Fine Wine to Peak in 10 Years

Okay so I'm a pretty avid wine drinker but no expert by any means. Was curious to those out there that can help me pick something kind of cool.

My brother is getting married next week and there's nothing really I want to get him from his registry as it's all the same old stuff that everyone get's and eventually tosses in some drawer never to be seen or have any real story to it.

So I'm thinking of getting them a nice bottle of wine that peaks in 10 years so they can share it for their 10 year anniversary. Any ideas?!

 

For starters, what do they like?

 

That, for sure is an excellent and important question.

Another might be: Are they going to store said bottle under the appropriate conditions for the next 10 years, or will they just stick it in a cabinet or on top of the 'fridge & have to choke down a bottle of vinegar on their anniversary?

 

Ahhh... very good questions... I can keep it for them in my wine cellar or give them the right conditions to store. I think a nice Cabernet Sauvignon

 

More than $30
http://www.winespectator.com/dailypicks/category/catid/3
Examine grapes other than Cabernet Sauvignon, as they've got higher odds of being powerhouses, and living to tell about it. No Cab headache, either.

What to expect in summaries;

More than $20
http://www.winespectator.com/dailypicks/category/catid/2
SVOLTACARROZZE DI MEONI SEBASTIANA Sangiovese Grosso-Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana 2004 (89 points, $20)
Fresh and lively, delivering black cherry, plum, tobacco and spice aromas and flavors on a firm, muscular frame. Still feels youthful, with the finish showing both fruit and grip. It's spritzy though. Best from 2013 through 2024. 5,000 cases made. —Bruce Sanderson

You just won't find anything running through through 2021 in Under-$15 Category. < Stated as I've got hundreds listed.

Got a smartphone? Get the **Wine Spectator* Vintage Chart* app - free. Breaks it down by Region > Year > Points > Hold > Summary

 

Yes, questions!

- Your budget
- What they like (red/white, grape varietal, country, region, etc.)
- Their storage conditions

Since it is a wedding gift a significant (expensive) bottle would be appropriate, yes?

You can not go wrong with a nice Napa Valley Cab or Cab Blend. And most will peak in your desired 10 yr window.

Some of my current fav'sI don't drink these regularly, but heck this is a wedding gift for your Bro)
- Cain Five
- Juslyn
- Heitz Martha's Vineyard
- Peter Michael
- Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer
- Staglin
- Hundred Acre
- Phelps Insignia
- The ever 'over'-popular Silver Oak

-Billy

 

Good suggestions and I've had many of those on my pallet. I figure $100-200 is the price range I'm looking. And he'll have strict instructions on how to store and make sure it's quite ready for him in 10 years. I'll offer to keep it in my cellar too as an option.

Any other thoughts??

 

Ah, you're a wino. I mean that in a good way.

How about this angle; what is their favorite meal?

 

What is the year of his birth? if its a good year, buy one from his birth year, cellar it...it can be the start of a tradition - Wine at first birth etc... ( pipe of port - traditional for new born )

I'm a burgandy fan - chambertin clos de Bez - should be around $150 -$200 depending on the vintage. or you could go with a Barolo... to keep the Ferrari theme

 

They enjoy some nice pasta for sure... Their engagement dinner is at a nice Italian restaurant so I think that themes well

 

This is a fantastic idea! I think they are born in two different years so don't want to offend anyone... BUT I'll be purchasing a 2010 and 2011 or some sort for my two new borns and give it them when they are 21!

 

Nothing like a big Bordeaux to make a splash. 2009 was a stellar vintage and ought to be in it's prime for their tenth.

I just looked up the price of an '09 Chateau Lafite Rothchild. Hummina, hummina, hummina....Oh my! It might put a kid through college in ten years.

 

Celebration is about CHAMPAGNE!!!...get a nice bottle of "Vintage" champagne...get a blanc de blanc Grand Cru in a MAGNUM.....you can thank me later.......Mark

 

I have a bottle of 1921 Laffite you can have... $ offer north of 10k?

 

Problem is with Champers... they dont really age that well. Vintage Champers is alreay aged before bottling and then aged in bottle before put on the market.

I've had really old champagne - 1918 & 1907, Both Bollinger and it was ok but no effervecense and was a mildly flat white chardonnay ...

 

Hello Tom; Sounds like you enjoy both drinking & collecting. I enter to guess might be some old Chateau d Yquem in your cellar. I'm not talking Champagne so old you have to carbon date the label...1996 was a great year for champagne....in 10 years...2021...should be Excellent......Mark

 

Guilty on both accounts. I have some Yquem lurking around. My treasure is 67 - my birth year - its like going into a secret cave when look at the bottle. I'm drinking it when I'm 50... so 6 more years!

I hear you on Champers... and I agree that 96 is a great year, I just think for the money & experience its better to do Red / sautern wine for special occaisions where you are going to store the bottle for a while. With Champage its alwyas a let down when you go to open the bottle and instead of the "burp" you hear nothing! or maybe a light hiss... but if you are going to hold some Champers - Pol Roger Winston Churchill grand cuvee, or Krug Clos du Mensil or Deutz Grand Cuvee would be my favs... if you want lable appeal, do Dom Perignon rose or the rare sec.

 

You might consider a nice Cab from Del Dotto in Napa Valley. We have visited there several times and they have some amazing wines. Most of them will fall within your price range and I have not had a Cab or a Cab blend from there that I did not like. It might be worth checking out.

 

Is that a super tuscan?

 

Most don't last on the shelf ........... no fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

couple of nice ones from my last trip..
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Nice - I see that it was recorked in the 50's... have you had it conserved lately?

I had my Laffitte recorked and sealed in Wax about 5 years ago. its pretty cool how they do it, in an air tight nitrogen filled box... kind of like you see them using with plutonium... that way you dont have to tierage.

I have the Original cork - it was pretty shriviled in the middle but the top and bottom were still in contact with the bottle sides... and the PH was still within ragnge so the Sothebys folks think its very drinkable... we'll find out in 6 more years.

 

yes, it came out of one of the biggest private collections in the world..just one of many rooms, but the REALLY RARE stuff is on the left!
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Pop em open!

Very cool shot on the 1900 Lafite. Nice patina on the label. When do you plan to drink it?

OP - If you stay with California wines, find a great hillside producer - Spring mountain, mt veeder, diamond mtn, Howell Mountain AVAs and it will be drinking beautifully in 10 years plus. if you want a recent vintage, you'll see 2006 will be around for a long time and the best value given the downtick, and 2007 is also a great candidate but likely a bit of a premium. 1.5L always preferred if you're talking minimum aging of a decade or more. It's worth it.

Salmon-billecart for bubbles. And don't overlook 1998 for vintage champs (tat blanc de blanc).

Very cool gift idea! Enjoy the research!

 

Nice collection!!! so when are we drinking???