We Risked $1,700 to Answer: Is Expensive Wine Worth It?

We Risked $1,700 to Answer: Is Expensive Wine Worth It?

Author: SESSION in PROGRESS March 4, 2026 Duration: 18:48

We risked $1,700 worth of wine to answer one question: is expensive wine worth it?


In this episode of Got Somme, Angus O’Loughlin and Master Somm Carlos Santos open two Grand Cru Burgundies (around $800 a bottle) and taste them side by side.

No posturing, no wine snobbery, just an honest test of what you’re paying for when the label gets serious.

We talk:

- What “Grand Cru” actually means in Burgundy

- Why producers matter as much as terroir

- The difference between a great $30 bottle and an $800 bottle

- Whether expensive wine is “worth it” or just status

- How to find underrated regions that deliver insane value


BIG thanks to The French Wine Centre for providing the bottles 🙏🏼

https://frenchwinecentre.com/

Check out their AMAZING mixed 6 of French Reds for $250

https://frenchwinecentre.com/collections/packs/products/issue-02-mixed-3-the-reds

If you’ve ever wondered whether luxury wine is genuinely better, this is the episode.

Comment your next episode idea:

Do we go cheaper and find the best $20 bottle?

Or do we keep climbing and chase the next Burgundy benchmark?


Subscribe for more blind tastings, wine stories, and the unfiltered truth about what’s in the glass.

Chapters

00:00 We’re risking $1,700 on wine

00:24 The most expensive bottles we’ve had

01:18 What we’re drinking: Echezeaux + Clos de la Roche

03:17 How we got the bottles (French Wine Center)

04:22 Why Burgundy prices get insane

06:55 First smell: “This is incredible”

09:20 First sip and the tannin moment

12:33 Why you rarely drink Grand Cru

13:00 Switching to Clos de la Roche

14:54 The big question: is expensive wine worth it?

17:06 The real answer: story, value, perspective

18:14 What should we taste next?


Ever felt a bit lost staring at a wine list or wondering what you're actually tasting in your glass? Got Somme is here to help, without any of the pretence. This isn't a stuffy lecture; it's a conversation between Master Sommelier Carlos Santos and his mate, radio announcer Angus O'Loughlin, who's keen to learn but starting from scratch. Each episode, Carlos guides Angus-and by extension, all of us-through the fundamentals, breaking down everything from grape varieties and regional styles to understanding why a wine tastes the way it does. The real magic happens when they're joined by some of the world's most respected winemakers, who share the stories and craft behind their bottles. You'll hear Carlos explain how to pick a good wine from a bad one, demystifying terms like tannin and terroir along the way. It's an accessible, often funny journey into wine, perfect for anyone who enjoys a glass but wants to understand the world behind it. Produced by SESSION in PROGRESS, this podcast turns curiosity into genuine knowledge, one bottle at a time.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

Got Somme : Master Sommelier's Wine Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Sorrenberg  vs The Rest | 12 Aussie Gamays Blind Tasted [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
The Wine That Changed My Life: Blind Tasting 12 Australian Gamays What happens when you put Australia’s best Gamay producers head-to-head in a blind tasting? In this episode, host Angus O’Loughlin and Master Sommelier Ca…
Wine from Kazakstan "Very Nice" | Listener brings in CRAZY wine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:48
"Wa wa wee wa" In this episode of Got Somme, our hosts take you on a journey through two fascinating and lesser-known wine regions: Kazakhstan and Georgia. Featuring a listener’s selection of bottles, we explore the unex…
78% of people didn't know Syrah is Shiraz | Rhone Valley Masterclass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:51
Discover how one grape tells two stories. Rhône Valley Syrah meets Heathcote Shiraz in a tasting that uncorks terroir, trends, and label politics. Syrah and Shiraz share identical genetics yet walk very different cultura…
"What the f***" | Master Sommeliers take on Natural Wine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:46
"Natural wine" words strong enough to make a Somms knees weak. The low-intervention style that's gaining traction across wine bars, bottle shops, and dinner tables globally. Whether you’re a seasoned sommelier or a curio…
2 Champagnes that BEAT Veuve & Moët for the SAME Price [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:26
In this episode of Got Somme, hosts Angus O’Loughlin and Carlos Santos dive into the world of champagne, putting the spotlight on two iconic but often overlooked labels: Piper Heidsieck and Bollinger. From sustainability…
Napa Valley | Master Sommeliers Top Wines from California [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:55
In this episode of Got Somme, we journey through the rolling hills of Napa Valley to explore the world of Diamond Creek wines. Your hosts Angus and Carlos uncork the history and flavour profile of aged Cabernet Sauvignon…
Unveiling the 2023 Vintage: Standish Wine Company [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:15
In this episode, we dive into the highly anticipated 2023 vintage of The Standish Wine Company's four Shiraz from the iconic Barossa Valley. Through a blind tasting of each unique wines, Angus and Master Sommelier Carlos…