Have you ever drank a pre-1900 vintage?

[jswordy]

Because of my reading right now, I got curious as to whether any of us has had the honor of drinking a pre-1900 vintage. I hope there are some here! Let's see!

 

[seth8530]

Never had the chance, I would likely do it if the bottle was already opened though...

 

[moesagoodboy]

No, but I've had much pre 2000 vintage. Reflecting on this, it has been about 10 years since I've had any pre 2000 vintage. Down in my basement there is some pre February Pinot Grigio in carboys. Looking forward to that in post August.

Joe

 

[Deezil]

I've had a 2001 semi-sweet Chardonnay (this past New Years), a 2003 Semillion-Sauv Blanc French dessert wine (like 2 weeks ago).. Probably the 2 oldest bottles I've personally had the pleasure of tasting, both were excellent (I've come to learn that I like mature wines)

 

[Boatboy24]

Does 1800 (Cuervo) count?

 

[jamesngalveston]

I had a 100 year old whiskey one time, and a glass of tawny port that was 135 per glass...and it was by far the best port I ever had.

 

[rob]

Reminds me of the book I read last winter called a Billionairs Vinegar, story about some Thomas Jefferson wine that sold in 1984 for $100.000. Jefferson was huge into wine and wine making

 

[Duster]

If I ever had a bottle of pre 1900 I would not know rather to open it or hide it

 

[Rocky]

No, nothing before 1900...not in this life anyway.

 

[jswordy]

Reminds me of the book I read last winter called a Billionairs Vinegar, story about some Thomas Jefferson wine that sold in 1984 for $100.000. Jefferson was huge into wine and wine making

I'm nearly through reading it now, Rob. The price was $156,000, which still today stands as the most ever paid for a bottle of wine.

 

[Elmer]

In my basement I have a few bottles of 2001 and a 1998 bottle of wine. They are just random.

I also have a bottle of Dewars from '94. That is 1994. I was not good then it is not good now (which is why it is sitting on my shelf undrank)

I have had 30 year old Whiskey, good stuff!!!!

Never even came close to any wine that was more than 20 years old.

However when each of my kids were born I made a batch of wine specifically for them. Bottled and boxed and stored away in the deepest depths of my basement!
when they turn 21, they will have have 21 year old wine!

take that Jefferson!!!!!!!

 

[Rampage4all]

Wine about 30 year old plumb port was very different like sucking on an over ripe plumb skin. Whiskey have some 216 year old that was made by my great great great grandpaw and is excellent super smooth. Will be so sad once it is all gone.

 

[JohnT]

Yup, only once.

During a visit to Hungary, at my family vinyard, my cousine opened up a bottle of their 1890 vintage. This was call for since it was the vintage from my great grandfather's birth year (My namesake and he first to adopt my family's current last name).

To think of what this bottle had been through! Two world wars and communism.

Unfortunately, there are only a rare few wines that can hold up to that type of aging (yquem being one of them). The best way to describe it was that this wine was THICK!.

More like a sherry than a wine, the oxidation was overpowering. That was just about the only flavor component of the wine.

Old wines like this are more symbolic than enjoyable as is. Still, it was quite an honor to share this event.

 

[jswordy]

I knew it! I think we have one or two more here who have had pre-1900, too. I think Dan might have had some, too, but just has not seen this thread.

That is like taking history into your body.

JohnT, after reading the Gallo book and seeing him list prices of some of the upscale vintages they were trying to put out, I Googled some of the names. Dang $8.99 2007 bottle is $85.99 now. Gallo, mind you.

 

[JohnT]

Gallo really went to work on its image and quality once Joyce Gallo took over.