OK, I'm awake now!!
CW:
Thx for your PM and what a great topic to start the week!!!
Now it seems to me there are two questions here.
Firstly, is wine (good wine) an investment or to be drunk?
Secondly, what to do with the particular bottles you've found?
On the first question, I've been building a cellar "for investment" since my dub days and even then, so it's about 15 years. I favour shiraz and cab sav that's made (private bin) and sent to me by one of Australia's top winemakers in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. Some friends here on JWD will know what I mean! Anyway, this past half-year i've started to sample them - I guess my experiences in other parts of the world have led me to think it was a bit obscene me having such things i.e. a large cellar of wine, when so many people I visit in the jungle have literally nothing and so I've become uncomfortable with the sight of my collection. I guess I'm not so keen on the investment angle at the moment - that's just a personal thing, I know, but I'm enjoying consuming some really great (and strong!) wines. It's been great opening a special bottle and making an occasion "special" for Mrs Ozzie and I - or just to cheer us up when we've been feeling 'low'. I have in mind retaining some bottles (dozens?) from special vintages.
On the second question, I cannot claim knowledge of European labels (foreign to me!!!) and when I've tried them (funny how airlines serve French wines, eh?) I usually find them rather thin, but that's just my taste I know. Same with the Chilean wines - a bit .............oh well, it's not to my taste.
I'm a little surprised Viv has a Hardy's cab sav - good grief, didn't I teach her anything? Hardy's is undrinkable at any age!!!! Seriously though, the range of australian wines in your supermarkets is rather limited I know. I couldn't understand why there were so many Chilean and French labels on offer and yet the world's finest was limited to the likes of Jacob's Creek!
What to do?
If you're in a mind to drink your collection, why not pair one with a new one? Buy some new bottles and have them 'in reserve' so to speak, then when you have a dinner party, bring out the old one first and if it's a bit 'off', quickly switch to the safer new label. Actually Mrs Ozzie and I would be very happy to do that! I'd be very cautious with the 1989 label. Some don't keep well - seven years is ample. Downunder, cellaring is difficult because of the heat and corks start to disintegrate, but with your climate things are different I know!!!
Now, what was this about?
After my mom's death I moved back to my old place (Viv lived there "on her own") now 2 years ago and I just refound these bottle after wondering "what is in that closet" ?
How come Viv left it alone? I'll have to educate her more!!!
Now go ahead and remember that wine "makes the heart glad"! - but only if you drink it!!!!
Cheers, Ozzie
