Chateau Lafite-Rothchild vintage 1899…..I wonder what this wine would say if it were opened today? Would it say I’m old and tired? or would it say thank you for cellaring me under the most perfect conditions so that all of my contents could meld together to give you the experience of wine you will never forget? Probably the latter.
This 19th century, post phylloxera, bottle of wine was produced by a first growth estate within Bordeaux, France. Those familiar with the term “first growth” know that the grapes that produced this bottle of wine were grown on one of the most prestigious plots of land in the world defined in 1855. This bottle blended with cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and possibly a smidgen of petit verdot grapes, grown on gravelly soil, is a collectors item worth about $289,000. In fact it was purchased at auction, within a group of other equally prestigious Lafite wines. Why? I would hope for the experience of the evolution that happened in the bottle over time…a seamless and continuous mellowing that would be tasted with each sip from the glass…. bouquet and flavors of….mint, cedar, tobacco, almond, spice, cherry, violet…..on and on it would go.
The significance of this is not to dangle what wines we can’t afford….the significance is experiencing, to the fullest, what wines we can afford. You see, all wines, from different price points and regions have aromas, bouquets and flavors to experience with each sip taking you to it’s place of origin giving you an experience you’ll remember…...yes, even with a $15.00 bottle of Bordeaux.
enjoy
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