I find myself in a situation where I REALLY enjoy some wines, and don’t enjoy the vast majority of what I have in my cellar. When I wish to open a bottle, I tend to lean toward the ‘majority’, as I have so much of it, then I often am disappointed at the waste of doing so.
While I know I can aid this moving forward, trying to buy only those wines I know I (or are VERY likely to) enjoy, I realize so much of my cellar currently isn’t terribly exciting to me. While I could go through the hassle of selling it off, I then wonder if I’m just in a phase and later I will enjoy those wines much more.
Guessing in the massive collection of wine lovers here, some have gone through this experience, and I’d like some feedback.
Multiple times. It goes in phases. I had about a five year period where I couldn’t stomach Zinfandel, despite it being one of the things that turned me into a true wine lover. Later I had about a three year stretch where I barely ever wanted a Cabernet.
That’s truly what I hope for, I just have this sinking feeling I’ll be stuck with a few hundred bottles that don’t excite me all that much - guess if the ‘phase’ doesn’t go away, I could sell them at that time.
An example is a wine I opened yesterday - I didn’t choose one I was excited about, rather one of those that are decent but I have so much of. Saved half the bottle, having burgers tonight (using Flannery Berserker Blend and Smoking Goose bacon bits, blended) and feel like I don’t even want to bother drinking the rest of that bottle.
Might as well drink what I’m currently most interested in.
Frenchie, I feel you, man. I’ve walked this journey, and if you snapshotted my cellar 10 years ago, then 5 years ago, and contrasted it to now, you’d see a dramatic shift. I sold off/donated most of what I didn’t want, just electing to make the shift and move ahead.
A couple things. There will be feedback you may hear that you will shift back, or don’t rush to judge where you are, etc. For me, the shift feels both very comfortable and permanent. If you feel that you have truly shifted, then grant yourself the grace to believe that and know it’s your way forward.
With that wine you have that may no longer want to drink, pay some/all of that forward. Use it as a vehicle to help others. Sell it off or donate it, and then funnel that money to a charity that inspires you. In part, this is what I did. I moved some of it through Falltacular, some of it I moved through Lopa. Then, use those funds to do some good, donating to Laura’s House. And you can also use some of it to go buy some additional bottles of what brings you joy, to fuel more of your journey, This is in part how I fueled my Champagne deep dive. Reallocated funds so I could keep exploring.
Todd, I have very similar experiences. My wine drinking definitely ebbs and flows. Sometimes I feel like I’m lazy and cocktails are so easy, mentally… What I find myself doing lately is trying to plan meals in my head and get excited about wines to go with them it seems to help me open more bottles. And for the stuff that I’m really not interested in anymore my office really appreciates when I leave bottles on the community table….
All I can add is to recommend that you try to off-load stuff that will die before you cycle back to liking that style. I fear that while I drink what I currently like and ignore the rest, half of my (albeit modest) cellar is trending crypt.
I’m in a bit of a Euro-centric space, Northern Rhone and Burgundy, at present - both of which is why I fear I may never return to the majority of my cellar! How many ‘phase out’ of those?
Historically I’ve enjoyed both Domestic and European wines, with the majority being Domestic, both in quantity and enjoyment. It’s shifted lately.
One approach I have employed recently, is to blend certain wines with varying percentages, of age, varietals and winemaking of other wines to enhance the issue I feel lacking to my taste at that time, and the bottle I’m drinking!.
Also have re-vitalized wines with young, immature wines. Ten to fifteen percent of a decent White can do wonders with a harsh you wine.
I emphasize that this is ONLY done to older, severely filtered wines which were the mistakes!
Of course, there are many other issues to be considered, such as quantity, quality winemaking procedures etc.
