I have never had patience to lay down any wine for long term aging but I’ve decided I’m going to give it a try with a few cases. My uncle has a healthy collection of mature Bordeaux that has given me some of my best wine experiences and I’m inspired to start aging some wine myself and I’m long passed due.

If possible though I’d like to do it cheaply if possible. Can you guys recommend any good valued California or French Cabernet based wines that are age worthy? Ideally Id like to spend no more than $20 a bottle.

Thanks in advance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Qweniden,

Not for less than $20.

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Not for less than $20.

My gut instinct tells me there are some out there. I remember when the 2000 Bordeaux's came out some of the cheaper wines seemed age worthy. I really regret not buying some at the time. Oh well..

What would you recomend as the best valued age worthy wines Cabernet based wines?

You're going to have a tough time finding many under $20 Cab based US or French wines that are even drinkable. How long are you looking to put them down? Most of the wines in that price category are made for early drinking. The most age-worthy wine I can think of with anything around $20 would be Shiraz. 2005 is a great vintage for them, maybe try a few in your price range and go from there.

There are some mighty tasty sub-$20 cab blends available, and almost all are made for early drinking, not for aging.

If you insist that you want to age wines, the smaller Bordeaux chateaux are the best bet. Availability is hit and miss, so your chances are better finding a local merchant you can trust rather than trying to chase down a specific name.

For myself, I don't think it is particularly rewarding trying to seek out and store wines that will be no better after ten years than wines you can buy and drink today. There are Bordeaux from the 90's and some 2000s still on merchant's shelves.

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You're going to have a tough time finding many under $20 Cab based US or French wines that are even drinkable.

Of course its a matter of taste but there are plenty of good cabs in the Sierra Foothills thats are great and cost around $20 but they arent age worthy wines.

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If you insist that you want to age wines, the smaller Bordeaux chateaux are the best bet. Availability is hit and miss, so your chances are better finding a local merchant you can trust rather than trying to chase down a specific name.

That is good advice. Honeslty though the people who work in the wine stores around here (Sacrameto) are pretty clueless. I'll probablly wait until I can make it into SF.

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For myself, I don't think it is particularly rewarding trying to seek out and store wines that will be no better after ten years than wines you can buy and drink today. There are Bordeaux from the 90's and some 2000s still on merchant's shelves.

Im not sure I understand your point. Are you saying you dont think wines improve with age?

Here's my advice. Spend a little more.

Some wine improves with age. Crappy wine will stay crappy wine.

Asking for a long term ager for $20 is like asking for a deaf & mute, nymphomaniac wife. I'm sure it's possible, it would even be desireable, it just isn't likely.

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Asking for a long term ager for $20 is like asking for a deaf & mute, nymphomaniac wife. I'm sure it's possible, it would even be desireable, it just isn't likely.

I'm not saying that (some) wines don't improve with age. I'm saying that because everyone is always chasing after the latest, highest rated wines, good wines remain unsold for years.
What I call "long term" aging means ten years or more, and I don't think you will find sub $20 wines that take that long to be at peak drinking. You can find 97 Bordeaux on the shelves in Seattle, and in SF too I'm sure.

>>>Here's my advice. Spend a little more.

If that is what its gonna take then so be it. I just cant beleive that there arent any wines from non-prominant appelations or obscure wineries that arent good valued agers.

>>>Some wine improves with age. Crappy wine will stay crappy wine.

I definatly disagree with the premise that all sub $20 wines are crappy but prehaps based on this thread prehaps they just dont make age worthy wines in that price range. I know that all the pinots I really love start at around $30 and go up from there so I guess its the same type of situation.

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I'm not saying that (some) wines don't improve with age.

Well Id certainly agree with that. Some of the best Zins Ive owned completly lost their fruit after four years. Thats was a shock.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about from the K&L listings. Available right now. There will always be wines like this popping up.
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1996 Lanessan, Haut-Médoc Item: $19.99 Add to Basket
Available in our Warehouse Available in our Redwood City store Available in our San Francisco store
Back In Stock According to Robert Parker: "A sleeper of the vintage, Lanessan's 1996 boasts an impressively saturated dark ruby/purple color, and knock-out aromatics of melted chocolate, asphalt, and cassis. Deep, rich, and medium-bodied, with excellent concentration and purity, this impressively-endowed, flavorful, well-structured wine should be at its finest between 2004-2016." (04/99)

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Here's an example of what I'm talking about from the K&L listings. Available right now. There will always be wines like this popping up.
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1996 Lanessan, Haut-Médoc Item: $19.99 Add to Basket
Available in our Warehouse Available in our Redwood City store Available in our San Francisco store
Back In Stock According to Robert Parker: "A sleeper of the vintage, Lanessan's 1996 boasts an impressively saturated dark ruby/purple color, and knock-out aromatics of melted chocolate, asphalt, and cassis. Deep, rich, and medium-bodied, with excellent concentration and purity, this impressively-endowed, flavorful, well-structured wine should be at its finest between 2004-2016." (04/99)

Thanks!

IMO...you are really better off changing your budget to $40 a bottle and buying half as much. Every now & again, something decent goes on sale for $35 or $25 or even $19.99 as posted above, but the sub $20 ones are really going to be few and far between.

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IMO...you are really better off changing your budget to $40 a bottle and buying half as much. Every now & again, something decent goes on sale for $35 or $25 or even $19.99 as posted above, but the sub $20 ones are really going to be few and far between.

Fair enough.

So for that price range do you think I get more bang for my buck (in the context of ageable wines) from California or Bordeaux?

Bordeaux, definately!

I agree on upping the ante, but if you're willing to stray from Bordeaux/Cal, try laying down a 6 pack of Wynn's Coonawarra Cab and trying one every other year. Should be had for $13-$15 a bottle.

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I agree on upping the ante, but if you're willing to stray from Bordeaux/Cal, try laying down a 6 pack of Wynn's Coonawarra Cab and trying one every other year. Should be had for $13-$15 a bottle.

Thanks for the tip. I assume thats an aussie wine?

Correct, but from a cooler climate area than most of the Aussies imported to the US. Has a good track record going back to the '50s.

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Correct, but from a cooler climate area than most of the Aussies imported to the US. Has a good track record going back to the '50s.

Do you have any experience aging it?

I've had some bottles 8-10 years from vintage that were very nice, and the wine has a reputation for aging longer than that but I can't give you a longer data point from personal experience.

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I've had some bottles 8-10 years from vintage that were very nice, and the wine has a reputation for aging longer than that but I can't give you a longer data point from personal experience.

Thanks again.

Cap De Faugeres 2003

might want to check out the rhone. some very nice wines to be had from that