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.
Ah, but supply and demand.
I (”I” being my family) have a medium-sized vineyard (that I don’t run; it’s run by a well-known company from France) in Israel.
They have it down to the 1/4 dunham (I think a dunam is like a 1/4 acre) which grapes grow where and which are to be used for actual fine wines.
Not many of those special spots in a large vineyard.
So, yeah, the process is not the same. But the supply of the right grapes, grow right, in the right spots is scarce.
Added to the supply issue, is these finer grapes are harvested in a kosher manner (using only observant Jewish workers — typically yeshiva kids), which adds to the cost.
The product ends up being something the guy who owns the land isn’t willing to pay for! Ha.