I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. I'm not
an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
while. I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
reddish purple color with no hint of brick. Nose of black currants
and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. Medium bodied on the palate,
well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. Plenty
of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
tannins. Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-

In article
>,
"Bi!!" > wrote:

> I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. I'm not
> an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> while. I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> reddish purple color with no hint of brick. Nose of black currants
> and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. Medium bodied on the palate,
> well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. Plenty
> of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> tannins. Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-

But at what QPR?

On Jul 10, 12:12�pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> In article
> >,
>
> �"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > � �I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. �I'm not
> > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > while. �I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > � � �The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. �Nose of black currants
> > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. �Medium bodied on the palate,
> > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. �Plenty
> > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > tannins. �Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
>
> But at what QPR?

I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. Now selling
for $200. If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. So, what is the
QPR?

In article
>,
"Bi!!" > wrote:

> On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> >
> > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. ?I'm not
> > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black currants
> > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the palate,
> > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. ?Plenty
> > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
> >
> > But at what QPR?
>
> I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. Now selling
> for $200. If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. So, what is the
> QPR?

Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.

On Jul 11, 4:05�pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> In article
> >,
>
>
>
>
>
> �"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > In article
> > > >,
>
> > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. ?I'm not
> > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black currants
> > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the palate,
> > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. ?Plenty
> > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
>
> > > But at what QPR?
>
> > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. �Now selling
> > for $200. �If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. �So, what is the
> > QPR?
>
> Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
looks at QPR as a factor. Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
bottle QPR kid of goes out the window. Nobody asks about the QPR of a
bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? Am I a fan of
Opus? No. Is it overpriced? Probably. But they sell out every year
and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
price versus quality or value.

In article
>,
"Bi!!" > wrote:

> On Jul 11, 4:05?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > >,
> >
> > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. ?I'm not
> > > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black currants
> > > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the palate,
> > > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. ?Plenty
> > > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
> >
> > > > But at what QPR?
> >
> > > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. ?Now selling
> > > for $200. ?If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. ?So, what is the
> > > QPR?
> >
> > Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
> looks at QPR as a factor. Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
> bottle QPR kid of goes out the window. Nobody asks about the QPR of a
> bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
> QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? Am I a fan of
> Opus? No. Is it overpriced? Probably. But they sell out every year
> and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
> price versus quality or value.

If Opus 1 were the quality level of a 3rd or 4th growth Bordeaux, I can
see it but at $200, I can buy 2nd and 3rd growths that are better. For
example, I have a recently purchased Leoville Las Cases 2004 for $139.
Much better buy to me. I collect Leoville so the cost, while extravagant
is OK by me. Sure beat my 2005 futures cost.

On Jul 11, 6:09�pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> In article
> >,
>
>
>
>
>
> �"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > On Jul 11, 4:05?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > In article
> > > >,
>
> > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > > In article
> > > > > >,
>
> > > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. ?I'm not
> > > > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > > > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > > > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > > > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black currants
> > > > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the palate,
> > > > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. ?Plenty
> > > > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > > > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
>
> > > > > But at what QPR?
>
> > > > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. ?Now selling
> > > > for $200. ?If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > > > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. ?So, what is the
> > > > QPR?
>
> > > Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
> > looks at QPR as a factor. �Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
> > bottle QPR kid of goes out the window. �Nobody asks about the QPR of a
> > bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
> > QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? �Am I a fan of
> > Opus? �No. �Is it overpriced? �Probably. �But they sell out every year
> > and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
> > price versus quality or value.
>
> If Opus 1 were the quality level of a 3rd or 4th growth Bordeaux, I can
> see it but at $200, I can buy 2nd and 3rd growths that are better. For
> example, I have a recently purchased Leoville Las Cases 2004 for $139.
> Much better buy to me. I collect Leoville so the cost, while extravagant
> is OK by me. Sure beat my 2005 futures cost.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I'm not sure that the classification system is all that valid these
days as there are over performers all over Bordeaux these days..as
well as a few under performers. Certainly Leoville Las Cases is a
perennial favorite of mine as is the Poyferre and who would guess that
Lynch Bages is a Fifth Growth. I found the 1998 Opus to be much
better than I anticipated regardless of how much it cost on realease,
purchase or now. I'm going to put in a blind line-up of my weekly
tasting group next week and see how it fares.

