Advice on 2017 birth year wines

[kenzo]

Hi everyone,

I searched and couldn't find anything specific for 2017, so thought I'd start a new thread. My first nipper was born in 2017, and as I have been out of the loop for a while, would like to ask for advice on some good birth year wines. I'm not familiar with the quality of the vintage yet, but am hoping to get a good cross selection of reds (still and sparkling) and whites.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Simon

[Mike Hawkins]

Magnums under screw cap of Grosset Polish Hill

[ticklenow1]

What Mike said.

Magnums definitely the way to go, especially if under screw cap, though I took the punt with several cork sealed magnums from ‘09 for my youngest lads birth year.

+ 2017 Hunter reds are supposedly very good. Perhaps a Lakes Folly Cabernets, Mount Pleasnt or Tyrrells if you can get hold of some. Margaret River haven’t seem to have had a bad year since 2006. Decent year in the Yarra Valley too.

Cheers
Ian

[Hunter]

Pooley cooinda vale chardonnay magnum

[paulf]

Vintage Port.
The Symington Family has just announced that they are declaring Graham's, Dow's, Warre's, Cockburns', Quinta do Vesuvio for 2017. (The first time in their history that they have made back to back declarations, as 2016 was generally declared as well). Quinta do Noval has also declared. I'd expect Taylor Fladgate (Taylors, Fonseca, Croft) to also declare since they all have booked a showcase tour of the US along with the Symingtons. Taylor Fladgate always declare on St Georges Day (April 23rd). Others will follow.
Given the break in tradition, I'd be very confident about the quality of both the 2016 and 2017.

[cleanskinlover]

Having done this with Miss 1998 and Master 2004 I can say I wish I bought more Riesling. I'm glad I have the vintage Champagne and not so glad about the big Barossa Shiraz. I agree with the large format to an extent however it's a pain to store if your not in a paid facility.
Can't go wrong with Riesling, always good on a budget.

[Waiters Friend]

Having done this with Miss 1998 and Master 2004 I can say I wish I bought more Riesling. I'm glad I have the vintage Champagne and not so glad about the big Barossa Shiraz. I agree with the large format to an extent however it's a pain to store if your not in a paid facility.
Can't go wrong with Riesling, always good on a budget.

Fully agree - 2017 Australian Rieslings from Clare, Eden and Great Southern in whatever format you can acquire. And you may be able to afford all of them

[Mahmoud Ali]

Vintage Port.
The Symington Family has just announced that they are declaring Graham's, Dow's, Warre's, Cockburns', Quinta do Vesuvio for 2017. (The first time in their history that they have made back to back declarations, as 2016 was generally declared as well). Quinta do Noval has also declared. I'd expect Taylor Fladgate (Taylors, Fonseca, Croft) to also declare since they all have booked a showcase tour of the US along with the Symingtons. Taylor Fladgate always declare on St Georges Day (April 23rd). Others will follow.
Given the break in tradition, I'd be very confident about the quality of both the 2016 and 2017.

There is a rumour afoot that a declaration may be made here in Edmonton at a tasting I will be attending on the 9th of May. It won't be the first time its been done in Edmonton. I was at one when the late Bruce Guimaraens declared the 2000 vintage of Fonseca here in Edmonton. Lovely man, very engrossing, and a good story teller.

An agent I knew gave me the idea of having a bottle signed by Mr Guimaraens. It was only a day or two before the event, I was without a car at the time, and my collection was in the basement of a friends house. So I had to cycle across town to collect my two bottles of Fonseca, a 1977 Vintage Port and a 1978 Guimaraens VP.

After the port tasting and the signing, I mentioned to Bruce Guimaraens that my Sydney-sider girl liked port to the extent that she took a bottle of Sandeman's port with her on her 6 month truck and camping tour across Africa. He told us that his younger son was on one of those tours and it wasn't but a moment before it was established that they were both on the same truck tour. I remember Jodie telling me that a fellow on the tour spotted her bottle of port and remarked that his family was in the port trade. Small world. Fast forward a few years, and to complete the circle, I ended up buying a few bottles of the 2000 Fonseca.

Cheers ........... Mahmoud.

[Ozzie W]

Some great recommendations here.

I'm not sure of the timeline for when you intend to drink the birth year wines. If you want to drink some in the next decade or so, consider some Yarra Valley, Mornington or even Tassie Pinot Noir. 2017 was a good vintage for Pinot. Consider producers such as Giant Steps, Hoddles Creek, Main Ridge, Yabby Lake, Dr Edge, Pooley, and Chatto.

Also, don't discount Old World wines. Wines from Barolo/Barbaresco will go the distance and most don't cost the earth like their Burgundy/Bordeaux counterparts. It'll be another year before the 2017 Barbaresco's are released and 2 years for the Barolo's.

[TiggerK]

Good year to have as a birth year I reckon!

Hunter Valley superb, the semillon in particular and will easily go the distance under screwcap. The Hunter 17 reds also consistent across the board, and Lake Folly Chardonnay is darn good too. Also Victorian Chardonnay and Pinot, and as has been mentioned, plenty of Riesling!

[kenzo]

Thanks for all the recommendations! I had thought of the Rieslings, and will keep an eye out for some of the other recommendations. Interesting also to hear about the port declaration.

Luckily not all 2017s are released yet, as my wallet will be suffering from the arrival of the next birth year needed, in a month's time!

[Wizz]

Some great recommendations here.

