I have a near-complete case of half-bottles of Chateau Latour 1958 1ere Grand Cru Classe Paulliac 
which I am interested in selling. Can anyone tell me how to go about doing so?

www.saladdressing.com

PH

1958 was a horrible year in Bordeaux. According to Michael Briadbent, only one good wine was somehow magically roduced in Bordeaux from the 1958 vintage- the La Mission Haut Brion. I was given a bottle of the 1958 La Mission about 20 years ago and I was shocked how good it was. I was expecting to dump it.

Half bottles of 1958 Latour have virtually no chance of being drinkable, let alone decent. There only value is as an oddity, and that would be minimal. When you say a case of half bottles, I assume you mean 24 bottles. It's possible you might $100 for the whole case, but don't count on it.

Thanks for the illuminating information. Although not happy to receive it, I am nonetheless very appreciative to be enlightened.

So what are you wanting for a few bottles or are you interested in moving all at one time? That is my birth year although from what has been previously mentioned, perhaps I should consider going after something in the year of my conception.

I'd suggest the year of your first birthday party!

A quick internet search on Wine-Searcher, Wine Commune, and Yahoo turned up a few bottles of 1958 Latour for $600-700 per bottle. So, no matter how bad the wine is, I suspect that an estimate of $100 for 24 375ml bottles is excessively pessimistic. To its credit, the chateau admits on its website that the 1958 is well past its prime, and was only mediocre to begin with. Still, I would buy one bottle for $25 or so, just for the novelty of trying a first growth that is older than I am.

Suggestion #1 -- Sell them in single bottle lots, or as a Dutch auction, on a site like Winecommune. People like me will buy a bottle as a novelty.

Suggestion #2 -- Sell them all to one of the "power sellers" on Ebay or Winecommune, who will buy all of them at once, albeit at a low price.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
I'd suggest the year of your first birthday party!

Upon further review, I am looking for a '59 Bordeaux.

Thank you Board-O.

Although very expensive, get the '59 Lafite. One of the finest wines EVER made.

I will also buy a 1/2 bottle of your '58 for $25.

IW

IW's suggestion of 1959 Lafite is a great one I'm sure, though I've never been foprtunate enough to try it. From 1959, my picks, in order, would be:

La Tache
Mouton
Latour
Margaux

but they will all be very expensive. One of the very greatest wines I've ever had would be a relative bargain- the 1959 Calon Segur.

For a real bargain, seek out the 1959 Nenin if you can find one in excellent condition. It may have faded unless you get one with a good fill that has been well-cellared. It's an outstanding wine.

The two expensive 1959s to avoid, imo, are Petrus and Palmer. Both were disappointing relative to the previously mentioned wines.

According to WS PRo European Wine Resource in Richmond California has the '59 Calon Segur


CA: Richmond. No minimum order. Delivery charges apply. Calon Segur Red Bordeaux, 1959 $368.00
Bottle
15-Mar-2008

IW

A few months ago I picked up a '59 Lafite that was in excellent condition (and provenance) from a restaurant for $875 "to go". I sold it later in the week for $1500.

Welcome To The Board!

Roloru - 1958 was my birthyear too . I'd definitely buy one or two for ****s and giggles. Email me if you are still looking to sell and let me know your price - david at insidetracknews dot com

Thanks to all for your comments and interest. I am on vacation, away from my wine cellar for the next few weeks, but will get back to you after that.

I'd be interested in a few bottles once you set a price. Let me know.

quote:

away from my wine cellar for the next few weeks,

"but I will be on my yacht to receive any firm offers you fine gentlemen can place. Ohh Jeffrey..."

I can understand buying this if you must have a name bottle with 1958 on it, but undertand the wine has been dead for over 40 years.

I would buy a couple bottles for 25 per bottle as well.

To: chefbob76, Tpety, theweb, Italian Wino.
I'm back from vacation and interested in resuming the discussion about my '58 Chateau Latour 1/2 bottles. I've never sold or shipped wine before, so if you are still interested, can you give me advice on how to ship (kind of packaging, any restrictions by the post office or FedEx/UPS about sending wine, any legal restrictions) and how to guarantee both ways, i.e. your receiving the wine and my receiving payment. Thanks for any suggestions

quote:

Originally posted by roloru:
To: chefbob76, Tpety, theweb, Italian Wino.
I'm back from vacation and interested in resuming the discussion about my '58 Chateau Latour 1/2 bottles. I've never sold or shipped wine before, so if you are still interested, can you give me advice on how to ship (kind of packaging, any restrictions by the post office or FedEx/UPS about sending wine, any legal restrictions) and how to guarantee both ways, i.e. your receiving the wine and my receiving payment. Thanks for any suggestions

Roloru - where are you located?

roloru: make sure you are getting top dollar. Many wines in off vintages are valuable because they are rare, the wines were considered bad or "drink up" so they are hard to find. Recent auction prices for 750ml bottles of 1958 Latour according to the Wine Spectator Auction Database shows 7 bottles sold in the 4th quarter of 2007 for a high of $1000.00 per 750ml bottle and a low of $236.00 per bottle with an average of $891.00 per bottle.

quote:

Originally posted by bdxwine:
roloru: make sure you are getting top dollar. Many wines in off vintages are valuable because they are rare, the wines were considered bad or "drink up" so they are hard to find. Recent auction prices for 750ml bottles of 1958 Latour according to the Wine Spectator Auction Database shows 7 bottles sold in the 4th quarter of 2007 for a high of $1000.00 per 750ml bottle and a low of $236.00 per bottle with an average of $891.00 per bottle.

I don't want it that bad - please let me know what you decide Roloru. Maybe bdxwine can be your agent