The main reason this particular vinegar costs so much is because it takes so long to make it. The best kinds take 12 to 25 years to age in different types of wooden barrels. The smaller the barrels the thicker the vinegar and the better the flavor, which means it takes the longest and costs the most because of the limited supplies. Of course, you can get inexpensive Pompeian balsamic vinegar for about $5 at the grocery store, but the good stuff is not that expensive. You can get Giuseppe Giusti Gran Deposito for about $40.