Cult wine may not be a clear-cut definition, but certain wines achieve the status through a combination of global demand, low availability and targeted marketing, says Peter Keller, a wine academic, in an essay for finews.asia. Here are his ten favorites.
Wine lovers frequently use the expression «cult wine», for which there is no exact definition. For sure, such wines automatically will lay claim to be of unquestioned superior quality.
But what if the coveted bottle doesn’t please you? It can happen because the taste is and will always be something personal.
Taken With a Pinch of Salt
A wine becomes cult when wine lovers across the globe crave to get their hands on a bottle. Typically, the supply is strictly limited, which helps push prices to absurd levels. Add to that a touch of canny PR and the cult takes off. This is not in any way objectionable but requires a cautionary approach in some of the cases.
Which cult wine should you have tasted once in your lifetime? Here are my ten personal favorites. The famous wines of the Bordeaux region don’t feature in this list, because they will be the subject of my next feature story.
1. Pinot Noir, Daniel and Martha Gantenbein, Flaesch, Switzerland
A deserved touch of patriotism. The produce of the most famous winemaker of Switzerland is by allotment only. The Pinot Noir is fabulous and approaching the 100-franc-threshold.
2. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château Rayas, France
An untypical cult wine in as much as there is no PR or marketing effort made. The winery doesn't open for visits. But the Châteauneuf-du-Pape from 100 percent Grenache grapes outshines everything else and caresses your soul. Prices start at 500 francs a bottle.
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