Can anyone guess how much an old wine is worth?

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Permalink Reply by susan holaday on November 27, 2008 at 4:59pm

Could be between $45 and $100 possibly. That's a guess - sorry it's such a broad range.

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Permalink Reply by Jil Child on November 27, 2008 at 5:19pm

Thanks Susan, but if I tried my luck, I would say $800 to $1000 - - It is so smooth, delicious and aged 15 years. I can understand the French here, but I know the winemaker, Darryl Groom (back then) and he told me this would last as long as 12 years. I've taken a few classes at Greystone, CIA and I know the 80's stuff is pretty much gone, however, there are a few still out there. We just opened a Geyser Peak 2003 Reserve Shiraz, it's even better. Maybe I'll run into Darryl soon! When I was pulling this stuff out, I thought, "Oh my God!" we have ruined great bottles our of lack of chores. The cellar is under the house. This proves that a constant, uninterrupted, quiet environment matters! I'll pass this on to my clients and students! Anyone else with guesses?

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Permalink Reply by Bretton Lammi on November 28, 2008 at 7:44am

I would guess in the $50-$75 dollar range. 1993 was a good year-not a stellar year- but cabs/reds from Sonoma, especially Alexander Valley, were not in their prominence as they are today (witness the new Rodney Strong Rockaway or the Peter Michael Les Pavots). I would not worry about how much it is worth- if it still tastes good- who cares? Wine is only worth what you get out of drinking it, in my opinion. I do not collect wines for their value- I drink them! What are some of the other wines that you found?

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Permalink Reply by Debra Straka on November 29, 2008 at 7:01am

Jil,
I agree with Bretton. The true value of any wine is the joy and pleasure it brings you as you serve it.

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Permalink Reply by susan holaday on November 29, 2008 at 7:22am

I think so too. Wines appreciate as they age, of course, but their value is far more than monetary - it's the way they compliment the food they're served with and the pleasure they give that's the real value.

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Permalink Reply by Jil Child on November 29, 2008 at 7:52am

Thanks everyone. I certainly agree, but just because of what I do for a living, when I reach for older bottles, someone always ooooohhh aaaahhhss and has to press the question. I usually reply that I don't know. Then I thought of FohBoh. I told my guests that if anyone could answer the question it would come from the website.

However, the moral of the story is about the perfect storage conditions. I have both an inside storage cellar and then one under my house in the crawl space. The bottles under the house are extremely rare bottles (Geyser Peak was a test, only because the winemaker told me it would last 20 years - maybe it would have) and lined with packaging material. They are in a calm, quiet, dark and very constant temperature. They always age better under the house. No thrills! My friends and family always like to go into my indoor storage and handle the bottles. Even some of the 1999 wines are not tasting as good as some of the older wines under the house and compare in quality that follow "Cult Wine Central."

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