Here are the results from the 6th experiment. These experiments involve comparing the dozen or so less than ageworthy wines found last year in my Father-in-Laws basement. I've been opening them over the last 12 months and drinking them side by side with comparable newer bottlings. All of the bottles should be over the hill using conventional wisdom.

The 5th experiment and a summary of the 4 experiments before that can be viewed at this link:

http://web8.winespectator.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001982

The 6th experiment involved white bordeaux. Cheap white bordeaux. The 2 wines which we drank side by side were:

1983 Moueix & Fils White Bordeaux
2000 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Reserve Special White Bordeaux $11

They were poured blind and served side by side. The color of the 1983 had more of a yellow rather than pale tinge to it but the color difference was not nearly as noticeable as the previous whites we drank. On the nose the 1983 a slight moldy aroma. The 2000 had little aroma to speak of. I did not like either wine although the 2000 was superior. The 2000 contained more fruit and was crisper. The 1983 appeared leathery and woody with a hint of a carmel undertone (the carmel seems to be a recurring theme in many of the older whites). It had a creamy texture and the finish was somewhat stale.

The difference in the 2 wines was not nearly as great as the sparkling wines in experiment #5 or the Sauvignon Blanc from experiment #2. It was more along the lines of the difference in the Gewurztraminer or Chardonnay in experiments #3 and 4. More subtle than in your face.

VM

[ 10-02-2002, 10:58 AM: Message edited by: Vino Me ]

Great post.

What about your father? As I recall, he tends to prefer the older wines.

Rothko,

I can always count on you to discuss my experiments with me. Perhaps if you're in Chicago sometime we will hold a special experiment in your honor. How does a 15 year old white zin sound?

It is my father-in-law but you are correct. This time he correctly identified the older wine. As usual he preferred the taste of the 1983. I'm beginning to think his preference is phsycological and attributed to his liking things closer to his own age of 80. Only my sister-in-law was unable to correctly guess which wine was older.

VM

Vino Me....tell me more about your in-law's cellar. Is it below ground? Is it cool and dank? Did it contribute to the demise or longevity of the sleeping bottles? I'm curious because I have a passive cellar with plenty of sleeping reds.

Yes, Vino Me, I've always enjoyed reading about these experiments.

As for the 15 year old white zin, I just can't say that I am as brave/daring/foolhardy as your and your esteemed in-laws to try such rare and exotic vintages.

I still think you need to keep the Poison Control number handy when you taste these.

PS: So what's the next one?

Rothko- As for the next one, I would very much like to try one of the older (and promising) reds he has. Probably the 1969 Sogrape Duque du Viseu. A heavily sedimented Spanish wine. I was told that 1969 was an excellent year in Spain. I know this wine is still made because WS reveiwed it a year or 2 ago. I am trying to track down a newer botlle of the same exact wine for a perfect comparison.

Olateone- He doesn't have a wine cellar, just your normal Chicago basement. Completely below ground with some window wells. It is finished but unused. The temperature ranges from 58 to 65. I'm positive that these wines would have been in much worse condition if stored at normal room temperature (except for the Sparkling Wine in experiment #5 which could not have been worse). I'm not sure if a constant 55 degrees would have done much better for these wines. That test will come when I open a 1975 Brunello I found. The Brunello would probably still be a tasty wine if stored at 55.

VM

VM-

I find your discussions interesting on a strictly pseudoscientific basis given the large time difference and the presupposition that the older wines have died and been resurrected.

Can't wait till you tinker with the bigger red boys

Does F-I-L have any recently made wines he likes?


DrT

VM-

You are a smart shopper v/v other threads


DrT

[ 07-03-2002, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: dr.tannin aka x-man ]

VM,
Sogrape is Portugal, by all means (you know, always trying to keep Spain's name clean of a likely disastrous responsibility... )

Gastro- Thanks. Guess I didn't look at the lable closely enough.

Dr.T- Left to his own devices, my Father-in-law buys gallon jugs of Gallo and has a glass with dinner every night. I have brought nice bottles to his house just about every time my wife cooks for him and he enjoys them. He just doesn't understand how I can spend more than $10 on a bottle of wine. To his palate there is not an appreciable difference between his jugs and my bottles which would warrant the price. I firmly believe though that if I found a 10 year old gallon jug of Gallo, he would prefer it to the new jug.

VM

Your father-in-law sounds like almost every relative with whom I drink wine. They prefer the better wines, and can recognize them, but cannot see the point in spending what we do (which is still nowhere near what many here spend) for something they cannot see as being so very different from the usual cheap plonk. Sometimes I envy them, especially when I get my monthly Visa bill!

Keep the Experiment threads coming VM, they really are fascinating.

Bumped in anticipation of Experiment #7.

VM