I'm not sure of the timeline for when you intend to drink the birth year wines. If you want to drink some in the next decade or so, consider some Yarra Valley, Mornington or even Tassie Pinot Noir. 2017 was a good vintage for Pinot. Consider producers such as Giant Steps, Hoddles Creek, Main Ridge, Yabby Lake, Dr Edge, Pooley, and Chatto.

Also, don't discount Old World wines. Wines from Barolo/Barbaresco will go the distance and most don't cost the earth like their Burgundy/Bordeaux counterparts. It'll be another year before the 2017 Barbaresco's are released and 2 years for the Barolo's.

Second this recommendation, but also note that these Pinots don't have a track record for very long term keeping (well not yet anyway).

2017 Yarra Cabernets may be interesting.

[TiggerK]

Yeah fair enough too Wizz, I wouldn't be keeping the vast majority of Australian Chardonnay or Pinot for 20 years, more 5-15 for me, with a couple of exceptions. Of course screwcap will improve the ageability a bit too though, but I'd be sticking to Sem, Riesling and especially Cabernet for safe and enjoyable 20 year plus cellaring prospects.

[Ozzie W]

Some great recommendations here.

I'm not sure of the timeline for when you intend to drink the birth year wines. If you want to drink some in the next decade or so, consider some Yarra Valley, Mornington or even Tassie Pinot Noir. 2017 was a good vintage for Pinot. Consider producers such as Giant Steps, Hoddles Creek, Main Ridge, Yabby Lake, Dr Edge, Pooley, and Chatto.

Also, don't discount Old World wines. Wines from Barolo/Barbaresco will go the distance and most don't cost the earth like their Burgundy/Bordeaux counterparts. It'll be another year before the 2017 Barbaresco's are released and 2 years for the Barolo's.

Second this recommendation, but also note that these Pinots don't have a track record for very long term keeping (well not yet anyway).

2017 Yarra Cabernets may be interesting.

I've had a few Aussie Pinots with 10+ years of age on them which were drinking beautifully. The good producers will go the distance. Sure, they won't age 25+ years like Grand Cru Burgundy. I reckon people don't cellar enough Aussie Pinot. A 2008 By Farr Tout Pres I had a few months ago was wonderful drinking and mistaken for Burgundy by 8 people when tasted blind.

Also, you don't want all the reds in your cellar to mature at the same time. Earlier maturing varietals such as Pinot Noir give balance to a cellar.

[Craig(NZ)]

Don't consider NZ
That's my advice on 2017

[kenzo]

Cheers Craig - my NZ collection is comprised of a few 98 cabernets and 99 syrah. Drank my 98 Coleraine a long time ago (and too soon)!
Hope you have been keeping well - still remember that sip of Dry River!

[Mahmoud Ali]

I've had a few Aussie Pinots with 10+ years of age on them which were drinking beautifully. The good producers will go the distance. Sure, they won't age 25+ years like Grand Cru Burgundy. I reckon people don't cellar enough Aussie Pinot. A 2008 By Farr Tout Pres I had a few months ago was wonderful drinking and mistaken for Burgundy by 8 people when tasted blind.

Also, you don't want all the reds in your cellar to mature at the same time. Earlier maturing varietals such as Pinot Noir give balance to a cellar.

I concur. Based on a single bottle of 2001 Coldstream Hill Pinot Noir that I opened last year, my first thought was why didn't I double down on my purchase. The same thing happened with a 2001 Errazuriz 'Wild Ferment' from Chile that was also opened last year. These two examples last year reminded me of a 1982 Paul Masson pinot from California that got overlooked in my cellar some time ago and, at considerable age, for a simple pinot, it was lovely. I've said this before but I've come to the conclusion that many pinots will age better than conventionally thought.

[Craig(NZ)]

Cheers Craig - my NZ collection is comprised of a few 98 cabernets and 99 syrah. Drank my 98 Coleraine a long time ago (and too soon)!
Hope you have been keeping well - still remember that sip of Dry River!

I still have 3 magnums of 1998 Coleraine, but I am pretty sure I only have a single 750ml bottle left. Magnums are great for keeping a wine safe from pulling corks on impulse.

You need to visit NZ and I can show you behind all the BS, what are the latest hot hot wines over here

[brodie]

Don't consider NZ
That's my advice on 2017

Having tasted most of the line up for 2017 at Felton Road, I would not make such a blanket statement. May be their best vintage yet. I am not so sure that every single wine region in NZ had identical weather during the 2017 vintage season.

Also I have had Felton Rd pinots at 15 years still going strong so I would actually recommend them for birth year wines to drink on the child’s 18 or 21 birthdays.

[Craig(NZ)]

Don't consider NZ
That's my advice on 2017

Having tasted most of the line up for 2017 at Felton Road, I would not make such a blanket statement. May be their best vintage yet. I am not so sure that every single wine region in NZ had identical weather during the 2017 vintage season.

Also I have had Felton Rd pinots at 15 years still going strong so I would actually recommend them for birth year wines to drink on the child’s 18 or 21 birthdays.

Agree 2017 in Central Otago was excellent. You may be right, a good Felton Road Block in magnum especially would probably be fine, but I would still consider it more risky than other options if the world is your oyster. I have had 10 year old Felton Roads that have been fine, though personally I wouldn't run the 20 year old experiment myself. Oh, and, good luck finding one too even if you do want one. Not impossible but it is rather scarce