"Bi!!" > writes:

> On Jul 11, 4:05�pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > �"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > >,
> >
> > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. ?I'm not
> > > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black currants
> > > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the palate,
> > > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. ?Plenty
> > > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
> >
> > > > But at what QPR?
> >
> > > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. �Now selling
> > > for $200. �If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. �So, what is the
> > > QPR?
> >
> > Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
> looks at QPR as a factor. Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
> bottle QPR kid of goes out the window.

I don't think this holds for me. Though in my case (I do spend more
than $30 a bottle, but rarely), spending more than $40 is something I
do for things like vintage port or Sauternes which are wines difficult
to compare with other wines at a lower price.

A lot of my wine buying is things like German Riesling, and wines from
the Loire and the Rhone where I find there is quite a lot of wine that
is (for me) high QPR.

> Nobody asks about the QPR of a
> bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
> QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? Am I a fan of
> Opus? No. Is it overpriced? Probably. But they sell out every year
> and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
> price versus quality or value.

Well, _some_ of us do think about the QPR of classified Bordeaux, and
some of us don't buy it. I might like the QPR of the right bottle, but I know
too little and it would be expensive experimentation.

I certainly agree with you that the QPR of undrinkable plonk is zero,
and thus presumably lower than that of Opus One. So I don't spend
much money on undrinkable plonk, and when I do it is an accident.
(Though I do buy plenty of what I think of as semi-decent plonk!)
Similarly though, I don't spend much on Opus One, and since I can't
get _any_ without spending a lot, what I actually spend on Opus One
is zero.

On Jul 11, 7:20�pm, Doug Anderson >
wrote:
> "Bi!!" > writes:
> > On Jul 11, 4:05 pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > In article
> > > >,
>
> > > "Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > > In article
> > > > > >,
>
> > > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. ?I'm not
> > > > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > > > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > > > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > > > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black currants
> > > > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the palate,
> > > > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. ?Plenty
> > > > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > > > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
>
> > > > > But at what QPR?
>
> > > > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. Now selling
> > > > for $200. If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > > > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. So, what is the
> > > > QPR?
>
> > > Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
> > looks at QPR as a factor. �Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
> > bottle QPR kid of goes out the window.
>
> I don't think this holds for me. �Though in my case (I do spend more
> than $30 a bottle, but rarely), spending more than $40 is something I
> do for things like vintage port or Sauternes which are wines difficult
> to compare with other wines at a lower price.
>
> A lot of my wine buying is things like German Riesling, and wines from
> the Loire and the Rhone where I find there is quite a lot of wine that
> is (for me) high QPR.
>
> > Nobody asks about the QPR of a
> > bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
> > QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? �Am I a fan of
> > Opus? �No. �Is it overpriced? �Probably. �But they sell out every year
> > and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
> > price versus quality or value.
>
> Well, _some_ of us do think about the QPR of classified Bordeaux, and
> some of us don't buy it. �I might like the QPR of the right bottle, but I know
> too little and it would be expensive experimentation.
>
> I certainly agree with you that the QPR of undrinkable plonk is zero,
> and thus presumably lower than that of Opus One. �So I don't spend
> much money on undrinkable plonk, and when I do it is an accident.
> (Though I do buy plenty of what I think of as semi-decent plonk!)
> Similarly though, I don't spend much on Opus One, and since I can't
> get _any_ without spending a lot, �what I actually spend on Opus One
> is zero.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

But if you could buy it for say, $30 would you?

