WTN: A $55,300 red and two great whites

[Jenise]

2014 Inama Soave
I usually buy a bottle of this every year just for affordable summer variety, but year to year the wine isn't very consistent. Some have been electric bright yellow and overextracted, some pale, overly-acidic and too lean of fruit. But some years nail it, and the '14 is one: lovely fruit, balanced, you can really taste the garganega. Delightful.

2014 Elk Cove Pinot Gris, Oregon
This old time producer hasn't shown well for me in recent years, but they hit it out of the park with this pinot gris. It's the real deal--slightly pink-gray in color, brimming with delicate fruit, perfectly balanced. It's a joy to drink a bottle like this that reminds you of what PG is supposed to be.

2007 Napa Valley Reserve Red
So my neighbor called and said grab two big glasses and meet us at the fence, "you gotta try this." That always means my neighbor has some big new Cal Cab to share. A gift to him from a friend from a super wealthy friend, this bottle is from, if I understood correctly, a private club called Napa Valley Reserve. Some kind of joint venture by Harlan and the Screaming Eagle people, this private club costs $50,000 to join and $5,000 per year thereafter to maintain your membership. And on top of that, you pay for the wine but the cost of that wasn't disclosed by the guy who gifted it. We were thinking $300 minimum, hence the price in my Subject line--that's what it would cost you to buy your first bottle. The wine is made by Heidi Barrett and sports Harlan's lady statue on the front label. This one showed it's ripe year origins and seemed fully mature--the color was garnet, fading at the rim, and was throwing sediment. It was very good but just that, certainly not up to the standard for concentration and depth set by the few other Harlans I've had. I appreciated being given the chance to try such a thing, but wow, what a ridiculous amount of money to spend just to prove you have more money than you know what to do with.

The '45 Mouton can be had for a mere $15k . . . .

It IS a very pretty building and a very pretty property.

I also have friends that belong to that club - rich friends who spend money on things I wouldn't, but then many of our friends wouldn't understand us paying more than $20 for a bottle....!

Thanks for the note on the 14 Inama - we are finishing up the 2012 up here so I'll keep an eye out. How much is it there? $26 here.

[David M. Bueker]

You can buy a lot of Harlan on the open market for that much money.

[Jenise]

I also have friends that belong to that club - rich friends who spend money on things I wouldn't, but then many of our friends wouldn't understand us paying more than $20 for a bottle....!

Thanks for the note on the 14 Inama - we are finishing up the 2012 up here so I'll keep an eye out. How much is it there? $26 here.

Re the Inama: I either paid $13 or $15, can't recall which. Maybe the sign said "regular price $15, sale $13". Price would go down 10% with purchase of four or more. Bargain!

Re that Napa Red, no wine's worth that. What surprised me is that this one didn't even strike me as trying to be exceptionally above average. It's truly just about bragging rights. Oh, and I guess you get a little paper neck tag with your name on it. Have any of your friends shared one with you?

Oh! you get to see the grapes growing that will make your wine. To the locals this group of affluent people is known as the FABULOUS PIGEON SOCIETY. Hey money was made to spend and make somebody happy which this venture surely does.