Paging Wine+Art, Board-O, or other winos --

A 1955 G-L is offered by a reputable seller. Fill is slightly below mid-shoulder. It would be a birth-year gift for a wine-loving friend, so it needs to be good, not just drinkable. Would you buy it? TIA.

1955 was a truly great year and every wine I've had from that vintage was excellent, though I finished all my 1955s over a decade ago. It's a gamble, but Gruaud Larose can be particularly long-lived. If possible, check the bottle carefully and hold it up to the light. Sediment is fine, but you want some degree of opacity remaining.

How much will that bottle cost you? How does the label look? Do you know how (or where) this bottle has been stored?

I still have two 1955 Bordeaux wines in my cellar, one with a normal fill and the other with mid shoulder. Both wines still appear to be alive when viewed through the neck by holding up to a bright light. I'll probably open these bottles in 2010 without much expectation.

Bottom line, depending on price, I would probably take a chance. As Board-O said, not only was 1955 an excellent Bordeaux vintage, but Gruaud Larose makes wines for the long term. Also, a mature Bordeaux wine is a special experience, and Gruaud Larose is a 2nd Growth and has a realistic chance of still being good.

The 1962 was great from magnum about 6 years ago.

Javachip, not too much to add to the sage advice already offered.

Provenance will be King here, and I assume you enjoy aged Bordeaux.

I had both the '47 & '62 Gruaud Larose last week, and the '20 in Tampa earlier this year. ALL were fine examples of properly aged Bordeaux.

Let us know what you do Java, and good luck!

w+a, what were your impressions of the 1962? I've had that wine maybe 35 times and it's one of my all-time favorites.

Thank you all for the comments. Alas, (or perhaps fortunately) the bidding on WC for this bottle has already exceeded $100, which is the max I was willing to pay due to the low fill level. So someone else can take a gamble with this one.

Java, it could very well be tiring, but it could also be a stunning bottle of wine. I'd consider getting some of your local winos to chip in for it and share it at a dinner.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
w+a, what were your impressions of the 1962? I've had that wine maybe 35 times and it's one of my all-time favorites.

35, is that all?? I've had it at least 47 times, maybe 53.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
w+a, what were your impressions of the 1962? I've had that wine maybe 35 times and it's one of my all-time favorites.

Thirty five times... based on my last bottle, I'm envious!

Board-O, first let me say, I think '62 got lost in all the '61 hype. I have enjoyed many from '62, and the Gruaud Larose I last enjoyed was a special bottle to drink now.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Java, it could very well be tiring, but it could also be a stunning bottle of wine. I'd consider getting some of your local winos to chip in for it and share it at a dinner.

Completely agree.

I/we often will split the cost of a special old bottle with 2/3 other friends to enjoy.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Board-O, first let me say, I think '62 got lost in all the '61 hype. I have enjoyed many from '62, and the Gruaud Larose I last enjoyed was a special bottle to drink now.

Two 1962s I enjoyed more than the 1961s-
Gruaud Larose
Lynch-Bages