Wine Spectator Online Wine Spectator Forums Wine Conversations 21st anniversary wines, what do they really want?
Wine Spectator Forums Wine Conversations 21st anniversary wines, what do they really want?Page 1 2
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I'm curious about what folks' experiences have been with presenting 21 year old birthday wines to the youngsters. I know that most of us would love to crow about how well that '82 or '86 Bordeaux was received, but frankly I'm skeptical. I'm closing in on 40, but recall those days, half a lifetime ago, when de rigeur was a cheap brewski, or something nasty like "Three Wise Men" (Jack, Jose, Jim Beam).
I know that some of us grow up with good palates at a young age, like jnastynebr or Berno. And, some of us buck the law and show our kids the pleasures of a good sip of wine at the dinner table when they're in their tweens. But, I'm wondering if our zeal to introduce our youngsters to our hobby/passion, sets us, and them, up for disappointment. For every 21 year old who has an aged dry wine and loves it, I wonder if there are ten who taste it and think, "well, that sucked mom/dad, where's the rum and coke?" I might think better results would come from a 21 year Port, Tokaji or Sauternes? Any ideas? Both pro/con? -B "You should always read the label, you should always read it well"-Mrs. Featherbottom, AKA Tobias Funke |
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I think it really depends... I was head-over-heels for wine by the time I was 15. I was posting on the original WS Forum (the one that existed before this one with a *completely* different format) when I was 19. And my parents really aren't even that into wine. But... I am an anomololy.
HOWEVER, that said, I think this is a very easy question to answer -- if you introduce your kids to wine at a young age, and teach them about wine, then I suspect there is a pretty good likelihood they will appreciate good wine. I don't know anyone whose parents were real foodies who did not also grow up being so. If, on the other hand, your idea is that your ids 18th or 21st birthday is going to be the first time he or she has wine with you, then you are clearly out of your mind if you think there is a good chance he will appreciate a great aged dry wine. But, honestly, how many people on this board aren't planning on sharing their love of wine with their middle-school -- or at least, high school -- aged kids? "What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields |
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Cool, thanks for the link. Laube does a nice job with essays like this. -B "You should always read the label, you should always read it well"-Mrs. Featherbottom, AKA Tobias Funke |
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I've got a few 03 Monte Bello and 03 Sauternes set aside for my daughter. I plan to to the same with the 07s for my son. If they don't like wine, well then it's just more for me when I retire.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com http://scmwine.blogspot.com http://blogs.sun.com/davetong http://twitter.com/davetong |
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So far, I have many birth-year wines socked away for my kids. I may just be one of the lemmings out there, doing it because it seems cool. I think my expectations are realistic, however. Here's what I intend to do:
A) If I feel my child will truly have an appreciation for the wine, I would open a bottle for them to celebrate 21 years. I assume this will not be ON their birthday, as there are not too many 21 year-olds who would WANT to celebrate THE day of their 21st with their parents. But maybe later that week or month. B) Some of the wines I have set aside will clearly last until they are 30 or 40 years old. In this case, I may hide them and present them when the child is old enough to truly appreciate the wine. C) In some cases, I might just drink the wine myself (with my wife, of course), to celebrate an achievement of my child--High School graduation, or other milestone. The child might get a sip. Or I might hold some back for their wedding day, or maybe just the day they move out of the house (hopefully for good). D) When I become senile, and my children have to move me into the nursing home and clean out the garbage in my basement, they might just stumble upon something special.  ------------------- There is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness -- Kung Fu Panda |
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Redhawk, Dave,
Nice! Love the philosophy. Wait to see how the little stinkers turn out, and plan accordingly. R'Hawk, what are a few of the ones you have laid down If I can ask? -B "You should always read the label, you should always read it well"-Mrs. Featherbottom, AKA Tobias Funke |
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In my case I want it as much for my wife and I as I do for my son. If we buy a case then her and I can open it up at his milestones (HS grad, engagement, etc)....As he gets older and if he appreciates wine then open one up with him when he sees fit.
Its basically a reason to hold onto the wines and not drink them ASAP |
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Bingo. Let's face it, these are excuses to buy wines for yourselves.  |
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Isn't everything!? -B "You should always read the label, you should always read it well"-Mrs. Featherbottom, AKA Tobias Funke |
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My first-born arrived in 2005.
