I’m in search of a specific vintage wine (1954), in drinkable condition, to celebrate an upcoming birthday of a loved one. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in finding one on winebid, and am at a loss for where to look for other older wines with good provenance. Does anyone have some recommendations other than buying off some random website on WS? Really appreciate any advice.
Try Chambers Street, I’ve gotten 54 Piedmont there before
1 Like
I’ve seen a few 1954 rioja pop up on wineibid (my Dad’s birth year). Can be months in-between bottles though.
Speaking of 1954 Rioja, here’s one at my favorite place to get older wine. https://www.benchmarkwine.com/products/100192-lopez-de-heredia-vina-tondonia-gran-reserva-1954
This also comes with a provenance guarantee.
While the new week’s auction hasn’t started, this should roll over to the next one:
1 Like
Excellent choice- I second that. I would also suggest signing up for emails from Cellar Raiders. They have sent me some fine older bottles and given their location they are right in the middle of the best part of the country for pristine cellars of older wine.
Also, it never hurts to reach out directly to these or other resources in advance to let them know you are actively looking for something specific.
Rare Wine Company has a 1954 Barbeito malvasia (Madeira) for sale for $645. I have two bottles of it in my cellar, and it will certainly be drinkable now thru about 2100 AD.
It looks like they have one listed now - I’m curious if you’ve bought this same wine before? https://www.chambersstwines.com/Products/86962/1954-conterno-giacomo-barbaresco-riserva
If so, any thoughts on how it has held up? I’d strongly prefer to buy from Chambers Street if I can so it doesn’t need to be shipped.
Thank you all for the recommendations - I will be sure to check all of these regularly.
I haven’t had that one, mostly a bunch of Fontanafreddas. I’d email them for photos, and if it looks in good condition you should have a good chance of it being in nice shape.
i would second chambers. probably one of the most consistent places you might be able to find 50s and 60s wines. 54 was a solid piedmont vintage too if i remember correctly
Not an auction site but the guys at Thewineconnection.com are excellent at sourcing vintage wine. They are local here in Del Mar, CA and I’ve shopped with them for years. I’d give them a call.
They sent over the photos and the wine looks to be in decent (not excellent) shape. I have almost no experience with Barbaresco in general or this producer specifically. I was hoping you could perhaps assist given your experience with this vintage - what would you guess the odds are of it being good enough to drink? Does Barbaresco generally age well?
Hey Mike,
Apologies I totally missed this. Feel free to PM me the photos and we can chat
Unless Madeira is not something your recipient would consider, why take a chance on a 67 year old Barbaresco with unknown provenance when the Madeira is the honey badger of provenance?