Which wine to cellar for my children?

[sfkhooper]

Greetings fellow connoisseurs,
I'm wondering if anyone can help me with a wine selection to lay down for my children's 18th or 21st birthdays. This is something I've been meaning to do for some time but I'm having trouble deciding what to pick. Our children are now 5, 7 and 9 years old, so I'm looking for 2005, 2007 and 2009 vintages. I would prefer to purchase the same wine for all three, but I appreciate that not all years produce wines that will stand the test of time. I'm not particularly concerned if the wine is red, white or sparkling, and at a pinch I might even consider fortified. One thing I would prefer is that the wines are either South Australian or from the Bellarine peninsula, as these are the heritage areas of my wife and I. Having said that however, a different location wouldn't be a deal breaker if it meant a better chance of surviving such a long time.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Many thanks,

[AaronL]

Hi Scott

Welcome! Do you know how much you want to spend per bottle as there will be quite a bit of choice available, it just might be tough tracking down the older vintages.

Given that you have listed 2005, 2007 and 2009 the first 2 ideas that spring to mind are South Australian riesling (Pewsey Vale Contours, Jim Barry Florita etc) and Margaret River cabernet (Moss Wood, Cullen, Vasse Felix Heytesbury etc). These generally will be able to cellar for 20 years if they are stored properly (which may be a problem if you choose a Bellarine Peninsula). With a bit of patience (or dealing with the winery directly), you should be able to pick up the same wine for everyone.

[dan_smee]

All great Hunter shiraz vintages.

Brokenwood Graveyard (budget $140 per bottle average), Tyrrell's 4 Acres or Vat 9 (budget $70 per bottle), Thomas Kiss ($70 ave.) should all live the 18-21 years.

My money in the longevity, quality, value stakes is on the 4 Acres, but the Brokenwood and Vat 9 are more 'iconic'.

[Michael McNally]

I have 2001, 2004 and 2006 Stanton and Killeen Vintage Ports for my boys'18th, 21st, 40th and 50th!

The 2005 and 2007 vintages were not stellar in much of Australia (though I believe 2007 was a cracker for reds in the Hunter).

Cheers

Michael

[Duncan Disorderly]

There should be many 2005 SA wines that will see out 18 years as a it was a pretty good vintage across the board, 2009 rated reasonably well in Coonawarra but it was a bit too hot and dry elsewhere and 2007 was quite patchy across the board. Wines with an aging track record like reds Henschke, Wynns, Penfolds, Wendouree, Yalumba Menzies, Majella etc or rieslings from Jim Barry, Grosset, Leo Buring etc are your best bet.

For 2007 I'd look to Margaret River (Cape Mentelle, Cullens, Woodlands, Leeuwin Estate) or possibly the Hunter (Tyrrells, Mount Pleasant, Andrew Thomas), and for 2009 the Hunter was a belter.

Alternatively you could go for 2005 and 2009 (and 2007 at a pinch) Bordeaux (or Burgundy if you really want to have a lash), as good bottles of this will comfortably see out 21 years as a 1990 Leoville Barton that I tried earlier this week would attest to. Indeed the better 'cru bourgeois' like a Chasse Spleen or Phelan Segur should make the distance and will only set you back between $50-100 a bottle at auction.

As the previous poster suggests you could always go for vintage fortified like Stanton and Killeen, but there are a few wines from SA producers like Seppeltsfield and Peter Lehmann's The King that should do the trick.

[rens]

For me WA came to mind with those vintages, then Moss Wood. All those vintages in a Moss Wood Cabernet should do 18 and 21 in a canter. Or as Micheal Suggested, a VP. I have a Fonseca VP for my boy (2007), but he'll probably get that when I die to drink on his 80th (because I will probably not see 110, but If I do then I'll be there drinking it).

[The fish]

Another vote for WA for 2009. Cape Mentelle made some fantastic cabs. German Riesling covers all three of the years you're looking for. Outstanding vintages iirc.

Cheers
Matt

[Mike Hawkins]

WA also came to mind for me, but I think there's a better left field option - Barsac/Sauternes. Pretty good vintages and the big boys will see out the required years with ease in 750ml formats (and above).

