The Auswine Forum

If you could have a bottle of any wine before you died what would it be ?
and why?

2002 Dead Arm of course Derek. Do you know where I can get some?????
MM.

I want to be able to drink almost every bottle of wine in my cellar before I die, I hope to leave just enough for a decent wake. I'm happy with what I've got and I don't lust after wines I can't afford.

In the scheme of life on this planet the amount I spend on wine is obscene enough without considering the gross obscenity of people scoffing $1000+ bottles of wine, but I try not to think about it too much or I'd have to sell a lot of it and donate to charities.

1990 HoG, but I'm still young and have a virgin palate compared to many of these forum 'veterans'...

Brian, exactly what I've always maintained I'd do.

I have an extensive cellar and it's not my intention to leave any to the kids. I'd like to work my way through it as I fade away leaving sufficient rippers for a decent wake. Maybe that's the trick, you talk yourself into passing away when that point is reached in your cellar rather than hanging on and working into the wake wines?

I'd like my last glass to be 1948 Fonseca Vintage Port, the most stunning wine I've ever had, was fabulous and still very youthful at 50 years of age. My task now is to find another bottle of it!

There are so many wines out there that just not possible to drink them all. I am happy with what I have, but there are just a few I am hoping of trying it before my time expire.
Chateau de la Romanee Conti is certainty on the list as well as many first growth Brodeaux wines.

Being a firm believer in longevity, I would like to try the 2050 Grange.............with 30 years of bottle age on it

This would make me 110yrs old, which is 46 years before my anticipated expiry date.

I am testing the theory that you only die of old age when you give up the desire to live.

707 wrote:I'd like my last glass to be 1948 Fonseca Vintage Port, the most stunning wine I've ever had, was fabulous and still very youthful at 50 years of age. My task now is to find another bottle of it!

Wine-searcher has plenty of listings in Netherlands, UK and USA, from AUD $425 to AUD $1550.

You could corner the market with this case of 12 in the UK:
http://www.everywine.co.uk/invt/12970&source=wsearcher

Why not think of it this way.

Just in case I get hit by a bus tomorrow, I will drink one of my best bottles tonight.

I reckon, stop finding "grand" reasons to consume great wine and just do so. Life really is too short to drink crap wine.

On on a side issue:

I never could quite work out the obsession of winemakers to make wine that needs 30 or 40 years to mature to reach its peak. I know that aged wine is a special thing, but can't they make even the best wines to mature within say 10 years. I'm 40 yrs old, and I don't want to be 75 to enjoy this years grange or HOG.

Am I missing something? does anyone else agree?

For me:

1988 Henri Bonneau Reserve des Celestins Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Gianna, I agree, wine doesn't need to be old to be great. I'm now getting into the dilemma about young VPs, will I still be here to enjoy them at maturity?

I love so many young wines and find so many older greats not that great.

Drink them at whatever age you personally like, be it young or fully mature.

Steve,

I am not blessed with a cellar of 20 yr + vintage wines, so I stand to be corrected:

I so often read about the dissappointment of older wines, that I wonder if cellaring with an outlook of 15 yrs + is realistic. I am not saying that older wines are not worth the wait or that they lack in quality, I am just suggesting that the winemakers should target drinking windows in the 2010's not 2030's.

If the 1999 Grange peaked in quality in 2010, would anyone be upset?

I just started getting serious about wine a few years ago, so at age 59, having older vintages in my cellar isn't part of part of the equation. The oldest bottle I have is now a '95, and I'm trying to hang onto that just a little while longer. I have some Rockford Basket Press, E&E Black Pepper, some Kaesler, and even a Roenfeldt Road, and my hope is to be around long enuf to enjoy these gems with a little age on them. Until then, I might just have to drink some of the stash while they're young. I reckon that if my time comes too soon, there will be helluva party at my Irish wake!!

Mike M

Mike M wrote: I reckon that if my time comes too soon, there will be helluva party at my Irish wake!!

Mike M

Story goes like this: Paddy gives his best mate one of his very best bottles to pour over him in his grave. His mate asks of Paddy:- "Would you be moindin if I filter it through me kidneys first Paddy?".
MM.

Had a bottle of Tahbilk 1860s Vines Shiraz 95 at Christmas that the winery gives a 25+ years drinking window. B-i-l and I thought it totally blew away the Lehmann Stonewell 98 that followed it and I doubt the Stonewell will have anywhere near the class of the 1860s in another three years but b-i-l and I were in the minority, the female relatives preferred the Lehmann. Hmmm....

I too, intend to consume the few gems I've gathered before leaving the mortal plane (nothing to do with Boeing!) but hope to share at least some of them with others like b-i-l who enjoy good wine BUT I've no intention of leaving any behind for a wake - let any who attend bring their own!

Cheers

daz