Scarecrow wine is known for its exceptional quality and limited availability, which contributes to its high price point. There are several factors that make Scarecrow wine expensive:
1. Vineyard and Terroir: Scarecrow is produced from grapes grown in the highly regarded Rutherford AVA in Napa Valley, California. The region is known for its ideal climate, soil composition, and topography, which create a unique terroir that contributes to the exceptional quality of the grapes. The vineyard itself is meticulously maintained and managed to ensure the highest quality fruit.
2. Low Yield and Small Production: Scarecrow has a low yield per acre, meaning fewer grapes are harvested compared to other vineyards. This low yield ensures that the vines can fully concentrate their energy into producing high-quality grapes. Additionally, Scarecrow has a small production volume, with only a limited number of bottles produced each year. This scarcity drives up demand and ultimately increases the price.
3. Barrel Aging: The barrel aging process for Scarecrow is extensive and adds to the cost of production. The wine is aged in 90% new, French oak barrels for 12 months, which imparts complex flavors and aromas to the wine. After this initial aging period, the wine is returned to tanks for blending and then aged for an additional 10 months in barrel. The use of high-quality oak barrels and the extended aging process contribute to the wine's depth and complexity but also adds to the cost.
4. Handcrafted Production: Scarecrow wine is meticulously crafted with great attention to detail. The grapes are handpicked and sorted to ensure only the best fruit is used. The winemaking process involves careful monitoring and precise techniques to extract the optimal flavors and tannins from the grapes. This hands-on approach requires a significant amount of labor and expertise, which adds to the overall cost of production.
5. Reputation and Demand: Scarecrow has built a strong reputation for producing exceptional wines over the years. It has received high ratings from critics and has become highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts. The combination of limited production and high demand creates an imbalance in supply and demand, driving up the price of the wine.
6. Aging Potential: Scarecrow wines are known for their aging potential, meaning they can improve and develop additional complexity with proper cellaring. This adds value to the wine as collectors and enthusiasts are willing to pay a premium for wines that can be enjoyed for many years to come.
The high price of Scarecrow wine can be attributed to factors such as the vineyard's quality and terroir, low yield and small production, extensive barrel aging, handcrafted production methods, reputation and demand, and the wine's aging potential. All of these factors contribute to the exceptional quality and limited availability of Scarecrow wine, making it a highly sought-after and expensive wine.