2 of the 3 vintages you've mentioned (07 and 09) were pretty average in SA, so I'd tread carefully there.

[Hacker]

Just a thought or two - I have been through this precise process with my 25, 23 and 17 yo kids. They don't really care at 18. They show some interest at 21. So if it really is for them (and not you) 21 and hopefully 30 are good targets. 2005 and 2009 are great Bordeaux years, but the pricetag has just jumped. But they will make 30 years. Just my 2c.

[sfkhooper]

Just a thought or two - I have been through this precise process with my 25, 23 and 17 yo kids. They don't really care at 18. They show some interest at 21. So if it really is for them (and not you) 21 and hopefully 30 are good targets. 2005 and 2009 are great Bordeaux years, but the pricetag has just jumped. But they will make 30 years. Just my 2c.

Hacker, you are right. My own appreciation for wine didn't start to develop until my mid twenties. I've got to rethink this completely. I'm really looking for vintages that will survive 30 years. Can we have a do-over on everyone's responses?

I'll check out Bordeaux though.

[sfkhooper]

I'm thinking that PENFOLDS St. Henri Shiraz might be a good option. Any thoughts?

[dan_smee]

I'm thinking that PENFOLDS St. Henri Shiraz might be a good option. Any thoughts?

Can't go wrong, but it's a real shame they weren't 2004, 2008, 2010 - all cracking St Henri's!

Surprised at the lack of Hunter enthusiasm though - 05, 07 and 09 are all amazing red vintages in the Hunter.

[Dan]

I was going to do this for my kids too, but unless you have ideal cellaring conditions, I don't think it's worth the gamble (sorry, only my opinion).

My cellar is pretty good, but 30yrs is a looong time. I've put away a bunch of wines for my wedding anniversary, but I get to keep track of how they are progressing every year.

When I turned 30 a few years back, I picked up a bunch of great wine via auction, and the prices are relatively good!!
If you go for the auctions where they put up single vendor cellars, chances are you'll get wine in fairly good condition.

My plan is to wait, see if they get into wine and then if they do, I'll search the secondary market (assuming it still exists in years to come) and buy proven wines.

Cheers
Dan

[Dan]

05, 07 and 09 are all amazing red vintages in the Hunter.

Shhhhhhh!

[AaronL]

Surprised at the lack of Hunter enthusiasm though - 05, 07 and 09 are all amazing red vintages in the Hunter.

05 07 & 09 4 Acres would be a great choice!

[rooman]

My kids were also born 2005 and 2007. 2005 was easy, I simply put down cases of Bordeaux. I was not ready in a position to buy First Growths such as Margaux and Latour so I went for the "super seconds" such as Pontet Canet,Pichon-Longueville Baron, Lynes Bages and Leoville Barton etc. These wines will live 50 years or more if cellared well. This link may help with your research. http://www.bordoverview.com/?year=2005&bank=left. I would have loved to add Palmer and Léoville-Las-Cases to the list but it was out of my price range.

2007 was much more difficult. It was a terrible year for reds in Bordeaux, hence there was no point buying any. It was however a good Sauternes year and decent Sauternes will also last 30-50 years. It was also a good year for German Riesling and I ended up putting down a few cases of German Riesling. It was also a vintage year for Port and though I have yet to pick any up, I will when the time is right.

[Wayno]

My kids were born 08 and 10 respectively. I plumped for longevity and quality over specific years so bought them both a bottle each of the latest St Henri. Can't go too wrong .

[Mike Hawkins]

I'm thinking that PENFOLDS St. Henri Shiraz might be a good option. Any thoughts?

I don't think they'll go the distance in those vintages.

[Rocky]

Go moss wood. Last weekend I consumed a 1983, superb, 31 years and apparently an average vintage.

[Luke W]

I agree with the Margaret River fans because these were very good years and C/S will usually outlast most varieties. All good years for Cullen Diana Madeline or Moss Wood Cabernets. Also I reckon you'll be drinking them not the kids (I've already drunk my kids years many times and they haven't been remotely interested in joining me). However if you put down 2 litres of vodka for each one, it would disappear in a flash.