Thoughts on a 1964 vintage wine for my bro-in-law 50th?

WINE TALK
1

In stock at European Wine Resources, a store that has done well by me:

California 1964 BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve 0.75 2 $280 BTL
Italy 1964 Conterno Giacomo - Monfortino - Barolo Riserva 0.75 1 $1020 BTL
Italy 1964 Pio Cesare - Barbaresco 0.75 2 $78 BTL
Italy 1964 Serafino Enrico - Barolo Riserva 0.75 5 $92 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Cheval Blanc 0.75 1 $1248 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Ducru - Beaucaillou VTS 0.75 1 $189 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Giscours US 0.75 6 $198 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Haut Brion CC US 0.75 1 $398 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 La Mission - Haut Brion 0.75 1 $526 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Lafite Rothschild SSL MS US 0.75 2 $906 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Leoville Las Cases 0.75 7 $238 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Leoville Poyferre MS UKB 0.75 1 $179 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Margaux US 0.75 1 $335 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Margaux 0.75 14 $360 BTL
Red Bordeaux 1964 Rauzan Gassies 0.75 4 $169 BTL
Spain 1964 Palacio - Glorioso Gran Reserva 0.75 2 $144 BTL

2

Received wisdom seems to be that in Bordeaux, Graves, St Emilion and Pomerol fared best. In Piedmont and Tuscany it was apparently very good, but not great. Kind of bland I know, but consistent with what little experience I have.

3

I think Barolo is killer actually. I wish someone liked me enough to pop for something like this on my 50th :frowning:

Might look for a magnum to have a better chance at viability.

4

It is a terrific vintage in Piedmonte, and that Haut Brion can be a very nice landing spot if it’s a good bottle.

5

CT notes on the Pio Cesare and the Serafino are quite decent. I may grab both at these prices as a wiff won’t hurt too badly.

6

Barolo is a great call. Have had some terrific 64’s. It was a 64 Conterno Riserva that got me hooked on what aged Barolo can be.

Also, a bit off the beaten path but 64 monimpex tokaji essencia is fantastic if you can find it. Really cool to drink!

7

Drank a 64 Gattinara a few weeks ago that was absolutely fabulous. A small sample, obviously, but i’d go piedmonte.

Elliot

8

Had an outstanding glass of '64 Cheval Blanc a few years years ago. Given bottle variation, I’m not saying you should drop the $1,248 for a bottle of it – but it was truly excellent (much better than the 1961 Cheval Blanc I tasted a few years before that).

Ben

9

There are many 64 Clarets drinking really well at the moment. The Ducru is a little funky but a very tasty wine. 64 red Burgs are also excellent.

10

I’ve never had Palacios Glorioso, but 1964 was a great vintage in Rioja, from the few bottles I’ve tried.

11

The Palacios Glorioso can have a lot of bottle variation…I haven’t had the 64 but have had multiple bottles from the 30’s, 50’s and 60’s and some have been stellar and some quite flat…if you go that route might be worth picking up the two bottles, still a it less expensive a proposition than some of the other choices.

12

Also, if you decide to go piedmont you should take a look at rare wine co. They have a good selection (8 choices) of in stock 64’s.

1964
Borgogno, Giacomo, Barolo Riserva
In stock: 9
750 ML
$165.00

1964
Ceretto Barolo Riserva
In stock: 1
750 ML
$175.00

1964
Conterno, Aldo, Barolo Monforte e Perno
In stock: 3
750 ML
$295.00

1964
Conterno, Giacomo, Nebbiolo Riserva
In stock: 1Organic
750 ML
$245.00

1964
Franco-Fiorina Barolo
In stock: 4
750 ML
$165.00

1964
Giacosa, Bruno, Barolo Riserva Speciale
In stock: 1
WA
98
750 ML
$1,195.00

1964
Mascarello, Giuseppe, Barolo
In stock: 4Organic
JG
95
HG
95
750 ML
$395.00

1964
Mascarello, Giuseppe, Barolo Riserva
In stock:2
$595.00

13

Okay, I’m going to hijack this birth year thread and ask for myself. If one was chosing between the

'64 Borgogno, Giacomo, Barolo Riserva $165 OR the

'64 Ceretto Barolo Riserva $175

Which one would you go with? or another if it’s in this price range or less?

14

Definitely Barolo -the Conterno is killer- or something ending in Brion. I have had the LLC at Berns and it was very awesome.

15

Since I too turn 50 this year, I was asked by a friend about a wine from 64. And while the thought is nice, i would rather have a 69. :wink:

You can also look for any Champagne houses with an LD program. 64 was great there.

Adam Lee
Siduri Wines

16

I have had many '64s. I have been pretty consistently blown away by the Barolos and Barbarescos. I have had much more mixed results with Bordeaux from that vintage. The few burgs that I have had have generally been pr,Etta exceptional. YMMV, this is old wine.

17

I also turn 50 this May. Great info in this thread.

18

Barolo is a great year, eclipsing Bordeaux, as the pricing bears out. Jump all over the Giacosa Barolo Riserva or G. Mascarello Riserva at RWC. The 1964 Monfortino at EWR will do, too, but believe it or not, it needs to be cellared rather than drunk…

P.S. I turn 63 this year instead of 50, 60 or 70, but I am still going to be drinking 1964 Nebbiolo, and plenty of it!

19

Cindy, see if the 1964 Giacomo Conterno Nebbiolo, for $245 @ RWC, is actually Nebbiolo, or in fact Barolo. I would say that, in either case, I would take it over either of the wines that you mention, and a bargain at that price. If it is Nebbiolo rather than Barolo, the Nebbiolo would be the rarer bottle…

20

And Alfie, you are a damn lawyer, so spring for a four-figure wine for the guy. He ain’t heavy like you, but he’s your brother. Also, the road is long, with many a winding turn. Well, not in central Florida, actually, where the road is straight as a stick and the asphalt melts in the summertime. But other places, you find many a winding turn, that leads us to who knows where, who knows where…Monkton, maybe…