We drink relatively simple wines at home; usually we select something that pairs well with whatever we are eating that evening. Rarely do we spend more than $15 on a bottle and, more often than not, the price of our libation runs around $10. I am constantly reminding people in the shop that there are countless numbers of great wines at great prices and it isn’t necessarily true that spending more gets you more.

Having said all of the above, I must acknowledge that I do get to taste a lot of very expensive wines in the course of my work. These wines are generally presented at wine trade shows and are, for the most part, far out of the range of my wallet. Not all of these expensive wines impress for the reality is that there are many overpriced products in the marketplace. And then there are wines that make you step back in a “Wow!” moment as you wonder how anyone could make grape juice taste that good. I am happy to report that in the now 11 years that I have been in the wine business I have had quite a few of these moments.

Recently I had cause to say “Wow!” for the second time over the wines made by a home winemaker who first shared samples of his wines with me almost 10 years ago. Kevin Neal and his wife Sharon have been members of the Boeing Winemakers’ Club in Seattle for almost two decades. This is a club that has spawned many fine professional winemakers who have left their careers at Boeing to pursue their wine ambitions and dreams. Kevin decided some years back to remain an amateur but his wines are absolutely professional in quality and surpass many high-end and expensive products in the market. I can still remember with vivid clarity the first Cabernet Sauvignon of Kevin’s that I tried in 2001; it was rich and velvety with notes and flavors of deep currant and blueberries. The oak was spicy but not overbearing and the finish was complex and long.

Two weeks ago Kevin and Sharon stopped by the store with a sample box of his most recent wines which also included a three year vertical (2005, 2006 and 2007 vintages) of his Cabernet Sauvignon. As I work my way through the different wines I am struck by Kevin’s artistry and the purity of his work. I don’t know what Kevin would have to price his wines at should he ever turn pro but I am guessing they would sell for far less than wines of similar quality. I am lucky to have such talented friends.