Cult Wines Under $600
To many, wines that achieve “cult wine status” represent the pinnacle of perfection. It reflects the commitment to quality from the vineyards, the winemaker, bottling, even the bottle quality, and the price.
Cult wines represent the perceptibly unattainable, and create a demand that exceeds the supply. In the early days, such cult wineries were dominated in Burgundy and Bordeaux, however, in Napa today, labels such as Screaming Eagle, Colgin, Harlan, Scarecrow, Cardinale, and Ovid represent a highly collectable and high-scoring collection of wine producers.
Napa Valley is considered to be, by many, the holy grail of Cabernet Sauvignon, and the appellation heralds some of the most sought-after pieces of real estate–Oakville, St. Helena, Howell, Spring, Diamond Mountain, as well as the famed Stags Leap District. Within these AVA’s, collections of single vineyards demand prices well into the thousands for a mere bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the Cult Wine Category, but Proprietary Blends, Syrah, and even Sauvignon Blancs add dimension to this category.
Often these wines are an investment– either to sell at a later date, or to lay down in a cellar for the future. The aging on these wines often exceeds twenty plus years, which provides flexibility in the market to purchase or sell when demand is at its highest. To find and purchase these wines is often likened to a treasure hunt. Finding availability to purchase these wines at all and let alone at an affordable price is a thrilling chase. Places to look vary. Private collectors are a great resource as long as you are confident in the storage of the wines and how they were purchased. Often, these collectors have been members of the wineries for years, and sell what they are not going to keep. Becoming a member requires patience. Many of the highly sought-after wineries only sell their wines to members, however the waiting list can be exhaustive. Being a member of these wineries is also a benefit. Although it is a financial commitment, it is usually less than purchasing from the grey market or a private collector. This is a value and a benefit to those with a serious wine program or collection.
Trying to identify the next cult wine before it becomes a cult wine is an exciting way to obtain many of these gems. Imagine the position you would be in if you were buying Harlan and cellaring it before all the reviews and press forced the prices into the stratosphere! Wines that are in the cult category come from the best vineyard sites with incredibly skilled winemakers. With that being said, look for the wines from vintages that were not as highly rated. This provides an opportunity to showcase the talent of a vineyard manager and a skilled winemaker to coax out the best qualities during a challenging year and bad press. Another way to purchase wines at a perceived value is to look for an older vintage, especially if the winery has just come onto the market. While this is not a guarantee, it may be worth a look.
In Bordeaux, the concept of a “second wine” was born. It began as a way to utilize wines from a particularly devastating vintage, excess wine, or if there were issues with some of the vineyards. These second wines are a way to experience the grandeur of a first growth, minus the hefty price tag. This practice has firmly taken root globally, and in Napa, second wines offer a way to maximize value. For example, a bottle of 2008 Screaming Eagle on Wine.com has a price tag of $2,499, but “Second Flight” is a mere $599. Value does not equate inexpensive, but comparatively speaking, second wines can be in the realm of reasonably priced.
A second wine typically comes from younger vineyards that have not reached their peak, or from vineyards that did not meet the standards for the cult wine. While coming in second may not sound like a success, many of the second wines of cult wineries give you access to a wine that, even as a second wine, is still truly exceptional. Often these wines are a different varietal, vineyard source, oak regime, or even a blend of vintages, and winemakers experiment with either a different blend or varietal. This is a way for the winery to see how the wines are received and to recoup on an investment.
To drink a wine that is considered to be a cult wine could be likened to crossing off an item on a bucket list. The experience of sipping Anne Colgins IX Syrah or tasting the magic behind Austin Peterson’s OVID transcends merely enjoying a glass of red wine. Cult wines illicit intense discussion as well a quiet reflection on all that goes into these wines. While there is an expense to these wines, it is an opportunity to partake in the truly exquisite.
