“Without the snootiness, no wine should exceed $20 a bottle. The costs of production, and taxes, storage/aging, bottling and transport are just not high enough to warrant a higher price.”
Eh, not so much. I agree anything over $100 or so is usually too much, but there are plenty of wines (of limited supply) and high quality that simply have no comparison in the sub $50 market.
There’s an enormous difference in taste/quality among wines.
My point is that there is not an enormous difference in the cost of production of those wines.
Yes, anyone can tell the difference in TASTE of an $75 bottle when compared to a $15 bottle.
But the cost of production is not $60 different. Probably closer to $5.
20 months in white oak might cost $10...max. Total, space, barrel...temp control...everything.