Is this old bottle worth a lot of money?
Invariably, the answer is no. Many of you will have heard stories of (potentially) miraculous discoveries when clearing out an elderly relative’s house, a dusty trove of bottles, clearly untouched for years, languishing in a quiet corner of the basement.
Time capsules of another time ... yes, historical relics ... yes, valuable ... very rarely.
I remember years ago, a woman coming to me with a similar story to the above, saying that she had a "Mouton".
She had clearly read about the famous First Growth Bordeaux Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (now selling for north of a $1000) and had the scent of money in her nostrils.
I mentioned that since 1945 (there was a one-off 1924 work also) there had been an artist commissioned to create an artwork for the winery with that being part of the label, so they would be quite distinctive.
She remained confident in her conviction that she had a Mouton and would bring it in for my inspection.
A while later she returned and breathlessly unearthed from a bag a bottle of Mouton ... Cadet, a cheap Bordeaux that currently sells in the low to mid $20s.
Meant to be drunk young, that particular bottle was well passed it, so I had to sadly inform her that it was destined for the stew, and not the auction market. We all like to dream though, don’t we?
Faced with similar cellar discoveries, I’ve sometimes asked about the habits of said elderly relative; did they like the good things in life, was wine a passionate hobby and so on, as wines that are valuable now were often relatively expensive on release, perhaps something frugal Aunt Edna would be unlikely to buy?
Of course, the fickle world of fashion also affects wine and the last 10-15 years have seen stratospheric rises in the prices of certain wines (particularly Burgundies from France) with some that were affordable now going for telephone numbers, with sometimes little rhyme or reason.
If you find any Henri Jayer, let me know. Provenance is also key like that cool, dark, dusty basement.
We all like to dream though, don’t we?
2022 Main Divide North Canterbury Gewurztraminer
Rating Excellent
The nose leaps out of
the glass, Turkish
delight, rose petal,
gunflint. Palate
echoes the nose, a
touch of sweetness
turning drier and
dustier as it flows
through the mouth.
Picks up almondy
nuttiness and
growing spice notes
with air; that touch of
sweetness a little
more evident. Heart
on its sleeve stuff,
super appeal and
crying out to be
enjoyed now.
2022 Cicada Marlborough Gewurztraminer
Rating Excellent
A steely, minerally,
schisty quality,
smoke spice and
rose petal following.
Texturally rich and
mouthfilling, a
delicacy to the
flavours with spices,
apricot and apricot
kernel leading. Not
flamboyant: this one
creeps up on me as
it starts fleshing out
and opening up in
the glass. Subtlety &
delicacy the key
here.
2022 Misha’s Vineyard The Gallery Central Otago Gewurztraminer
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Wisps of smoke and
lanolin, florality,
subtlety to this. A drier
expression with a point
of difference,
minerally, savoury
nuances, fruit
sweetness expressed
by a fruit lozenge
aspect, pear perhaps
with appealing flavours
on the close. This
winds up quietly, the
nose opening out and
the flavour intensity
building. Give it some
air to let it shine.
