The Auswine Forum

Not trying to promote some ego thing but what's the largest bottle that you own(ed) or even consumed from? One of the guys here is moving onto bigger and better things and was gifted a double magnum of Torbreck. I've always had a bit of a giggle at the names as they get larger, especially when they go biblical. Maybe a Melchizedek should have been called a Ben Hur?

Imperial (6L) for me, many many times. But I have seen 15L formats for sale, including high-end Bordeaux. I guess they are made for birth years etc.

Imperials are rather difficult to use, you need at least 10 for dinner to enjoy, preferably 12 or more. (unless you just want too drink the one wine all night, which is a little bit boring) and they take almost forever to mature. We opened a 1996 Yalumba Signature for Xmas 2012 and it was just way way way too young.

Double magnums, on the other hand, I love. They age superbly, better than bottles (750mls), and a mature 3L bottle is a joy to share. A great centrepiece for a dinner party. This is my favourite large format, and I am lucky to own several dozen 3L Bordeaux and Burgundy, stretching back to 1982. The 2010's, however, I will never see opened, they will need a good 40 years to mature.

2002 trevor jones wild witch 9litres.
Purchased and consumed few years ago.

Once had an imperial of Yalumba 1996 Signature but could never find an occasion to open it. Eventually sold and replaced with more sensibly sized bottle. Still have a few magnuns.

I have a 6L 2004 Nine Popes for my oldest's birth year as well as a double magnum of 2007 Turkey Flat shiraz for the next one. Haven't seen any large format 2010 yet, for the third and last.

-- George Krashos

George, I thought I had my last 22 years ago, and I am sitting in a maternity hospital with newborn as I type this I guess you never say never hehehehe

How about this bad boy?

wow!
Thats the big one allright!
Thank you for sharing
cheers

Sadly I have very few large formats. I think I need a concerted effort with Champagne magnums, but I suspect the bank manager (my wife) may have a different view.

I do have 3x double magnums of Taylors VP 2011. As seems to be a theme, this was purchased as birth year wine for my boy. At least he will have something to drink on his 50th/60th/70th!

Simon

You sure are nailing your colours to the mast when you crack a double magnum of VP towards the end of the night!

Oh, yeah, and the largest format I have owned would be 4L of Debortoli Premium Shiraz Cabernet NV. I think the biblical name for the format is Goon.
Magnums are a PITA for me, they don't fit comfortably in the vintec.

Only magnums for me. Would love to get some 2010 and 2013 double magnums for my kids for when I am long gone.

I will have to suffice with drinking their standard bottles at 18th and 21st birthdays and hope they haven't developed a passion for wine at that age

Diddy wrote:

How about this bad boy?

JESUS!!! 27 litres of The Laird............. a normal 750ml bottle is more than $ 650..... I would
hate to think what a Goliath like this is worth.

I only have:

1 * Double Magnum of 2007 Wirra Wirra Church Block
1 * Magnum of 1998 Jim Barry McRae Wood Shiraz
2 * Magnums of 2008 Yabby Lake Estate Chardonnay


I have decided Magnums are the only way to go for Christmas Day lunch........... now im thinking next
year I should stock up on Double Magnums for Christmas.... I dont think i can do 27 litres though

I only have a few random magnums ... 1990 Stanton and Killeen VP, 2004 Brokenwood Semillon, 2012 Yarra Yering Dry Red #1, Tyrrell's Vat 9 2013

I used to have some Wolf Blass Black Label 1985 but they are both drunk now as is the 1993 Bin 707.

Rossco wrote:JESUS!!! 27 litres of The Laird............. a normal 750ml bottle is more than $ 650..... I would
hate to think what a Goliath like this is worth.

Put it this way, you wouldn't get much change out of £30,000 (yes that's pounds sterling). Must be the Dave Powell signature!

A few more I spotted on a recent visit to Hedonism Wines in London:-

So. Much. D'yquem.

Diddy wrote:

Rossco wrote:JESUS!!! 27 litres of The Laird............. a normal 750ml bottle is more than $ 650..... I would
hate to think what a Goliath like this is worth.

Put it this way, you wouldn't get much change out of £30,000 (yes that's pounds sterling). Must be the Dave Powell signature!

these days the bottle would be worth more without his signature

yum, wouldn't mind that bottle of 2010 Conseillante

maybs wrote:So. Much. D'yquem.

........ so.......... much.......... winepr0n

The only place I knew about that had large format bottles readily available for
sale was a Castle Hotel/Restaurant in switzerland I read about in GT Wine magazine
(sorry forgot the name). Apparently they have special format wine bottles made
& delivered directly from famous Wine producers all over the world.

maybs wrote:So. Much. D'yquem.

And, sadly being stuffed by light deterioration!

Thommo wrote:You sure are nailing your colours to the mast when you crack a double magnum of VP towards the end of the night!

Fortifieds are OK to open from a large format. You'll probably never drink say a double mag., even a mag for that matter, in one sitting.
Stand the large bottle upright a week or two before opening, then carefully pull the cork and decant (better using a thin rubber hose) into a spare bottle/mag.
When full, decant rest into a decanter and enjoy. Spare bottle / mag will be good for another 2 - 3 months if you haven't splashed the primary decant. Can remember decanting '67 Taylors VP's (750ml) into halves for my restaurant boss at the time - 1979 - still good after 3 - 4 weeks.

I picked up a magnum of Ch Figac 2005 as a birth year wine for my son- will probably have it on his 21st- and a magnum of Lakes Folly 2007 for my daughter. Bar those couple sadly i have almost none.

WineRick wrote:

Thommo wrote:You sure are nailing your colours to the mast when you crack a double magnum of VP towards the end of the night!

Fortifieds are OK to open from a large format. You'll probably never drink say a double mag., even a mag for that matter, in one sitting.
Stand the large bottle upright a week or two before opening, then carefully pull the cork and decant (better using a thin rubber hose) into a spare bottle/mag.
When full, decant rest into a decanter and enjoy. Spare bottle / mag will be good for another 2 - 3 months if you haven't splashed the primary decant. Can remember decanting '67 Taylors VP's (750ml) into halves for my restaurant boss at the time - 1979 - still good after 3 - 4 weeks.

Thanks Rick

Some very useful information here.

Cheers

Michael

An imperial or two of some much older Redman cabernet, one memorably consumed amongst 10 upstairs at Maria & Walters back in the Rathdowne St days.

Magnum is the goto size for me, particularly older Wynns, Penfolds and smattering of other Coonawarra stuff. Have a few magnums of french muck as well. Oh, and a couple of double magnums of Katnook cab

Magnums in cellar.
2011 Lake's Folly Cabernets
2006 Geoff Merrill Cabernet-Shiraz
2 X 2004 Reilly's Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Land
2 X 2004 Knappstein Cabernet Sauvignon Enterprise (got these for a steal at the CD as the labels say 750ML)

Magnums

1 x 2005 St Hugo Cab Sav
3 x 2007 Cullen Diana Madeline
1 x 2010 Cullen Diana Madeline
1 x 2008 Woodlands Shelley Anne
1 x 2009 Woodlands Alma May
1 x 2010 Woodlands Heather Jean
1 x 2011 Woodlands Alex
1 x 2011 Moss Wood Cab Sav

A double magnum of Lake's Folly Cabernets 2009. Looks formidable.

Cheers, Travis.

Biggest I ever had was a Wirra Wirra Church Block (Double Magnum/Jereboam?) which we cracked on our Wedding Day back in 2008. The occasion made the wine shine for some readon.

Currently the largest we have is a '06 Kellermeister Wild Witch magnum.