Our son was born in 2004 and we'd like to get some wines to keep for momentous occassions. Anyone have any suggestions?

Same with my son. 2004 was a superb year for Italian wines, and you also have the benefit of top Italian wines, particularly Barolo and Barbaresco, but also Brunello di Montalcino and some super Tuscans, having superb track records for long-term aging.

We bought a magnum of 2004 Fontodi Flaccianello (and had the owner sign it) so far, and I'll probably get a magnum or two of some Barolo which I like and has a great track record for aging once those hit the market -- probably Mascarello Monprivato. That would have no problem at all going 21, 25 or 30 years under good storage conditions.

If you don't like Italian wines, 2004 was a so-so year in Bordeaux, but the best bottles are supposed to be pretty tannic and long-aging. I considered getting a magnum of Leoville Las Cases, but my wife vetoed because she doesn't like Bordeaux.

Among domestic wines, the choices are fewer among those which seem likely to age well for that long. Ridge Monte Bello is probably the main one that comes to mind.

Happy shopping.

Invest in the truly sought after and equally priced Bruno Giacosa 2004 Barolos.

If you want to save a bit and still have a good wine to age I'd recommend the 2004 Giacomo Conterno, Cascina Francia.

quote:

Originally posted by E. Guido:
Invest in the truly sought after and equally priced Bruno Giacosa 2004 Barolos.

If you want to save a bit and still have a good wine to age I'd recommend the 2004 Giacomo Conterno, Cascina Francia.

Good advice. I'd even add the best Aldo Conternos to this list... I think those wines (based upon the '01s) deffinitely have the stuffing to go the long haul.

That said, my #1 choice would be Chave Hermitage.

If you want something from the US I highly recommend the 04 Bond Matriarch. This is a spectacular wine, especially for the money, that you can cellar and it definitely is a keeper.

I don't know if you need something that will go 21 years or if you just want to celebrate special occasions along the way but I would not bet against this wine making the long haul.

I don't know anything about Italian wine so I am sure the guys that do made great suggestions.

I'd like at least one to make it to his 18th birthday...
thanks for the suggestions

quote:

Originally posted by P Monty:

Among domestic wines, the choices are fewer among those which seem likely to age well for that long. Ridge Monte Bello is probably the main one that comes to mind.

I don't agree at all, I think 04 for napa cali cabs is a solid year for the big names and will definitely be keepers. It is a hugely ripe fruit, great concentration and structure for wine makers in napa. I'd bet the duckhorns', shafers, phelps, ZDs (I put my money where my mouth is on all of these, minus the phelps) would all drink wonderfully in 15-20 years.

oh and I agree with Sticky on the bond too

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:

quote:

Originally posted by P Monty:

Among domestic wines, the choices are fewer among those which seem likely to age well for that long. Ridge Monte Bello is probably the main one that comes to mind.

I don't agree at all, I think 04 for napa cali cabs is a solid year for the big names and will definitely be keepers. It is a hugely ripe fruit, great concentration and structure for wine makers in napa. I'd bet the duckhorns', shafers, phelps, ZDs (I put my money where my mouth is on all of these, minus the phelps) would all drink wonderfully in 15-20 years.

I guess it depends what you are looking for. But I strongly dissagree with this sentiment.

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:

I don't agree at all, I think 04 for napa cali cabs is a solid year for the big names and will definitely be keepers. It is a hugely ripe fruit, great concentration and structure for wine makers in napa. I'd bet the duckhorns', shafers, phelps, ZDs (I put my money where my mouth is on all of these, minus the phelps) would all drink wonderfully in 15-20 years.

I guess it depends what you are looking for. But I strongly dissagree with this sentiment.

considering I have a double mag, I would happily share in 20 years time =)

2004 you say!!

If you like Italians..then the previous recs will work nicely, but I find them an acquired taste. 2004 was a wonderful vintage in Spain...Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro. Plenty of options there..and wait until at least 2014 for the Vega Sicilia Unico and you'll probably have a wine your kid can enjoy at his/her retirement party!!

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:

I don't agree at all, I think 04 for napa cali cabs is a solid year for the big names and will definitely be keepers. It is a hugely ripe fruit, great concentration and structure for wine makers in napa. I'd bet the duckhorns', shafers, phelps, ZDs (I put my money where my mouth is on all of these, minus the phelps) would all drink wonderfully in 15-20 years.

I guess it depends what you are looking for. But I strongly dissagree with this sentiment.

considering I have a double mag, I would happily share in 20 years time =)

Double mag of which one?

In 2004, look to Spain for some beauties as well as some great, traditional styled Châteauneuf du Pape.

