The Auswine Forum

It struck me the other day that I was accumulating some fairly expensive wines for the cellar (for me anyway) that were over $50 and pushing upwards of $100. I don't mind cracking a $50 bottle on a Sat evening Whim but what about $100 wines?
When do you get to drink these wines?
I have been keeping them for special occassions but have found a lot coming into drinking windows and not enough special occassions!
what does everyone else do?

Drink them whenever it pleases you most. I am just has happy to drink a $100 wine on a Tuesday as a Saturday. Life is too short to muck about with this sort of thing (finances permitting of course).

GW

I have a bunch of quaffers (sub $20) on hand at all times, for when I feel like a drink but couldn't really care less what it is - as long as I like it.
But I'll crack a $50 or $100 wine "on a whim", no special occasion needed, if I feel like having something special. If I'm "in the mood" for something better, then something better it is. Normally, I just have to be satisfied that I'm giving myself a fair crack at appreciating what I'm about to open. Right food, or right evening, right company, no rush, feeling well, nose and palate working properly etc. Otherwise I know I'm wasting the bottle and will go for something less special. I got over feeling guilty about having my Giaconda pinot or Leeuwin Art Chard on an "ordinary" evening long ago. I've learned instead to appreciate that I'm enjoying such a fabulous drop, and in so doing turning an "ordinary" evening into a better one! Sans budgetary constraints, I'd be decadent every time. I'm with Gary on this one.

Walshy prefers to drink really expensive wines when he is 3/4 cut.

Personally, I prefer to share em with a few people I like and who appreciate what is being opened for them. That means for me and the wife usually. No special occasion required, it's usually just a matter of "I feel like something really good tonight".

Gary W wrote:Drink them whenever it pleases you most. I am just has happy to drink a $100 wine on a Tuesday as a Saturday. Life is too short to muck about with this sort of thing (finances permitting of course).

GW

Correct. I got over this many years ago

Often a special wine can improve the outlook and current situation

Davo wrote:Walshy prefers to drink really expensive wines when he is 3/4 cut.

Is there any other way to appreciate fine wine? The most memorable wines I have ever had are usually the ones I can't remember.

Hey I think I just made that one up. I am brilliant!

GW

Gary W wrote:

Davo wrote:Walshy prefers to drink really expensive wines when he is 3/4 cut.

The most memorable wines I have ever had are usually the ones I can't remember.

GW

Well, there will be more of that happening as you head towards your alcohol fueled premature senility, so you should have some great unmemorable wines to look forward to hehe

We love good bubbles and if we have something to celebrate we'll open something petty flash if we've got it and we have a good excuse.( such as we're still in love after 25 years)

The only proviso is that the day has a Y in it.

cheers
Smithy

Davo wrote:Well, there will be more of that happening as you head towards your alcohol fueled premature senility, so you should have some great unmemorable wines to look forward to hehe

Sorry; what was the question?

When the in laws are over...
Technically it was once a $100 bottle, but I generally fill it with the best Merlot $8 can buy!

More seriously when I am with company who will enjoy it. I find most of the pleasure in wine is in direct correlation to the company you drink it with.

LL

When do you drink a $100 wine ???


Whenever you can.

When ever you can and with what ever you wish. I have drank $100+ bottle of wine with pizza.

Normally I drank expensive wine when I have good friends coming over for dinner who understand and apperciate fine wines

Interesting question and something I'm still trying to come to terms with. I have no problems opening even $300 bottles for special occasions (or even offlines when I know it will be appreciated) but I find my cellar full of $100+ bottles and still feel the need to justify opening them when not a special occasion. Doing it a lot more with friends but I still find it an issue.

I'll eventually get over it as many are approaching drinking time in a hurry!

Most days of the week.

