Best wine you've had?

[catchnrelease]

I'm just curious to see what people here would list as their best/most memorable wine. Because why the hell not? Who doesn't like recalling the best of times?

For me, it's a tie between a 1986 Grange I had in 2009 at Tetsuya's and a 2001 Killerby Cab Sav in 2012 with mum's cooking. The Grange was probably the better wine, but the Killerby was exactly my taste - absolutely perfect in terms of development and spot on what I look for in a Cab Sav. Some Wendouree's also come to mind but these two definitely top the list. I'm not as well travelled in French and other OS premium wines, though, so these may look like quaffers to some I'm sure!

I'm sure plenty of members here will list wines in the ranks of Rothschild's, Romanee-Conti's and Bin 60A's, but I thought it would be good for a read either way.

Alex

[phillisc]

1955 Wynns Michael
Live auction purchase in the early 80s, for the princely sum of $180.
Completely surreal.

However, the best wine I have ever tasted is probably still to come.

Cheers
Craig.

[sparky]

*****Shameless name dropping alert*****

Definitely the most memorable I've had was a '52 Grange. Don Ditter was standing to my left and John Bird was standing to my right as we contemplated it. I observed mentally that I was unlikely to have another wine or wine drinking moment quite like it.

[sjw_11]

There is a bar in Singapore with a sign that says "The best beer in the world is the open bottle in your hand..."

[kaos]

I had a puligny montrachet (ie chardonnay) in about 1996 that (at the age of 25) opened my eyes to white wine and its possibilities - I had to that point only really drunk reds with any interest. Not the best in any sense but memorable and seminal

[qwertt]

1982 Grange a few years ago. But still not worth the current asking price unless you have money to burn.

[phillisc]

1982 Grange a few years ago. But still not worth the current asking price unless you have money to burn.

Sensible comment and fully agree Qwertt,
at $3500+ a 55 Michael is well beyond reach.
Probably corked now anyway.

Perhaps the thread should be "the best wine you have ever had and payed for or were prepared to pay for"*.....55 Michael.
That might knock out a few nominations and or get rocks thrown on my roof again

Could not agree more Sam, had a cold cold imported Grolsch the other day in Adelaide when it was 45.5 degrees.....nothing better!!

Cheers
Craig

* disclaimer, aware that there are many here who attend rare wine dinners, go to special events or who are able through their employment of getting the chance to taste bottles that I could only dream of. Yes I have had most Granges from the 60s onwards, some first growths from 1982, some cracking champagnes...but never had to pay for them entirely, if at all. The outright purchase IMHO just makes it that bit more special...like its your bottle and you have earnt it and can call it as you see it. Bit hard not to say it was a great wine when someone else paid big money for it. I have like many others paid "stupid" amounts for a bottle only for it to resemble draino.

That might stop a few of the rock throwers.

[penguinoid]

I hesitate to post on threads like this, as anything I get to drink will be effortlessly outclassed by others ... but still.

I remember drinking a beautiful 1963(?) Remoissenet Volnay 1er Cru in Burgundy a few years back. It wasn't from a particularly prestigious site, I think it was actually a blend of different 1er cru vineyards, but had aged beautifully. I didn't pay for that one, though, but it wasn't a particularly expensive bottle.

Another candidate would be a 1995 Domaine aux Moines Savennières-Roche-aux-Moines, which I've been lucky enough to have a couple of times. Again, not a very expensive bottle of wine, but just right for me. I love aged Chenin blanc...

[sjw_11]

Ok more seriously, wines I would have scored over 96pts ... as fully or at least partly mature wines (not on potential for the future):

1961 Latour a Pomerol (Rare wine dinners)
1953 Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium Beerenauslese (Rare wine dinners) ... and probably one or more of the other aged rieslings from the same event

Wolf Blass Black Label 1984, 1989
Wolf Blass Grey Label 1981, 1986

Penfolds Bin 707 1996, 1998
Penfolds Bin 389 1996, 1998

Wynns John Riddoch 1996
Wynns Hermitage/Shiraz 1986, 1990, 1991
Wynns Cabernet 1991, 1998

