivocally state that this wine totally deserves the top pick here and I have tasted it multiple times and it is a spectacular wine. I know more than one restaurant who feature it as their house Cabernet. I had a CEO ask me once what Cabernet he should stock to serve at corporate events and with friends that would not embarrass him and bankrupt the company and I recommended Mount Veeder Cabernet. I say again if you want the best Cabernet available at the best rating and the best price I recommend Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet. You can buy 37 bottles of it compared to the same price as the Harlan. 

And don’t be too quick to be embarrassed by Costco’s Kirkland brand. Two of their Cabernets made the list at 90 points and cost $15 and $20. For a nice everyday wine for dinner you cannot beat those wines and I have had many and they live up to the ratings. They are good wines. Years ago an individual published a quarterly magazine called QPR, quality, price, ratio, where he collated and listed in order all wines by their price and professional rating. At the top at number 1 was always the highest quality score with the lowest price compared against similar wines, for example all California Cabernets, or all California Chardonnays. Regrettably he stopped doing it most likely due to insufficient return on investment and excessive time and effort to publish the information. But with Wine Spectators list you can view what is there and sort of do it yourself as I have demonstrated above. 

There are a ton of great wines out there and only you can decide what your price points are. They are different for all of us. But my main point here is don’t feel you have cheated yourself by paying $15 for a bottle of Kirkland Cabernet, and I am not saying just buy the Kirkland either. But you can feel good knowing the Kirkland made the same list as $1,620 Harlan.  And finally, Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet 2018 is the best wine at the best price available.

Don't Cry for Me Nashville Tennessee

I fully admit I am biased. I don’t like Nashville. I recently went to attend a convention and it was my 3rd trip there having been decades ago twice. I have really good friends who on the other hand love Nashville so I also went because I wanted to see them and also find out what I have been missing. As much as I tried I still don’t like Nashville. My primary issue was it was difficult to get around and to me, there was a feeling of inadequate service and help and sadly an attitude of everyone working there that they just did not care one way or the other. Today as I speak Nashville appears to have the highest amount of construction I have seen in years. A 360 degree view will show high rise construction cranes and buildings in every direction. Because of this and construction equipment the roads are jammed and it is difficult to even walk around. Add to that the party buses going up and down the street and it is a traffic nightmare. When I was 20 it was great! Party, Party all night long. Someone told us Nashville was now the Bachelorette capital of the world and I have to agree so if you are a bride by all means go and have fun in the streets. For the rest of us there are better options. We only got to go to two local restaurants both of which were good but going to other places would have been difficult and we at least did not find any places unique that you would not find in say NYC or Chicago. For us there is more to do and more places to try in the bigger cities with better transportation.

In a similar vein, I have been a member of Hyatt Gold Passport for decades and Hyatt is my first choice of any hotel. Over at least a 30 year period the Grand Hyatt Nashville is absolutely the WORST Hyatt I have ever stayed at. The physical plant itself is great and we had a comfortable clean room. But without service and people to help you, we might have well stayed in a tent. We actually were warned that service would be an issue. And I note 23 other reviewers or more on TripAdvisor and Yelp say the place is terrible so I am not alone. #1 no one answered the phone anywhere. To get to even speak to someone you had to go to the front desk or concierge who when they tried to call someone could not get through either. And even then we were told sorry, can't help you, you will have to take care of it on your own(actually told that at the front desk and concierge) #2 To me, the staff's attitude was too bad we cannot help you you are on your own. #3 Trust me there is no room service. I tried to get some canapes to my room and was told point-blank we don't do that unless you are a convention and it is a $1000 minimum. #4 No one outside the front desk seems to speak English. We tried to speak with housekeeping staff for a request and were it not for Google translate would not have been able to speak to anyone in person. I should say Google translate works well and saved us. The main problem overall was staff presented an attitude of we just don't care. To me, that is a non-negotiable aspect of staying somewhere. My wife and I will never return to this property for that one reason alone and we recommend you stay somewhere else also.

On a higher note if you do find yourself having to go to Nashville I can highly recommend The Continental within the Grand Hyatt Nashville at 1000 Broadway.  Interestingly they are not part of the hotel and operate separately which, trust me, in this case, is a good thing.  The Chef is Sean Brock and he is preparing innovative new dishes you need to try.  One example he served us fresh Maine Bluefin Tuna to die for.  On the menu they have a wide variety and have Burgundy Truffles I will always recommend, Foie Gras, meats from Joyce Farms, and fresh venison.  I have a saying any place that offers wild game has to be good.