I’ll soon be 64 and the issue of knowing when to stop buying certain wines based upon actuarial stats is a concern.
I realize fine Burg vintages need 15-25 years to get to the point that I consider an optimum drinking situation.
Whenever I go into my cellar to select a wine, it is always a chore picking one out since most of my Red Burgs are from 1996-2009.
I know some of them are drinkable but I always strive to drink them at their peak.
At some point (Soon!), I’ll just have to bite the bullet and start consuming them before they are truly ready.
The last Burgundy vintage I bought was 2009, mostly because I believed they would not shut down too hard and I could enjoy them young.
I do fret (a lot!) about investing rather heavily in the 2005 Red Burg vintage.
It was too great a vintage to overlook.
So I had to make assumptions based on how long I think I will live.
My grandparents on my father’s side lived into their 90s.
My mother’s parents lived into their 70’s.
My father lived to be 88 and my mother is still kickin’.
So I took the position that I’d likely live to 80 yrs or so and have based my cellar on that assumption.
I have been backfilling in the 1996-2002 range, but even these vintages need more time.
Damn, wish I were 45 or thereabouts!
Once the 05’s get to the age that they start appreciating because they are opening, you can sell a few for some ready to drink. I buy a few bottles that cost me for present consumption from years in the 70’s and 80’s. Those are usually special occasion wines.
You should be able to find some 1998s/2007s in your cellar. If you enjoy young pinot from Burgundy, some of the 09’s are really fun.
I’m in the same boat with you, Paul. 63 this year. I won’t buy any more Burgs to cellar. Stopped buying Bordeaux after 2005. With Barolo I just can’t seem to make good decisions. Hate to pass up 2010 that seems to be so strong. I’ve been going back and forth in my mind about 2007’s and 8’s that are available for some great prices right now. The 07’s will probably drink OK on the earlier side, but I like them best with a minimum of 15 years. What the heck, I will probably pass on the 2010’s and get a few of the top 07’s and 08’s.
Decisions, decisions, but I am beginning to realize that the thrill of the hunt is at least 50% of the enjoyment for me and I have 5 grown sons that will be glad to inherit some nice, aged bottles.
DC,
Yeah, I’ve considered selling a few at some point when I first purchased them.
It’s an option.
I am well aware of the 2007s (especially Volnay) and have been actively seeking them out.
Got to start looking for some 1998s!
I would think there are a few on this board who would be willing and able to trade you wines with future aging required for wines that are currently at their peak.
I recommend you start trying some mid-tier 02s. Are they “mature”? Probably not. But they are at that point where the fruit shows a nice combination of youth and maturity, the tannins have mellowed, and they are open (at least with a bot of time in decanter). Of course i like to drink burgs at varying stages of maturity so long as the fruit isn’t too exuberant, the tannins don’t stick out, and the fruit isn’t shut down.
Same problem here, so I’m buying off vintages and backfilling with wines that are ready to drink or for weeknights. I too bought 2005’s and even 1999’s that will outlive me but I will try some of them before I pass them on to a very lucky son, who, at 30, is just starting to ask questions about wines.
I stopped buying wine (except Vernay condrieu and Dauvissat Chablis: couldn’t stop) in 2007, after buying the 2005 reds and 2006 whites for this very reason. Plenty of wine up till then; no time for the vintages after 2006 to become mature.
I started collecting red Burgs in 1983, so…i have a little more to look to, but i dont’ regard any vintage after 1992 as really “mature” or reliably enjoyable, so it’s still a struggle to grab a wine for dinner. (Had a beautiful 1995 Chambolle this week; overooked vintage; showed its best two days later in decanter, yum; but it’s a 25 year vintage, as is 1996, imo). 2005 will be the challenge, for sure…
But, my philosophy is now “apres moi la deluge”…for whoever’s left: wife, sons…who knows.
I started factoring my age, 48, into my buying decisions this past year. Made my moderate my 2010 Bordeaux purchases, among other things. Trying to do more backfilling or at least balance new purchases with some with years on them. Not hard to do if you make conscious buying decisions rather than chasing every new vintage, which is so hard to do when the fun hype starts. I’m still waffling on 2013 Ridge MB! Perhaps I grab the 375s.
So here we are…some of the senior members of the forum, who have been collecting wine for years and we still struggle with finding a bottle that is at peak, and are faced with more wine in our collection than we will ever consume. I’m often disturbed by this, and tend to reach for something simply because it’s drinking well as I’m letting most of my Burgundy, Barolo, and Bordeaux continue to age longer, although I do enjoy an occasional 2002 Burgundy and I’ve also gotten pleasure out of the 2010s, at least until they shut down. So, now I buy to drink, and not cellar, because not only am I well past the age to be acquiring wine to age, but the cellar is full.
If my wine outlives me, I would hope my son and daughter will sell the collection since they both live in other parts of the country, and they don’t have the same interest in it as I. Although, I would probably like them to hold onto a few special bottles.
I’m 47 and started buying 20 years ago. I still wish my wines were older. That being said, some are starting to come into their own. The 1995 Germans are very good now. Mid-tier 1996 Bordeaux are beginning to show very well. I did not start buying Burgs in quantity until the 1999 vintage, so still some time to go there. I love Port, but it seems those will never be ready.
My aim is to stop buying in quantity when I retire, and drink the cellar at that point. No heirs, so no reason to hold onto it.
Don’t forget to factor in that your palate is going to probably get worse as you age and you might not be able to truly appreciate the wines like you think. I’m 55 now. When I see those commercials for the lifts for staircases I picture myself needing one just to get to the cellar. Ouch. Don’t be afraid to drink them young, as long as the provide enjoyment.
I buy less then 24 bottles of still wine a year mainly to taste new stuff but mostly for drop in newbies in my new living setting. Bubbly when needed.
All dinners from the stored stash and not going fast enough. I am doing more OL’s which deplete some of the good stuff but this post reminds me to offer some of my drop dead beauties to pay for a big trip later this year.
I’m sorry, but this age of 65 needs to be adjusted upward. You can still buy and drink many wines that don’t require more than a couple of years in the cellar for them to deliver enjoyment. I just had a 2009 Faury VV St. Joseph last night. After an hour in the decanter, it was beautiful. Yes, if you are a youngster, you can drink it in a decade or more, but there is no shame to drink it on the younger side. That goes for many other wines. Tonight, we are having a 2008 Guillemot Savigny Les Jarrons with grilled salmon and it is very nice. Lots of good drinking to be had while my 3 Bs age.
Am 70. Stopped buying BDX with the 2000 vintage. And have been on a downsizing program for the past few years. Have been successful in reducing my cellar by 250 bottles per year. Cellar down by 1000 bottles since I started this effort.
Each year I buy rose and some summer whites and a modest bunch from favorite wineries … Those that will be ready to drink in the 5-7 year range.
But, if I go … My son will have some great parties.
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