1982 Brown Brothers Milawa Cabernet

1985 Meolleux Vouvray... I didnt fill in the producer in my data base
Marc Bredif Vouvray Grand Aneee (dry) 1986

Seppelts 100-yr old para (several vintages, forget which now)

Wendouree Cab Malbec 1991, 1993, 1998

Coriole Mary Kathleen Cab Merlot 1994
Coriole Lloyd Reserve 1994

Henschke Mt Edelstone 1990, 1991
Domaine A Cabernet 2003

Grosset Gaia 1999
Jacobs Creek Steingarten 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007

Settlement Wine Company Cabernet Franc 1996, 1998 ... Freakish wines, no idea where the fruit goes these days.

Tyrrell's Vat 1 1997, 1999
Vat 47 1994

Writers Block Semillon 2006

[DJ1980]

In my short (wine) drinking "career" I have been lucky enough to share a bottle of Penfolds 1962 Bin 60a. Easily the most memorable wine experience thus far.

1996 Krug, 2002 Dom and 1986/76 Grange are among the top of my list too.

Really trying to source some old Burgundy and Bordeaux for the mix...

[Michael R]

Love the story about the Killerby.
Was out for dinner last night discussing a similar topic with Hacker, and mentioned how a wine can just instantly grab your attention and hit all your sweet spots
It moves you so much that what anyone else thinks is trivial.
Those wines get burned into your memory forever, full of emotion, leading to day dreams and often financial recklessness.

I’ve shared many wonderful wines (all price ranges), that I’m not sure I can nominate one particular wine anymore.
When I think of the 5-10 or so that possibly elevate above the rest, I always remember the occasion/setting just as well as the wine.
All of them shared with family and/or friends (particularly a few tragic cases lurking on here ).

I guess what I’m saying is the lines between best wine and most enjoyable wine, have blurred for me.
Some of them are old world and expensive. But I completely understand how the Killerby can offer the same level of enjoyment as any. It also says a lot that when I think how many were generously shared by others.

Finally, to pick one of many examples.
When I was dating my wife (the early days) I flew back from overseas via Singapore. I got this urge to get a bottle of something decent in the Singa duty free, and picked up a 06 (?) Penfolds Cellar Reserve Pinot Noir.
It was significantly more than any previous wine purchase (roughly $50) but the words ‘cellar reserve’ on the label helped re-assure me.
She called over later that evening, we sat out on the apartment balcony, drank the wine with pate and crackers. It was without doubt the nicest wine I had ever drunk and made me think there just might actually be something in this wine nonsense.

[paulf]

For me it would be a 1900 Quinta de Brunheda Colheita back in 2011 which I had at the Quinta. It doesn't exist as an official product.
A fair number of the Portuguese growers have old family stocks that have been sitting there for 100+ years, and I've been lucky enough to try a few, but this was my favorite

[penguinoid]

Love the story about the Killerby.
Was out for dinner last night discussing a similar topic with Hacker, and mentioned how a wine can just instantly grab your attention and hit all your sweet spots
It moves you so much that what anyone else thinks is trivial.
Those wines get burned into your memory forever, full of emotion, leading to day dreams and often financial recklessness.

I'd have to admit one wine for me that did this was an Italian pinot grigio (of all things) that I had in a restaurant in Brisbane. I can't remember anything about it, other than it was quite austere and minerally. It was one of the first wines I'd had which wasn't just simple, pleasant and fruity. I'm sure if I tried it again I'd be underwhelmed, but still... showed me there was more to wine than just simple fruit flavours.

Marc Bredif Vouvray Grand Aneee (dry) 1986

I've seen younger vintages of this in wine shops -- I think I saw the 2000 vintage recently. It's a bit expensive, but I keep meaning to save up for a bottle...

[George Krashos]

Beaucastel Chateuaneuf du Pape 1970 at my 40th birthday dinner. May have been the occasion and the company but it was an absolute cracker.

Best white would have to be a 1976 Wendouree Riesling drunk on my honeymoon in 2001. Have loved the grape ever since.

-- George Krashos