"Bi!!" > writes:

> On Jul 11, 7:20�pm, Doug Anderson >
> wrote:
> > "Bi!!" > writes:
> > > On Jul 11, 4:05 pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > >,
> >
> > > > "Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > > > In article
> > > > > > >,
> >
> > > > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn. ?I'm not
> > > > > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had for a
> > > > > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups so I
> > > > > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a dark
> > > > > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black currants
> > > > > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the palate,
> > > > > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit. ?Plenty
> > > > > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well resolved
> > > > > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected. B+/A-
> >
> > > > > > But at what QPR?
> >
> > > > > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. Now selling
> > > > > for $200. If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > > > > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. So, what is the
> > > > > QPR?
> >
> > > > Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > > > - Show quoted text -
> >
> > > I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
> > > looks at QPR as a factor. �Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
> > > bottle QPR kid of goes out the window.
> >
> > I don't think this holds for me. �Though in my case (I do spend more
> > than $30 a bottle, but rarely), spending more than $40 is something I
> > do for things like vintage port or Sauternes which are wines difficult
> > to compare with other wines at a lower price.
> >
> > A lot of my wine buying is things like German Riesling, and wines from
> > the Loire and the Rhone where I find there is quite a lot of wine that
> > is (for me) high QPR.
> >
> > > Nobody asks about the QPR of a
> > > bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
> > > QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? �Am I a fan of
> > > Opus? �No. �Is it overpriced? �Probably. �But they sell out every year
> > > and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
> > > price versus quality or value.
> >
> > Well, _some_ of us do think about the QPR of classified Bordeaux, and
> > some of us don't buy it. �I might like the QPR of the right bottle, but I know
> > too little and it would be expensive experimentation.
> >
> > I certainly agree with you that the QPR of undrinkable plonk is zero,
> > and thus presumably lower than that of Opus One. �So I don't spend
> > much money on undrinkable plonk, and when I do it is an accident.
> > (Though I do buy plenty of what I think of as semi-decent plonk!)
> > Similarly though, I don't spend much on Opus One, and since I can't
> > get _any_ without spending a lot, �what I actually spend on Opus One
> > is zero.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> But if you could buy it for say, $30 would you?

Given its reputation, I'd certainly buy it for that price at least
once. Whether I'd do it more than once of course would depend on my
impression on drinking it.

In article
>,
"Bi!!" > wrote:

> On Jul 11, 7:20?pm, Doug Anderson >
> wrote:
> > "Bi!!" > writes:
> > > On Jul 11, 4:05 pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > >,
> >
> > > > "Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > > > In article
> > > > > > >,
> >
> > > > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn.
> > > > > > > ?I'm not
> > > > > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had
> > > > > > > for a
> > > > > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups
> > > > > > > so I
> > > > > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a
> > > > > > > dark
> > > > > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black
> > > > > > > currants
> > > > > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the
> > > > > > > palate,
> > > > > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit.
> > > > > > > ?Plenty
> > > > > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well
> > > > > > > resolved
> > > > > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected.
> > > > > > > B+/A-
> >
> > > > > > But at what QPR?
> >
> > > > > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. Now selling
> > > > > for $200. If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > > > > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. So, what is the
> > > > > QPR?
> >
> > > > Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > > > - Show quoted text -
> >
> > > I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
> > > looks at QPR as a factor. ?Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
> > > bottle QPR kid of goes out the window.
> >
> > I don't think this holds for me. ?Though in my case (I do spend more
> > than $30 a bottle, but rarely), spending more than $40 is something I
> > do for things like vintage port or Sauternes which are wines difficult
> > to compare with other wines at a lower price.
> >
> > A lot of my wine buying is things like German Riesling, and wines from
> > the Loire and the Rhone where I find there is quite a lot of wine that
> > is (for me) high QPR.
> >
> > > Nobody asks about the QPR of a
> > > bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
> > > QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? ?Am I a fan of
> > > Opus? ?No. ?Is it overpriced? ?Probably. ?But they sell out every year
> > > and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
> > > price versus quality or value.
> >
> > Well, _some_ of us do think about the QPR of classified Bordeaux, and
> > some of us don't buy it. ?I might like the QPR of the right bottle, but I
> > know
> > too little and it would be expensive experimentation.
> >
> > I certainly agree with you that the QPR of undrinkable plonk is zero,
> > and thus presumably lower than that of Opus One. ?So I don't spend
> > much money on undrinkable plonk, and when I do it is an accident.
> > (Though I do buy plenty of what I think of as semi-decent plonk!)
> > Similarly though, I don't spend much on Opus One, and since I can't
> > get _any_ without spending a lot, ?what I actually spend on Opus One
> > is zero.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> But if you could buy it for say, $30 would you?

