Interesting question. The answer has to be something that is not very common, or better yet, downright rare--either because it is a small production, or because most of the production has been consumed. Obviously, it has to be good--no, make that phenomenal. It has to have had enough of a reputation to capture my imagination BEFORE it magically appears in front of me. It also probably needs to carry a hefty price tag--if it were cheap, I would probably have bought a bottle by now. As a corollary, it would have to be something I don't already own. I can understand how some of you would like to relive a bottle that carries special memories, for me, it would have to be something that I've never really tried before.

How about any 1990 Hermitage from Chapoutier, JL Chave, or Paul Jabulet Aine?

If referring to the above statement, then I guess would have to be a Le Montachet from any vintage, as I have not been lucky enough to try one.
If talking about wines that have been drunk, then I would have to say something as simple as Chartley Estate Sav Blanc or Catalina Sounds Sav Blanc.
Why?
Beuatiful sweet tinned pineapple and kiwifruit flavours, sharpish acidity. Made me go WOW. We think this wine game is easy, but all those flavours tend towards sweetness yet those wines are relatively dry. That is what makes a WOW wine for me....
although my first DRC was pretty bl##dy good.

Many years ago: The '76 DRC GE.

My wife said it best, "It's like drinking rainbows."

2000 Cheval Blanc

Ridge Monte Bello and Leoville Barton.

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:
Ridge Monte Bello and Leoville Barton.

Vintage?

95 and 03, respectively. Both experienced due to the generosity of others.

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:
95 and 03, respectively. Both experienced due to the generosity of others.

I've had both and they are great wines for sure. That 03 Barton is a shocker because I really don't like 03 Bordeaux in general.

My first wow wine: 1997 Beringer Chardonnay Reserve, tasted at the winery in 1999 and 1996 Opus One in 2000.

Many wow wines since then.

1/2 bottle of Karl Lawrence Cabernet at the French Laundry with Kobe Beef. Orgasmic.

Had never been into wine before this experience, had never had a glass of "quality" wine. This single glass of wine started me on the obsession I now have with wine.

I wish I had ordered a beer...

1966 Cristal, it's hard to imagine any future wine drinking experience exceeding this. Wow...

If we’re going by the original question of what would you most make you go “wow” if it showed up at an offline, I’d have to say a Screagle. I will absolutely never buy one myself but I would love to try one. Le Pin would be in the same basket as well. Barring making many millions of dollars in a short period of time, I would never buy either but would love to experience them.

’78 la Chappelle would be right up there as well. Pre-1983 Cristal, or any Bollinger VVF would make me giddy. An NV Unico or an older Grange would make me swoon. The difference is that I can see myself buying any one of those at some point.

my first "wow" wine experience was in the summer of '84. After thinking Bully Hill and Boones Farm were the apex of sophistication, a 1970 Haut-Brion pretty much blew my mind.
My high School girlfriend's father drank BV Georges de Latour just about every night, and I learned to love those wines too.
Still have a few bottles of '68 left, and they still make me say wow.
I had more of a "holy shit, this is unbelievable" wine on my birthday this year- 1965 Hanzell pinot.
If I saw someone walk in with a bottle of that I'd be pretty stoked

1995 Duval-Leroy Femme.

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:
1990 DRC La Tache

Sheer greatness, a perfect wine and a wine I can still taste.

1945 Croft. I defy anyone who enjoys vintage port and has tasted it to say otherwise. (no names, but you know who you are, B-O, g-man, and others.... )

quote:

Originally posted by bman:
1945 Croft. I defy anyone who enjoys vintage port and has tasted it to say otherwise. (no names, but you know who you are, B-O, g-man, and others.... )

bman,

I have never been a port person. If I buy and drink this, will it change my perception?

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by bman:
1945 Croft. I defy anyone who enjoys vintage port and has tasted it to say otherwise. (no names, but you know who you are, B-O, g-man, and others.... )

bman,

I have never been a port person. If I buy and drink this, will it change my perception?

1931 noval. holy grail. (alas not fortunate enogh to try it)

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by bman:
1945 Croft. I defy anyone who enjoys vintage port and has tasted it to say otherwise. (no names, but you know who you are, B-O, g-man, and others.... )

bman,

I have never been a port person. If I buy and drink this, will it change my perception?

I think with a wine that age, it would depend on provenance - the bottle I tasted had been sitting quietly and undisturbed in a nearly 300 year old cellar under St. James Street in London for 56 years (had it in 2005). All I can say is that it was far and away the best wine, dry or otherwise, I've ever had. Spookily ethereal. Highlight of my 20 years of winegeekiness. Didn't hurt that I was drinking it in an epic place in epic company.

But good luck finding a bottle! (and let me know if you do! )

quote:

Originally posted by bman:


But good luck finding a bottle! (and let me know if you do! )

Thanks, bman.

I think I have found a bottle, but need to confirm tomorrow.

I have had many ports back to the 1860's, but you grabbed my attention on this bottle.

Wait a minute... do you also enjoy wine from Australia?

If I say "no", might I get taste?

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by bman:


But good luck finding a bottle! (and let me know if you do! )

Thanks, bman.

I think I have found a bottle, but need to confirm tomorrow.

I have had many ports back to the 1860's, but you grabbed my attention on this bottle.

Wait a minute... do you also enjoy wine from Australia?

let me nkow when to book the flight.

i unfortunately have had many ports back to the 1780s and unfortunately it's the wrong kind fo wow that goes with it.

This is a tough question. Many wines have made me "wow", but as I've experienced more wine, I'm not so sure those wines would bring out such a strong reaction.

The first "wow" wine I had was a '96 Spring Mountain Reserve Cabernet. I had it in 2008 (when I was just getting into wine) and it blew my mind that a wine could taste so fresh, and have such great secondary characteristics with such "age" (lol).

My real "wow" wines have been an '82 LLC (thanks to jburman), a '97 La Turque (thanks to jburman), an '88 Krug (thanks to jburman).... wait a second...

others were a '66 Pavie, and a '37 Ausone. Those were more of "wow, this is cool" experience. but still "wow".

I guess the list could go on for a while, thanks to forum members, and other generous winos.

1989 Lynch Bages. Finally understood layered, and complexity in wine

We had one last night- 2003 Le Vieux Donjon CdP