I found a 2016 discussion with the same argument, lots of crazy stuff there, I’d like to propose the thread again!
What’s the oldest wine bottle (where a single vintage is displayerd, so no Soleras for examples) you’ve ever tried?
Maybe mention the oldest fortified and the oldest unfortified.
My oldest fortified wine was “L’Ora Da Re” which is a Marsala - like wine, vintage 1932, which stayed in barrels for decades and has been bottled quite recently. You can still buy it from shops here.
Oldest non fortified was Champagne Napoleon Oenotheque 1996
On the fortified side I’ve had an 18th century Madeira (so 17something). I love Madeira but it was more of an intellectual event than a pure palate enjoyment event.
Non fortified, I brought a 1938 Huet Haut Lieu to an offline in 2018. Ex-cellar by way of RWC, it was stupid good.
Thanks for sharing! Yeah I think you approach these wines (not my 1996 champagne ofc) full knowing that they might be more and intellectual pleasure than anything else, still fine for me!
19th century Port can be very expensive as well. The oldest Port I’ve had was at the Krohns cellars, the 1863 colheita. Taylors bought them out a few years ago and sold crystal bottles at 4200 euro. Probably more expensive than great Madeira of comparable age which will probably set you back 2-3000.
A 1977 Sandeman Vintage port, tried it back in 2019! Unfortunately I think we drank it too early, it needed another couple of hours to open up. Then the oldest non-fortified is a 1990 Chateau de Pez, Saint Estephe (magnum) back in 2020.
Non-fortified, oldest was a 1896 Lafite at that place in Florida that shall not be mentioned. Next oldest, although not sure if it was real, was a magnum of 1900 Petrus. Oldest with unquestionable provenance as it was brought to the dinner by the owner of the Chateau was a 1916 Domaine de Chevalier in magnum. It was outstanding, as was the '29.
1832 Madeira at Grailey’s at a Christmas member’s party late about 5 years ago. Was really fun to drink something with a base that old. I was also a bit trashed and made an Irish exit shortly thereafter. Had a 1913 Giscours or something at a dinner with some Berserkers but it was shot. Have had a decent number from the 20s and 30s and generally disagree with Francois on their delightfulness, but then I did not slow ox them for 9 hours.
In 1983, I attended a preview tasting for a Heublein auction. A 1928 Yquem was fabulous. According to my notes, we had an 1899 Haut Brion and a 1918 St. Julien, but they were not that good. A 1934 Chambertin from Bouchard, a 1940 la Tache and a 1945 Comte de Vogue Musigny were fabulous. A few years ago, I had a wonderful 1959 Chateau Latour.
This is one of the oldest bottles I’ve had as well…same vintage as me, and we opened it in 2012 for my 35th. I have one more 1977 VP (nothing especially exciting) and a bottle of 1977 Rivesaltes hanging out in storage for similar future occasions.
I am pretty sure the only older bottle I’ve had was a 1950 Château Rombeau Rivesaltes I bought to open when my dad retired a few years ago.