This is my local Hong Kong bottleshop's specials this week-

PRODUCER FOCUS - PENFOLDS

PENFOLDS THOMAS HYLAND CABERNET

148.00

PENFOLDS THOMAS HYLAND SHIRAZ

148.00

PENFOLDS BIN128 COONAWARRA SHIRAZ 2002

228.00

PENFOLDS BIN 407 CAB SAUV 2001

268.00

PENFOLDS BIN 389 CAB SHIRAZ 2002

388.00

PENFOLDS BIN 389 CAB SHIRAZ 1999

398.00

PENFOLDS ST HENRI SHIRAZ 2001

598.00

PENFOLDS BIN 707 CAB SAUV 2002

1088.00

PENFOLDS RWT SHIRAZ 2001


1128.00

PENFOLDS GRANGE 1999

2988.00

PENFOLDS GRANGE 2000

3518.00

PENFOLDS GRANGE 1992

3638.00

PENFOLDS GRANGE 1991

3998.00

PENFOLDS GRANGE 1983

4188.00

PENFOLDS GRANGE 1990

5288.00


Divide by 5.7 for AUD.

BLOODY ELL

Gary W wrote:Drink them whenever it pleases you most. I am just has happy to drink a $100 wine on a Tuesday as a Saturday. Life is too short to muck about with this sort of thing (finances permitting of course).

GW

what he said

The way I look at it, you may as well drink 'em when you feel like it. They're no good to you once you're dead .....

Mike Hawkins wrote:They're no good to you once you're dead .....

might not be the case!

1) I instructed my wife to open our BEST bottles for the party after my funeral.

2) after death, if you are a good moslem, Koran guarantees you GREAT wines:

Koran 47:15
Here is a Parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised. In it
are...rivers of wine...


Koran 56:7-40
They shall recline on jeweled couches face to face, and there shalt wait on
them immortal youths with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest wine:

Koran 83:23-26
The righteous will surely dwell in bliss. Reclining upon soft couches they
will gaze around them: and in their faces you shall mark the glow of joy.
They shall be given a pure wine to drink, securely sealed, whose very dregs
are musk...


My only concern is the last promise:
are the bottles securely sealed with corks or screw caps? What are the percentages of TCA affected corks in Paradise?

Serge wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:They're no good to you once you're dead .....

might not be the case!


My only concern is ..........are the bottles securely sealed with corks or screw caps? What are the percentages of TCA affected corks in Paradise?

Serge ... This in one reason why I give a generous tip to the wine waiter at the Saturday tasting I attend. Not only do I get good service but he knows I appreciate it when he doesn't question that a wine is corked, and opens a fresh bottle. If he doesn't make it upstairs before I do I'm hoping my name has been passed on among his older professional friends.

Mike

Mike,
salut! I don't know about others, but you are definatelly guaranteed good juice "upstairs!" When I was a student in USSR, I used to live with 2 Palestinians in the same room and I made the deal with them:
I traded my allocations of virgins for their allocation of wine! I'll be celebate but very happy nevertheless...and my better half doesn't mind the arrangement.

I think the consensus is when you want to drink them, but good wine is best consumed with appreciative company and good food.

I think the consensus is reached as a function of another disease wine freaks tend to have which may be an even sharper point of conversation:

We buy way way too many top flight wines for the number of real occassions that demand them! Too many 'must haves', 'too many icons'

I must admit to being one of these people. My average $$ cost is stupidly high as I find it easier to resist buying cheaper wines!!

I tend to drink them mainly on special occassions with those that appreciate them (this includes most my friends and family)

As my total cellar size isnt anywhere near the size as most here (been at 300-350 for the last 8 years), my 'problem' is managable. With the size of many cellars about it must just becomes statistically necessary to drink something good on a 'monday night' or risk an eventual tidal wave of 'you need to drink me soon before I decline' wines clogging the cellar.

roughred wrote:
More seriously when I am with company who will enjoy it. I find most of the pleasure in wine is in direct correlation to the company you drink it with.

I absolutely agree - one of my greatest pleasures is sharing wine with someone who appreciates it.