You could even look to Portugal for dry table reds such as Quinta do Vale Meao Douro and Quinta do Crasto's Douro da Ponte and Douro Touriga Nacional. These are tremendous and IMHO, exremely underrated.

quote:

Originally posted by P Monty:


If you don't like Italian wines, 2004 was a so-so year in Bordeaux, but the best bottles are supposed to be pretty tannic and long-aging. I considered getting a magnum of Leoville Las Cases, but my wife vetoed because she doesn't like Bordeaux.

What??? Your wife put a blanket veto on Bordeaux???
That's pretty broad. And pretty harsh.

Anyway, I would say that 2004 was better than just a "so-so" year in Bordeaux. Assuming your wife can stomach the stuff, most of the big-name estates would be worthy choices to lay down. Even some of the better QPR classified growths, like Pontet Canet, (Branaire Ducru?) would probably be just fine. If you want to splurge on Latour, I'm sure that will be drinking beautifully in 2025. Las Cases, too. From 2004 I have bottles of Lascombes, Palmer, Pichon Baron, Ducru Beaucaillou and St. Pierre in my cellar. While I wasn't intending to keep these for 21 years specifically, I may let a couple go that long, as I'm not particularly afraid that they will be dead. Then again, I may have to drink them all as I wait for my 2005's to come around!

Don't forget Chateauneuf du Pape. I agree with the above sentiments that SPAIN is an excellent choice, and top notch Cali Cabs will probably hang on quite well also. As mentioned above, I won't forget Italy.

And then there's always the major conundrum: Sure, they can legally drink when they are 21, but they may not be able to truly appreciate the wine until they are 35 or 40 (some exceptions out there, I don't mean to make the young wine geeks mad).

I would normally recommend Ridge Monte Bello, but so far 2004 is my least favourite of the decade. It's the only one I didn't buy.
That's not to say that it won't last though.

Randy Dunn always seems to make wines that can last 25ish years. I've never regreted drinking a Dunn Howell Mountain and I'm sure the 04 will not let you down.

The 04 Elderton Command got a 98 from RP and he suggested it will last through 2035. I've also never been disappointed with this wine either.

Both are around 80 bucks.

Hope that helps,
Matt

WOW. lot's of great information, thanks!
Lots to digest. We like Italian, Spanish, French and American wines, so it'll be difficult to pick one. Maybe we'll have to try a bottle of each then decide.

We got married in 2004, so I'm also looking for special wines from that vintage. My main purchases so far have been Bdx - Las Cases, Cos d'Estournel and Pontet Canet.

I am planning on picking up Ridge Monte Bello, Dunn Howell Mountain and Chateau Montelena in terms of CA Cabs, as well as Penfolds Grange when 2004 comes out.

I'd love to get some of the Penfolds Block 42A Cab and Bin 60 Cab/Shiraz, both made in 2004, but the tarrif is pretty stiff and they are hard to find.

quote:

Originally posted by Sticky2:
Double mag of which one?

See other thread about keeping double mags =)

2004 Quilceda Creek would be a great choice.

Cheers

Here are some I would suggest.

From Bordeaux if you have the money, Chateau Latour. For a more reasonable price, Leoville Barton, Chateau Montrose, Clos de Sarpe and Palmer. While '04 will not be the longest lived vingtage for Bordeaux, these should go 25+ years.

You can not go wrong with a Port, those go very long periods of time.

If you want to go the domestic route then go with Philip Togni, Mount Eden, Dunn Howell Mountain, Chateau Montelena, Verite(Sonoma), Hanzell(Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), Ridge Monte Bello, Heitz Martha's Vineyard(not yet released), Seavey and Dominus.

From Washington, if you go to winecommune.com, you might be lucky enough to find some 2004 Quilceda Creek. Also Cayuse, several of the Long Shadows wines from Washington, Abeja, Betz, DeLille all make wines that will go for awhile as well.

From Italy, I do not know as much there, but a good Amarone, Barolo or Brunello will do the job. With a little research, there are still some Chianti producers that can age a long time

I think Fox nailed it! The 2004 Quilceda Creek would be an outstanding choice. It will have a long life, it is rated 99 points, and you can still find it at a good price.

Fox------------ You should post more often!

I'd be curious to know if anyone here has had a 21 year old Quilceda Creek? I've never even tried the wine, but Washington is not the first region I would think when looking for a long term ager.

I would go with the Barolo or Tuscan suggestions. Ornellaia or Sassicaia are two of the latter you could consider.

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:
I would go with the Barolo or Tuscan suggestions. Ornellaia or Sassicaia are two of the latter you could consider.

Considering that nola mentions he likes Italian, these are good suggestions.
On the Barolo side, I would suggest the 2004 Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra. More modern in style than the Giacomo Conterno, IMO. Also half the price (sidebar observation). Depends your taste.