wine to keep for years?

[tobeee]

I'm considering a bottle of wine that my friend can keep for 10 years to celebrate a special occasion! Can anyone recommend a bottle and supplier (up to £100, though much rather pay less of course!). Perhaps this is a silly idea, but I'll see what you all say...

[MitchT]

I'd buy a Pomerol. It's gorgeous red wine which keeps for 10-20 years (15 years is optimum). The best vintages that would be in their window for drinking ten years from now would be 2000, 2003 and 2005. The 2003 would hit the 15 years optimum in 2018 - the year when you're suggesting it will be drunk. 2003 Pomerol is currently selling for between £60 and £300 a bottle depending on which vineyard it has come from.

[tobeee]

Thanks MitchT. I got the timing a bit wrong though... it's 12 years, so I assume the 2005 would be best.

[Hedgeman]

Half a case of this, it will be lush in 2020, and once opened your friend will be glad there isn't just a single bottle!

http://www.oddbins.com/products/productDetail.asp?...

[Mr Beaumont]

2006 Lynch Bages. Might be able to get 2 bottles as well for £100.

[Stamp]

Hedgeman said:

Half a case of this, it will be lush in 2020, and once opened your friend will be glad there isn't just a single bottle!

http://www.oddbins.com/products/productDetail.asp?...

Can't see that lasting. I thought New World was designed to drink right away and the screw top wouldn't do it any favours.

[prand]

I would look out for wine that has come from a good vintage year. Something that has lots of tannin & body now will age well. Many wine shops will say how long a wine will be good for. Good Rioja, Bordeaux, top level aussie shiraz etc etc. White wine won't last, unless you are talking vintage champagne (like Dom Perignon 96 or 99 for example) which will age gracefully in the right conditions.

One thing to note, if you want to keep wine in the house for a long time it HAS to be at stable temp (11-15C ) & humidity (60%, in a cellar or a proper wine fridge or else you will be drinking a rather thin and reedy version of what you originally had. I'd have a look at port too as it's more robust than wine and can keep for decades, and a good one is bloody lush!

Edited by prand on Friday 3rd October 10:44

[Percy Flage]

Stamp said:

....and the screw top wouldn't do it any favours.

I thought that the screw top actually gives a more reliable seal than the cork and is far less likely to taint the wine?

[Don]

Stamp said:

Hedgeman said:

Half a case of this, it will be lush in 2020, and once opened your friend will be glad there isn't just a single bottle!

http://www.oddbins.com/products/productDetail.asp?...

Can't see that lasting. I thought New World was designed to drink right away and the screw top wouldn't do it any favours.

Tosh on the screw cap front. Every indication is that they are better then corks or bungs.

I have had many Australian Shiraz wines drinking well after 20 years...things like Henscke Keynton Estate Shiraz or their fabulous Hill of Grace etc.

[Le TVR]

prand said:

One thing to note, if you want to keep wine in the house for a long time it HAS to be at stable temp (11-15C ) & humidity (60%, in a cellar or a proper wine fridge or else you will be drinking a rather thin and reedy version of what you originally had.

The most important post of the whole thread.

I wouldnt even think of keeping wine more than a couple of years without being sure of the atmosphere it was kept in.

If you've got that covered:

Chateau de Salles 1998 (Pomerol)

Probably get a couple of bottles for that money.

[Stamp]

What about this

[cramorra]

Reds from Piedmont (Nebbiolo Grape age generally well) especially Barolo and Barbaresco 95 is qiete nice now....