How do I find a good wine that I can keep until my son's college graduation in 20 years?

Question

I have three sons, born in 2003, 2004 and 2007. I would like to put away a case of wine for each of them from their birth year for when they are older, to celebrate things like weddings, graduations, and big birthdays [30, etc.]. Any idea how I can find wines that are good and should be able to last that long as long as they are kept in a cool cellar?

Answer 1

My god father and cousin did this for me (in fact there is still one bottle waiting to be consumed). I also did it for my nephew. I bought a 100 pt. Shiraz.

In general you want to find a full bodied Red (Generally a Cab, Shiraz or Bordoux Style and/or Rohne Style - Pinot Noir might work. I don't think a Zin will have the body.

I would consult with a reputable wine merchent and consult the wine rating guides. You want a top rated wine (98-100 pts that is listed as not being ready to drink for 10+ years).

The key to keeping the wine good for this long is proper storage. If you have a good cool celler this will work if not you probably should invest in a wine fridge.

Wine to age well, needs to not see huge temp variation, light, and movement.

This will be one of the best gifts you give and one that will have wonderful memories as you taste the wine grow and age over time.

DA

Answer 2

A port wine is a great choice. It will last decades and get better with age but is more of a dessert wine than a drinking wine. A good Sauterne or Quarts d'Chaume are also delicious sweet wines that will last. Look for a nice Bordeaux or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Look on Wine Spectator for a wine who's drinkability is through the year you are looking at. A good French Bordeaux or even a good California Cabernet Sauvignon won't be cheap but if you do a little research your sons will be drinking wine from their birth year past that important age of 21. I don't believe the 2004's have been released yet and I know the 2007's haven't been but you may be able to buy cases on futures. Check winebid.com and winespectator.com.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Go to winecommune.com and search by vintage. The Son born in 2003 got lucky because that is a great year! 2007 wines have not come to market yet as they are still ageing at the wineries. Search for the word "Grand Cru" and you will not go very far off course. Talk to your local wine merchant as well, and to keep the wine in drinkable condition for 20 or more years, you will need to store it in a dark cellar at 55 degrees and 70% humidity with the bottles lying on their sides to keep the corks wet.
Chateau Latour is considered one of the finest wines in the world and will appreciate substantially over the years, making the gift a very profitable one as well as thoughtful. The wine market has outpaced the S&P 500 over the last 5 years in a row.

Answer 4

Legally no. Ethically, probably not as your lax "parental regulation" of alcohol could certainly give him the view that it's ok to drink. Maybe next time you're not home he tries significantly more than a glass? Or maybe he tries some vodka? With the difficult high school years and the drinking that that may involve coming up, he could be headed into those times with an attitude that it's perfectly ok and turn out to be the class lush in 9th grade. Now on the the flipside, in MANY european countries nothing would be thought of about serving wine to a child this age.

Answer 5

you can never go wrong with Bordeaux. Although most Bordeaux's are sold before harvest, they are well worth the wait. OR California Cabernets (think Napa, Anderson Valley) age really well also. Most cities have a wine merchant or 3 (depending on city size) and they will be MORE then helpful. The old thing about wine merchants being snobs is a bit out of date. There are TONS of merchants out there that want to share info with you and are glad that you are interested in wine. ( no, I am not a wine merchant, just an oenophile)

Answer 6

If you can find them, vintage port wines can age that long and longer - they are sweet, and extraordinary...and most everybody likes them for a small dessert or toast... Grand Cru wines from Bordeaux can also age that long, but can be very expensive.

I still have a Fonseca vintage port wine from 1985 (his birth year) that I plan to open when my son gets back from the Marines

Answer 7

I'd look at Wine Spectator magazine & it's website for recommendations.

The other way to find wines that will age well is to go to a respected wine shop & ask for recommendations.

Do you have enough space to store 3 cases of fine wine in a stable environment? (i.e. a wine cellar or wine keeper - a cool, dark area w/ min. temperature fluctuations) You are considering aging wine for a log time & wines are susceptible to becoming corked or aging poorly w/ drastic temperature changes.

Answer 8

Just walk into the liquer store talk wit tha store clerk to help you find a good tasting and satisfying wine that would be good for a 20 year sit somewhere whether it has to stay hot or cold is another question you would want to ask ;)

Answer 9

Most cheap wines are meant for consuming right away, otherwise they'll be crap when you open them in 20 years. I would consult a local winery and see what they suggest. Fuller bodied reds like a bordeaux or even a port are going to be your best bet for keeping for a later date.

Answer 10

It will have to be a red. I suggest a Zinfindel or a Pinot Noir