Need Help With 6 Litre Bottle 1996 Yalumba Signature

[Chuck]

Being a sucker for large format bottles I acquired one of these many years ago and have stared at it in the cellar ever since wondering when I could open it. Original thoughts were my 70th (too long to wait) or my wake (would never enjoy it) whichever came first.

Rather than wait I want to decant it into 6 normal bottles and was wondering if there are anyone out there with the equipment to do this properly ensuring the wines can be put back in the cellar. I'd happily give a bottle in return. Screwcap preferred. I'm in Adelaide and happy to travel to MV, AH, BV, EV, LC etc.

A mate's also got the same issue and he would probably be interested.

Chuck

[n4sir]

Hi Chuck,

Please forgive me for saying this, but...

DON'T DO IT!!!

The idea of opening & decanting an imperial into eight bottles (if it's 6L it has to be eight, not six) makes about as much sense as a wine bottle made out of cheese. You will be exposing the wine to some oxygen content during the process (however minimal) which will defeat the purpose of having an imperial in the first place.

If you want 5-8 bottles, sell the imperial at auction (or on eBay if you have access to a liquor licence) and then buy your 750ml bottles at auction (I suspect with plenty of change), making sure their provenance is sound - you'll end up with something like the same without ruining an imperial you've carefully cellared. Better still, it may even be worth contacting Yalumba directly about this - there might be a chance they could be interested in exchanging it for an equivalent value of 750ml bottles from their own immaculate cellar, which will be about as good a result as you could ever wish for.

The other option is just pick an upcoming occasion and drink the bloody thing, be it a birthday with a zero on the end, a retirement, some special offline or other huge piss-up, but whatever you do, please don't go ahead with your previous plan.

My 2c,
Ian

[Chuck]

Oh yee of little faith.

Any winemakers or others with expertise out there with an opinion on this? I feel if there was minimal contact with air and everything else was clean and an inert gas used to displace air in the bottles it may work.

Alternatively anyone want to do a swap for some comparable wines.

Chuck

[tos]

I agree with Ian's suggestions ... it would be possible but let some one else have the "thrill" of a 6L bottle if it isn't for you/can't find the crowd & occasion.

I've got a 3 litre 2001 Signature (2001v) which despite being a bit young, I'll open this May or June when we are away for a weekend with some friends (ie a bit of a crowd - no real occasion).

[monghead]

Chuck,

I wouldn't do it.

Why not buy a single bottle off auction if you want to try it soon. If you like it, you have a grand bottle for a big birthday bash, wedding, or anniversary. If you don't like it, you could sell it off for a much better price than if you had split it up (in fact, you probably cant sell it off after that at all...)

Anyways, your wine mate, so your choice.

Monghead.

[Gavin Trott]

Need Help With 6 Litre Bottle 1996 Yalumba Signature

Carl, I'll be right round, glass in hand ... only too happy to help!

.

[Waiters Friend]

What can we say? You were a sucker for large format bottles, and you're now tring to work out how to best spend your investment.

Like me (with a double magnum of Maxwell's Lime Cave Cabernet 2002 to drink singlehanded) I suggest you just get the cavalry in. Invite anyone you know that knows anything about reds anbd hope that some appreciation occurs. You won't necessarily get your money back on auction.

[Chuck]

Thanks guys. Seems there's a theme here. Drinking it with those who would appreciate it seems logical but I'd like to enjoy it with a nice meal. Blue scotch fillet comes to mind. Maybe an offline would be good. I'll put the thinking cap on. Any suggestions out there from Adelaidites? Too hot now to drink heavy reds now. Perhap autumn onwards.

Hope its not corked!!

Chuck

[tos]

Also given the size of the cork/neck of the bottle, 6L bottles aren't the easiest to open or decant!

[cuttlefish]

I think siphoning might be the best answer for you Chuck, into a number of decanters for drinking up.

[Craig(NZ)]

invite some firends over (lots of em) workmates etc and be done with it i reckon!

big bottles are for sharing

[dazza1968]

Forget friends you know and invite friends you havent met yet LIKE ME LOL ,

This is my daughters birthday year so if you do plan to move it then Let me know

Drink a bit further down the track IMHO Say next week and invite monghead and his lady as well Now he would know alot about this baby i would suspect Regards Dazza