A discussion of vertical collecting got me to wondering.

Most of us here are drinker/collectors. Do you own any bottles that are "untouchable", that you know you absolutely do not intend to ever open and you know you will never sell?

If so, what bottles, and why?

NO generally speaking.
- well, just for now there are lots of things that are hands-off.
Everything is drinkable, just everything is not ready to drink .
Mishy

My only untouchable is a 3 liter 1997 Forest Glen Merlot. Reasoning should be obvious on that one.

Everything else is to drink. No matter what it is.

Nope, none. I haven't been collecting long enough for anything truly unique to cross my path. I suppose if the Queen of England herself autographed a bottle from her own cellar and handed it to me with compliments, I might have to hang on to it for a while, but otherwise they're all meant to be drunk or given away. Frankly, if the Queen's bottle was something phenomenal, it would be pretty tough to not pop it open some time...

That's a good question. I have a bottle each of 1961 Latour and 1961 Petrus. I want to open them but never think each successive occasion is big enough. So, I guess while I intend to open them I confess that I cannot think of a good enough reason. What a quandry, huh?

The only untouchable bottles are the ones I have purchased waiting the event they were purchased for (which could be a couple of years away). Otherwise everything is available to be drunk.

Interesting question -

Never intententionally, no. I don't care how much I spend for a bottle of wine, that wine is made for drinking and that's what I plan to do with. The idea of "trophy" wines that never get opened is, to me, absolutely ludicrous.

However, I do have a few bottles that I can't seem to bring myself to toss, yet have no interest in opening them due to quality - such as 10 bottles of *really* cheap Vin de Pays Viognier - anyone one it? You pay shipping

Eric

vkt, which one are you bringing to the Sunday June 2nd Wine tasting? Actually either one is fine with me and we can make an exception to the CA cab guideline.

Everything will either be drunk or sold (because it is too expensive to drink). The only wine I consider untouchable from a drink perspective right now is a variety of double magnums I have of 98 Right Bank Bordeaux- Pavie Macquin, Monbousquet, Lafleur Petrus, and Pavie.

It would also be pretty hard to open the double mags of Araujo and mags of Harlan.

GATC,

While I admit that our inaugural tasting is probably a big enough event, I may hold off on bringing either of them to this one. You know, they both still need some time.

But, you never know, one of these days . . .
(I actually recall someone telling me I will probably open them on a whim with good friends and some good bread. One never knows.)

everything i have in the cellar is to be drunk at some time. some obviously for greater occasions than others. i've got a 66 lafite, but based on some of the notes i read, i think i should be cracking this one soon. doesn't sound like it's gonna get any better. even if i had a mini petrus vertical from the 40's i'd drink it. i'd just invite some good friends over. wine is for drinking. my attitude is, if i die and there's wine left in the cellar, i've planned incorrectly. should be my tagline.

I have two wines I have no intention of opening, not for any esoteric reason, just that they're bound to be lousy. They're the first bottlings of Opus One (1979) and Jordan Cabernet (1976). They may have some collectible value, but since I've never sold a wine, I don't worry about it.

NO.

Don't care how much I paid, what it is worth on the open market. I will drink it. I am in this game to drink "good" Wine. Gives me a lot of pleasure. If I have more than a few, may be. If only a few, drinking it.

JonesWineNo1: Why, I have Araujo, I have Harlan, & I am just counting days, or years until I open them. Won't think twice, as long as they are "aged" to perfection.

I was given a bottle of 1935 Simi Zin by the owner of Simi in 1968! I told her I would never open it, and I still have it in my cellar.

I also have a 1928 Canon, that will remain on display. It has a lot of sentimental value and has probably----long since departed.

Finally, I have been given 10 bottles by a friend in Italy. They are from the 40's, 50's, 60's, & 70's. I'll keep them for display reasons only, as all of those wines have also "passed on"!

There is a big difference between drinking a 750 and mags or double mags. Drinking a large format Araujo or Harlan right now would be criminal.

Off-topic a bit, but how bad of a deal is a magnum of '98 Smith Haut Lafite for $105? I know the release price for 750 was $35, but I keep thinking about the bottle so I can dip my toe into Bordeaux. I own no bottles currently and want to give something a try. Any thoughts?

jb

JonesWineNo1:

1. NOW---YES, I meant when the time is right. If you see my statement, I said "Aged to Perfection".

2. I argue if drinking a Mag. is different from a 750. Besides that it will last a little longer, looks better on a Table (but a Wine like that you decant anyway), & sentimental reasons. The Wine is the same. It is Wine, & meant to be drank (unless you are in it for the monetary reasons, then someone else will drink it).

Wine is Not an original Dali painting. That was made to stare @ daily to appreciate the meaning behind the paiting & the beauty of the painting.

I have several bottles, and I will eventually collect more, that have special labels to celebrate special events in the world of NASA. One is the 40th anniversary of Goddard Space Flight Center, two others celebrate a special space shuttle mission. I have no interest in drinking the wine (from very ordinary MD and VA wineries) but they have value to me in what they represent. I certainly never plan to drink them as the labels are what have value to me. I will continue to collect such bottles as they have value as NASA collector items but they certainly have no value as wine.

wine is a commodity nothing more nothing less.

JWN1

Great comment. Feel that wine is to be enjoyed, and only way to enjoy is to consume. Fine art is for feasting the eyes and soul.

I had a few bottles that I should not have opened. Curiosity got the best of me, and they were lousy. [See TN last week re Bully Hill -Sweet William].

Every bottle [cellar size 300] will be consumed, and supply replenished as to keep the levels up. No time from, but grab as the occassion and feeling hits us.

As an aside, do not collect larger size bottles, and consumption capacity, events, etc. don't dictate it. Had a couple jerries of some champagne about 20 yrs ago, and donated them to a wedding reception.

[ 05-17-2002, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: flwino ]

j bembry, Smith Haut Lafitte, is a Chateau in Pessac Leognan and they make good wines. I have had the 1998 at the Chateau that thought it was an 88/89 point wine, I think rmp had it rated 92. However, if you want a Bordeaux Magnum, make it a great one--save up and buy a "stunner"...

(many people confuse Smith Haut Lafitte with a property belonging to Lafite Rothschild. They are not connected)

I have many bottles which are untouchable until 2012 or later, but I hope to drink them all at some point.

Board-O: I wouldn't be quite so sure about those pair of 70's cabs being lousy. Drank the '79 Opus about two years ago, and while it wasn't packing a ton of oomph, it still had some charm.

Last experience with the '76 Jordan was about a year ago, and again, while the wine didn't have a long and healthy life ahead of it, it made a pretty good showing in the glass.

cheers,
Keith

Untouchable?

By the x-woman and everyone else. ALL OF THEM.
By me. NONE OF THEM. I try to pet them frequently as I do my dogs.

DrT