Even Snobbery (or lack of) Must Raise It's Bar!

Journals, like good wines, become more balanced and wise with time ... in theory. So, with the encouragement from someone who holds my greatest respect and deepest trust, I have decided to test that hypothesis by resurrecting this one. 

Call it a journal, call it a blog, call it ramblings from the depths of a glass (or bottle) ... let's have some balanced, wise, and aged fun!

Three years ago, $10 was my litmus test for a great wine discovery at a cheap price. Much discord has happened in the realm of world economics since then; consequently, I have just discovered that I am forced to raise the bar to $14, if only to avoid crawling on hands and knees to reach the bottom rows of the retail shelves, where they showcase the gasoline ... err, bathtub ...I mean, the wines we all used to sneak in high school.

On my first trip to the Class 6 after returning from deployment (that's 'liquor store' to the civilian world) - although it's really more like 'ABC store', but that is a subject for another post - anyway, my wondering eyes beheld an entire new row of shelves filled with brand new Italian wines! I had to rub my eyes and re-focus, thinking I was hallucinating after six months living dry. Nope ... new wines, and good ones!

Looking at the labels, I wondered how I would ever sample them all. But wait ... $54, $38, $26 (ouch) ... and $14, $12, $11 ... Bardolinos and Super Tuscans for $14?? Chiantis for $11? I happen to know for a fact that the Chianti in my hand sells for $30+ in the states. I am confused.

 But, my wine rack is empty, and I need to fill it. So, after setting aside a few of these lovely Italians ... I meander over to the domestic section so I can pick up a handful of an old $10 favorite that has been my standby porch-pounder for the last couple of years: Gnarly Old Vine Zinfandel. I glanced at the shelf tag, and good thing I did, because that wine is now $14!

Fourteen dollars for a newer vintage, which, by the way, is not even close to the same quality heavenly balance of the previous year's bottlings. Now, I am really confused.

Looking around, I see, once again, that the $10 wines are on the bottom shelves! Okay ... I see what's going on. Wine inflation, or grape inflation, or import inflation ... or perhaps even inflation of the buyer's ego ... it doesn't matter because, unless I want to give up wine - and I do not - then I need to walk away from this battle and raise the standard of my litmus test to $14 (read: 'cheap')!!

Okay! Let's sample some more great wines at cheap prices!!