Best red wines for long term and increased value

I don't like wine. My wife loves it.

I'm looking to suprise her with a few bottles of really good red wine that can be saved for years and have the potential to increase in value. I know she loves old vine wines from Europe and especially France. She kinda likes California wines at best. I'm open to all price ranges within reason.

 

I just had this and it was fantastic
Not sure if it keeps
Opus one
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Try Louis Jadot Givery Chambertin

Chateau Smith Laffite

Chateau Laffite Rothchild - Expensive

Ferrari- Carano Cab....

 

2005 Chateu Petrus

 

Not trying to be a smartypants, just this made me chuckle. I am a wine novice but one thing I have learned is that when it come to wine, within reason varies a lot.

 

True - Petrus is expensive to get into and with such small production - assuredly going to go up... the Chinese are now getting a taste for burgandy... guess I'm going to have to move down the rhone to CNP's...

 

Any of the Grand Crus would be likely to appreciate, but they're not inexpensive. In fact, due to the influx of Chinese buyers, the futures on this year's production has gone through the roof. Like a 600% increase in the case price (Chateaux like Lafitte Rothschild and Ausone are now $20K!). CRAZY. Worse, they're not aging it, and they're mixing it with soft drinks like Coke. Their money, so they can do as they wish, but it's a shame to see good wine being consumed as if it were a mixed drink.

Regardless, you can find MANY good wines for not that much. If you want specific recommendations, find a good wine shop locally and spend an hour with the owner or one of their sales employees. They can walk you through their inventory and would be able to order through their distributors, if they don't have it in stock.

Opus One is fine, but it's severely over-priced for what it is. I might recommend being a little adventurous and taking a chance on some of the "less famous" areas and varietals.

CW

 

My bad. Since i'm not a wine drinker. I've only ever had a few that were actually tolerable. I don't like the tannin(sp) flavor in wine. I've had a naked chard that was decent.

My price range is up to $500. AFter researching this I was a "little" surprised at how much good wines can cost.

 

My problem is that i live in the great state of PA. The only place to buy wine is at state owned liquor stores. Asking the employees is like asking my dogs what is a good choice. A waste of time.

 

Don't equate price to quality and longevity. Also, are you doing this as an investment in drinking or investment for your retirement? Very different things. There are a number of great drinking wines out there and you don't have that $500 budget would land you cases of wine vs one or two bottles.

I just drank a 1985 Fonseca port. I paid $30 when it was released and have stored it safely ever since. It was worth a bit more than what I paid, but I had more pleasure drinking it than I would have in selling it.

Find a GOOD wine shop. Talk with the folks. Tell them your goals along with your wife's tastes. Try some and calibrate your palette to theirs. Then the learning starts and it becomes fun!

 

OMG I found a treasure shop of alcohol. I actually go by there 1x week. http://www.wineaccess.com/store/totalwine-claymont/index.html
my wife and I walked in and were overwhelmed by the selection. 50K sq ft of wine, spirits and beer. She's taking some wine classes to become a better educated wino. I"ll see about getting in touch with the school where she is going to get some opinions. I know her favorite region is France.

 

Check out Quintessa !

 

I seriously recommend the Wine for Dummies book. Not the separate Red and White books, but the one that does both. Great place to start. I have several books on the subject and this one is the best for getting right to it for a novice in terms you can understand from the get-go.

Now when she wants to get really serious, there is an awesome reference book you can get her. The Oxford Companion to Wine[/] by Robinson. It is an encyclopedia for wine. I can't say enough about this book. This is my favorite wine book. They also have a North America focused book, but I'd suggest skipping that for now.

 

The best book I know of is - Windows on the World Wine Course by Kevin Zraly.
Andrea Immer was his assistant back in the 90's ... its an excellent book with simple easy to understand language, and is easy for a beginner to pick up "winespeak" and understand what all the wine ponces are talking about.

If you get to do one of his schools, its FANTASTIC. you really learn your pallet.

 

Christmas present #1

Christmas present #2

Currently she's going to the Philadelphia Wine School http://www.vinology.com/ She loves it.

 

It is interesting that wine is indeed a very good investment. I looked into this some time ago and the returns were about 20%. Now there are some factors, which come into play. Naturally it must be stored perfectly and very well documented. In addition, provenance is crucial. With those in mind, the return for select wines is close to a........sure thing!

 

Do not know about investment qualities, but had my first 100 point wine yesterday and was very pleased with it..2007 Verite..I still will stick with the usual Camus, Duckhorn and Cakebread as this one is a little pricey for every day consumption.
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Nice! My wife was a chemist at a winery before we met. That makes it impossible for me to try and buy her wine although I keep learning and trying