Then, maybe though it is not my favorite California Meritage.

In article
>,
"Bi!!" > wrote:

> On Jul 11, 6:09?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > On Jul 11, 4:05?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > In article
> > > > >,
> >
> > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > > > In article
> > > > > > >,
> >
> > > > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn.
> > > > > > > ?I'm not
> > > > > > > an Opus fan but I have a few cases in the cellar that I've had
> > > > > > > for a
> > > > > > > while. ?I had this wine recently when already well into my cups
> > > > > > > so I
> > > > > > > opened a bottle on it's own to see how it fared.
> > > > > > > ? ? ?The wine was still quite youthful in the glass showing a
> > > > > > > dark
> > > > > > > reddish purple color with no hint of brick. ?Nose of black
> > > > > > > currants
> > > > > > > and cassis with lots of sweet fruit. ?Medium bodied on the
> > > > > > > palate,
> > > > > > > well balanced with a nice acidity to balance the ripe fruit.
> > > > > > > ?Plenty
> > > > > > > of black cherry, blackberry, cassis a bit of vanilla and well
> > > > > > > resolved
> > > > > > > tannins. ?Overall the wine fared much better than I expected.
> > > > > > > B+/A-
> >
> > > > > > But at what QPR?
> >
> > > > > I paid about $100 at post off prices with case discount. ?Now selling
> > > > > for $200. ?If I sell one of the two cases that I bought, I would be
> > > > > drinking for free and still have $1200 in my pocket. ?So, what is the
> > > > > QPR?
> >
> > > > Good QPR from when you bought. Not so good now.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > > > - Show quoted text -
> >
> > > I'm not sure that when one buys a bottle of any "luxury" wine that one
> > > looks at QPR as a factor. ?Once you get above about $20-$30 dollars a
> > > bottle QPR kid of goes out the window. ?Nobody asks about the QPR of a
> > > bottle of classified Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy and what is the
> > > QPR of a bottle of absolute plonk even if it's free? ?Am I a fan of
> > > Opus? ?No. ?Is it overpriced? ?Probably. ?But they sell out every year
> > > and there is a certain cache to some wines that can't be explained by
> > > price versus quality or value.
> >
> > If Opus 1 were the quality level of a 3rd or 4th growth Bordeaux, I can
> > see it but at $200, I can buy 2nd and 3rd growths that are better. For
> > example, I have a recently purchased Leoville Las Cases 2004 for $139.
> > Much better buy to me. I collect Leoville so the cost, while extravagant
> > is OK by me. Sure beat my 2005 futures cost.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I'm not sure that the classification system is all that valid these
> days as there are over performers all over Bordeaux these days..as
> well as a few under performers. Certainly Leoville Las Cases is a
> perennial favorite of mine as is the Poyferre and who would guess that
> Lynch Bages is a Fifth Growth. I found the 1998 Opus to be much
> better than I anticipated regardless of how much it cost on release,
> purchase or now. I'm going to put in a blind line-up of my weekly
> tasting group next week and see how it fares.

I have had several vintages of Opus 1 up against vintages of similar
quality from Bordeaux and they just don't match up head to head well.
Certainly, Opus 1 is its own wine and has its own qualities. But as the
price has ratcheted up over time, its value has not held up.

On Jul 13, 9:23�am, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> In article
> >,
>
>
>
>
>
> �"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > On Jul 11, 6:09?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > In article
> > > >,
>
> > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > On Jul 11, 4:05?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > > In article
> > > > > >,
>
> > > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > > On Jul 10, 12:12?pm, Lawrence Leichtman > wrote:
> > > > > > > In article
> > > > > > > >,
>
> > > > > > > ?"Bi!!" > wrote:
> > > > > > > > ? ?I opened a bottle last night with grilled steaks and corn.