Comments on: Vintage Dr. Vino: Finding birth year wines in Food & Wine magazine

By: Steve Howe

Steve Howe — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 16:54:01 +0000

We bought bottles of wine for our daughters when they were still young children. It was a fun idea….but neither wine was good when they turned 21. Guess we should have done more research before selecting the wine.

By: Pouring a birth year wine, 1983 edition | Dr Vino's wine blog

Pouring a birth year wine, 1983 edition | Dr Vino's wine blog — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 20:16:22 +0000

[...] this one from a friend who had cellared it since release. But a few years ago, I wrote a story for Food & Wine on finding birth year wines and it can definitely be worth the effort–especially if you can pull the (crumbly) cork and [...]

By: Enoteca Fine Wine and Beer

Enoteca Fine Wine and Beer — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:29:49 +0000

It doesn’t make sense for retailers to carry ancient stock. The cost of holding inventory (storage, lost opportunity, etc.) is 15% per year, so let’s just say you have a $100 bottle of wine that you buy when it’s already 6 years old. That would be a 2006 vintage, today. If you hold it for 15 years before selling it, you need to sell for $1200, otherwise it’s not worth it. Do you want to go buy a 21 year old wine for $1200?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:45:48 +0000

The hard thing is finding the stuff for sale, unless you’re willing to take the time to find a private broker. K&L does a decent job trying to stock some aged stuff, but there simply aren’t a ton of good options out there from retailers.

By: Enoteca - Fine Wine & Beer

Enoteca - Fine Wine & Beer — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:53:45 +0000

My lovely bride got me a Brunello from 1979. We opened it a little after my 30th last year, and it was fantastic! For most shoppers I recommend going with a Vintage Port or a high quality German Riesling if you’re shopping for your kids. First, they have a better chance of standing up to time compared to 99% of reds out there, and secondly, when your child or grandchild turns 21 and wants to open it up, they’re likely to enjoy a dessert more than a dry red.

By: The Wine Mule

The Wine Mule — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:27:08 +0000

Some of us need to look for port or Cognac from our birth year.

By: how to make wine

how to make wine — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:38:02 +0000

Great article! I’ve been making my own wine lately, so I haven’t had a chance to even think about finding wine from my own birth date (1985)! Going to get on this now

By: Dr Vino provides his take on Australia’s fine wines « The Landmark Tutorials – Australia’s Fine Wine Story

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:16:38 +0000

[...] Grange, this time a 1971 vintage. As you may recall from a magazine article I once wrote about finding birth year wines, 1971 is always a vintage that I keep an eye out for. (The wine’s success in the auction market [...]

By: A historic tasting Down Under - Bin 60A, Grange, Hill of Grace | Dr Vino's wine blog

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:59:19 +0000

By: Michelle McCue

Michelle McCue — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:57:21 +0000

I think the idea of the parents storing a case until the child’s 21st birthday is a great idea. Beyond that, you might be talking about a serious investment in order to ensure the wine is still drinkable. On the other hand, who cares if it’s drinkable? I sort of like the idea of keeping it indefinitely. I’m not usually much for keeping trophy wines just to have them on display – wine is food, after all, and should be consumed – but there are the occasional exceptions.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:50:41 +0000

Thanks, great suggestions, I will see if my local shoppe has any.

If you will allow me to pick your brain a little more, which may require you to dig deeper for obscure information, my boss works in early childhood advocacy, and has a history in politics. Can you think of any nice French with an appropriate name or label? I remember a few years ago there was a wine from Costieres de Nimes that had a label designed by children. Of course it was only about $12.

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:03:09 +0000

Indeed, the 07s aren’t yet off the vine, let alone in the bottle!

Sadly, you can’t get a 1945 for $100 despite it being an excellent year in Bordeaux.

How bout one of the lovely 2000s? Pontet-Canet? Lagrange? Those about about $70 – $80.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:23:22 +0000

I’m getting a bottle of wine for my boss’ wedding, but he was born in ’45. What are the chances of finding anything drinkable from that year?! And the good Doctor suggested a bottle from the year of their wedding–this year–but that’s a little young. I’d like to spend around $80 or so. Any other suggestions?

By: GI Jane

GI Jane — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:48:30 +0000

On the weekend of the Coonawarra Caberenet Festival in October 2006, I attended the Barrel Cellar Dinner at Wynns. I was lucky enough to try their 1982 Cabernet that night. It was a special bottle, made even more magical by the fact that I was surrounded by some of my very best mates! (The 1965 we tried was also wonderful, but I was slightly more wowed by the ’82, being of that vintage myself.) Cheers!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:30:53 +0000

I have to chime in since ’83 is my birthyear as well.

I hear the sauterne’s were pretty good that year, but so far I’ve managed to collect a horizontal of ports from that year.