Bordeaux Graybeards-When do you stop buying ?

WINE TALK
1

At what point will you cease to purchase Bordeaux for personal consumption? I turn 65 in June and decided a year or two ago that the 2006 vintage is the last for me, since I want at least 10 years of bottle age in my cellar before drinking. Easy to ignore 2007-08, but I hear the siren call of 09-10. Nonetheless, no 09-10 futures purchases for me, since I will be 74-75 when possibly ready.

2

Robert,

Haven’t you heard? 75 is the new 55, and chances are you will go to 95 easy, so keep buying, it may be one of the few real pleasures left to you at 100. [cheers.gif]

3

I’m almost 56 and stopped buying after the 05 vintage. My mission is to spend my money back filling older vintages that I love and will only get more expensive in the future. I also don’t like the way bdx is being made these days so newer vintages are an easy pass.

4

Sixty-five as well, and I went in on a mixed case of '09s. While I too like them with some age, I find many/most of the petite chateaux are quite drinkable from 3-7 yrs old. All of this being said, I will, once again, promise myself not to buy any more futures.

5

My beard is definitely grey today, and I sunk quite heavy into the 2000 market, now I’ve turned the 50 mark I will buy no more as IMO the ones I will enjoy come from prior vintages with some age on them.
The only caveat is that I will still buy for my kids birth years, nephews etc…

6
7

I’m 40 and I’ve stopped. To me Bordeaux needs to be at least 20 and preferably 30+.
Plus, why bother when I can drink Burgundy neener

8

I’m 65, and for all intents and purposes, I have stopped as well. I have ~450 bottles in the cellar, which will last a long time, and my buying is moving in other directions, esp older Pinots (and much fewer!) It’s approaching time to start drinking down, although that clearly hasn’t happened yet!

9

I’m 58, and thought I was pushing it buying the 2005’s (virtually all RIght Bank). Then went and bought some 2009 Rauzan-Segla futures. Oh well.

Cheers,
Doug

10

I believe a cellar is a multi generation project and Bordeaux has to be a main component in every cellar. Therefore I won’t stop, except prices don’t allow me buying anymore, even when turning 55 this year. I most probably will reduce the numbers but will at least buy my usual suspects for the years to come

11

Even though I am still young being in my mid-40’s, in one sense I have stopped already. I still buy bordeaux, but I no longer am trying to ‘fill’ my cellar. I buy just enough now to replace what I drink. I consider myself to be at equilibrium.

12

Depends on whether you love your children enough to leave them large mature cellars…

13

I am close to 51 and I only bought 6 bottles from 2004 to put a period on the Bordeaux purchases. I did not buy any 2003’s and only a mixed case of 2002’s so in essence the buying slowed down rapidly after 2000.

The combination of increased cost and extended ageing drove my non buying decision as well as increased diversification into other varietals and regions.

14

I’m 47, but bought a lot from 00, 03, & 05. Didn’t buy a bottle of BDX last year. May not for another ten years and then I’ll count what I still have. Unless prices drop in the years in between, this can last me as long as I want it to and I can fill in the drinking gaps with less expensive wines.

15

+1 (technically, I bought a case or two of '90, but really quit after '89 as far as quantity is concerned). I suspect that I am of a similar vintage as Counselor Fleming; 1954 in my case. I love a good glass of claret, but find other things (not only wine) more interesting these days.
MK

16

Same situation here. I realized the other day that at this time I’m only buying wine to drink now. Bought just a case of 09s, petite chateau. Got enough 10-20 year wines in the cellar + other interests are laying claim to my resources.

17

In exactly the same boat and age group, and stopped at the same time. Also the style seemed to change, and the wine became far more expensive for what it is to pursue. Now i chase underappreciated burgundies, wich is far more interesting and dangerous, and by the way takes almost as long to mature. when will I stop buying new vintages of these (and Barolos, which I also love more than bordeaux)? Well, maybe about, …now. (I had picked 2004-5, but my resolve has wavered.)

18

I stopped in the 05 vintage due to silly pricing and it worked out just fine based on my age. Even if I live into my 80’s there is no telling if all my senses would be at 100% to even appreciate the wine (which now requires a big investment).

19

Still buying a sporadic few here and there, but only if/when the prices and style cooperate. Being more of a frugal “drinker”, the nouveau-riche can bid up the 1sts, super 2nds, etc. for their collections/portfolios. Perhaps the geekcentric peaks of Bordeaux ecstacy are only found in fully mature highly classified 20 - 30 year olds, but must that preclude the simple enjoyment of younger food-friendly offerings?

Steve, That’s a wide brush to paint with. There’s more to it than Gil L-S’s “Sweet 15” list. Sometimes young < $40 bottles can be hard to beat. I clearly remember one at a Parisian Bistro where the duck confit pairing was spot on.

RT

20

You missed some great wines if you stopped buying Bordeaux in 1990. 1996 was a great vintage and is starting to drink now. Also 2000, which should be ready in 5-10 years (so it depends on when you plan to pass on). Now if you don’t like Bordeaux, that is another thing…

Eric Asimov and his young sommeliers to the contrary, cheaper but aged Bordeaux is still one of the best bargains out there. Now if you insist on drinking your wines young (as all sommeliers and restauranteurs do, apparently), then it is not a good wine to drink.