I am buying Sauternes, CdP, and Bordeaux to open at the appropriate time and place. I have also purchased 2005 Quilceda Creek - I may not be able to resist that one for 18-20 years - and some Cali cab. (raising my coffee mug into the air) Here's hoping that 2008 - the arrival of my second, and final, child - provides a great vintage worldwide. "It's easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stockmarket beat, but the man worth-while, is the man who can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat." -Judge Smails |
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I think it all depends on the relationship that you have with your kid. Hopefully we all have such a relationship that he/she will at least respect and appreciate this hobby that we're all so passionate about. But he may not share it. Oh well. At least when I take him out on his 21st, the wine will be good.
I have a small stash of 1992 wines (my son's birth year) that I add to and drink from every once in a while. Those wines are special as it's a unique opportunity for me to reflect on my son and his place in my life. The wines are not so that he will have the best wine collection in his college graduating class. Eventually -- hopefully a really really long time from now -- everything in my cellar will be his unless he'd rather have the cash.  ----------------------- Randy Sloan Match Vineyards http://www.MatchVineyards.com |
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I'm 26, but at 21 I wouldn't have known the difference between Grange and YT. Hopefully if your son/daughter hits 21 and hasn't yet acquired a taste for wine, they'll at least have the sense to cellar it (or allow you to cellar it on their behalf) until they do.
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At 21 I thought Lancer's was good wine.
Just one more sip. |
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I wasn't really thinking about the relationship, but just whether or not your kid will be interested. Chances are you will buy wine the year your child is born. So buy whatever you normally would and if they are interested you will probably have more wine than you can consume anyway. I have a feeling the dessert wines would be a hit though. |
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Samesies! Personally, I saw Sideways a week before I turned 21 and I was intrigued. I had no idea about all the different aspects of wine. I thought you just drank it. My folks didn't really drink wine before I got into it, now they are. I'm guessing my culinary background helped me out apreciate wine. I have a decent palate and quickly identified aromas in wine. It was positive reinforcement Indy- start he or she out with a fruit forward red and white and the Wine Bible. My brothers aren't 21 yet, but I have LBV ports from their birthyears for them. It would have been awesome to pop a wine from my birthyear, but I wouldn't have apreciated it. Just my $.02. "I heard wine only turns to alcohol when you leave it open." ------------------------------ "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22 www.winetarget.com |
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Indy, when I was 21 in 1984 the three wise men were Jack, Jim and Johnny Walker.
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Is this why some people are making such a big deal out of immigration? P.S. When I was 21 in 2001 the three wise men were still Jack, Jim, and Johnny. "What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields |
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When you people turned 21, who did a shot called the Fireman's Friend? (Tequila and Mayonnaise) Blargh!!!
------------------------------ "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22 www.winetarget.com |
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I had a 7 up and down in acapulco This big breasted bar tender tilted your head back poured a shot of tequila in your mouth, stuffed your head between said breasts and shook you up and down 7 times. |
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At 21, I would have loved a case of 1982 petrus,.....so that I could flip it and buy a car!!!
and a case of beer...or six...G-man's version does not sound so bad either..... |
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6 kids: 1995: Krug, Y'quem, Pichon-Lalonde (1 magnum, 1 750) Leoville Las Cases, Lynch Bages, Dom Perignon 1998: Grange, Lafite, Laville Haut Brion, Latour a Pomerol, Montrose, Quilceda Creek, Domaine Charvin CdP, Pegau Cuvee Reservee, 2001: Lafite, Latour, Mouton, Haut Brion, numerous 3rd-5th growth Bdx, Lafaurie Peyraguey, Dead Arm, muliple Napa cabs, Pegau, Beaucastel, Charvin, a few German Rieslings, others. 2003: Cos, Montrose, Calon Segur, Leoville Barton, multiple other good Bdx (including a Magnum of Lagrange), Dead Arm, Pegau, Beaucastel, Charvin, Vieux Telegraphe, Croft Port, Rieussec, others. 2005: Leoville Barton, Branaire Ducru, Lascombes, Malescot St. Exupery, Kirwan, Smith Haut Lafite (750 + Mag), Clos de L'Oratoire, Sociando, Clerc Milon, + other Bdx, Beaucastel, Pegau, Vieux Telegraphe, La Tour Blanche Sauternes, Quilceda Creek, Dead Arm, and a high-quality Napa Cab some friends and I commissioned through CrushPad (with our names on the labels). 2007: ???? Many are just single bottles, but most are multiples. I don't think everything will last to be handed down to the kids, but a fair chunk will make it. And if I drink all the good 95's and 98's, they probably wouldn't be too upset if I just left some 2000 or 2005 Bdx instead. ------------------- There is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness -- Kung Fu Panda |
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Adopt me. ------------------------------ "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22 www.winetarget.com |
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