I’m guessing that I’m in the minority here, probably because my cellar is fairly narrow-band and built up with wines and producers that I totally adore. Todd knows that I have no organization to my stuff, but were I to guess, about 90% of my cellar is Bordeaux, Rhone and Chinon, mostly of producers that I have a long history with and some of which I possess in large quantities. I have quite a bit of Magdelaine, Sociando, Lanessan, Gonon, Levet, Baudry, Plouzeau, etc. Perhaps I’m a bit boring, but I rarely get bored with these producers. But then again, I also eat the same thing for breakfast almost every day of my life. And I drank Gonon three nights this week. The other 10% is a mix of Beaujolais from producers that I adore, especially Roilette, and Zins, from Bedrock, Ravenswood and Sky. Then I have scattering of things which include Vatan and Dom, special occasion stuff like that. I really do not have much stuff that I just do not like or that I just find boring. I do not explore as much as most of you, and generally do not chase the next hot thing - although I did jump on the train and enjoy the Beta-Jasud craze. I have made a bit of a concerted effort to build that retirement cellar, so there has also been a refined focus over the last 10 years on producers that are solid, don’t change style with the wind, and are known to age quite gracefully. And best of all, so many of these wines are actually quite affordable. An excellent cellar does not have to be an expensive cellar.
Todd, those wines you currently find boring, others may love. For a long time I was bringing wines like that to parties, family gatherings, office functions, and they showed well in most settings. I also gave quite a bit of stuff to my dad. Now my cellar is 100% mine!
Knowing that you may get ‘palate drift,’ don’t over-do it with any current infatuation and stockpile stuff you may also drift away from in the future. Also, don’t assume it’s only temporary and keep buying the wines that don’t thrill you any more.
Wine, relationships, other enthusiasms… plus ça change.
HOWEVER, as Michael just posted: the Euro-centric place you are in now has been known to become a permanent thing…so no telling.
Here’s hoping you evolve to loving the cheapest wines!
Interesting topic. I’m much newer to wine than most here, but I’ve experienced a smaller version of what Todd is describing myself. Luckily, most wine can be kept for years without issue. If I were you, I’d trade/sell a small portion of the wines that don’t excite you. Use the funds to buy something that does excite you. And then repeat the process every so often- that way your cellar evolution is constantly in the direction of stuff you like, but it won’t happen too quickly in case your tastes change back. Also, this way the hassle of trading/selling is never too burdensome. It’s kind of like dollar cost averaging for your wine cellar.
I find there is some palate shifting that occurs periodically. I’ve been drinking wine regularly since the mid-80’s and have occasionally steered away from wines that I had enjoyed for many years finding them no longer to my liking, only to return to those same wines and find them pleasurable again. I stopped drinking Southern Rhone wines for well over two years. Then I felt like drinking a bottle of Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape. For the next 6 months or so, every fourth or fifth bottle opened in our house was a CdP. I can honestly say I have not regretted the wines I’ve purchased through the years - in some cases I may have been better off buying fewer of some and more of others. I have too much wine - but that is better left to another post.
Depends on the age ability of your wines. If these ones you no longer love are solid Bordeaux, hang on to them. They will likely age well and hold value, at least if they are built that way. They may even get more valuable. Ditto with Burgs. If zins or California big chardonnay, sell or donate, then move on. They will always be around. In general I think wines are like clothes, if you have not worn them in a couple of years, donate them and clear out the closet! Dot tell yourself you are going to lose a lot of weight in the future and fit in those 36 inch waist pants again!
Change is good, this is a hobby where you should always be loving what you drink, otherwise there is just beer…
I cleaned out that cellar in LA that went to winebid and found that the vast majority of the wine in it were great wines that I wouldn’t normally reach for. There are some exceptions and there are some very nice bottles of Rhône and burg in the cellar, but a lot of the domestics, cabs, and Italian wines aren’t what I normally drink.
I think that’s good advice. If it’s stuff which will hold/improve and retain/gain value in the coming several years, then probably hold onto it and see if your interest comes back around. If it’s going to decline, then probably sell it.
Maybe not 100% of it – leave a few to occasionally revisit and/or to fit a certain mood, tasting theme, company, etc.
