A special anniversary, such as a silver, ruby or golden wedding anniversary, calls for an extra special gift, and choosing the right option can often be difficult and time consuming. An ideal solution, resulting in a gift that is not only prestigious but also highly personal and thoughtful, is a vintage wine from the corresponding year. Vintage wines are rightly regarded as being sophisticated gifts with an air of exclusivity attached, but they also provide a direct connection to the year being commemorated, sharing as they do the same year of origin. The vintage wine gift can be enjoyed as the centrepiece of the celebration, or saved as a keepsake for the future.
Many prospective purchasers of a vintage wine gift are however discouraged by their lack of experience of vintage wines, fearful perhaps of choosing the wrong option. It is the aim of both this article and the sister article €Choosing the Perfect Anniversary Wine Gift€ to dispel any doubts that you may have by providing all the information you need to begin to explore the options available for your vintage wine anniversary gift. Whereas the companion article deals with the more general selection of an anniversary wine for any year, here we will concentrate on the specific options open to you for special anniversaries taking place in the year 2010.
Some Thoughts on Wine Styles and Vintages
Perhaps the most important thing to note as you embark on your selection of a vintage wine gift for your special anniversary is that you will rarely err, provided you pay due consideration to the tastes of your recipient. Vintage wines are, almost by definition, wines that have established a good reputation through tastings and favourable reviews and so have stood the test of time and found themselves in the cellars and inventories of discerning vintage wine merchants. The weaker and more insipid wines, and those that are simply not suited to long term storage, are generally rooted out and will not become established. So rest assured that, in settling upon a vintage wine gift, you are already firmly on the path to a memorable gift that will be treasured.
This said, it is also worth going that extra mile to ensure the gift is as well suited as possible to the tastes of the recipient. If possible, find out a little about their tastes in wine or other alcoholic beverages. Would they prefer a sweet or a dry style? Do they tend to prefer fruity and bold wines? The more you can establish at this early stage, the more likely it is that your gift will delight.
You will note that here I have not emphasised a choice between red and white wines. This is because, as a general rule, white wines are not suited to long term ageing and are generally past their best after 2 to 5 years in bottle. There can be exceptions, such as some sweet desert wines of Sauternes for instance, but for the beginner to vintage wines looking for a wine at least 10 years old and usually much older, white wines are best avoided.
There then comes the matter of vintage. It is likely that, in keeping with the special nature of your anniversary, you will want the wine gift to be rooted in a vintage year that is noted for its overall excellence. Whilst there is undoubtedly a certain mystique attached to those years in which the vintage wines are recognised as exceptional as a whole, please remember that there will always be quality wines available from even the poorest years. The quality of an overall vintage year for a wine growing region is only part of the story, and there are many other factors that result in the development of an excellent wine.
A very important factor indeed is the extent to which the wine selected will benefit from in-bottle ageing. Whilst the overall standard of the vintage of origin may be good, wines will vary greatly in their response to ageing. Most wines that are produced as standard table wines will typically only be suited to 2 or 3 years of storage before they begin to deteriorate, whatever the standard of the vintage as a whole. Those wines that are selected as vintage wines to be cellared for the long term are chosen on the basis of their known affinity for in-bottle ageing. A carefully aged vintage wine is amongst the greatest wines you will ever experience, and is worth seeking out, but it is not an exact science and so only the test of time itself will determine the quality on opening.
In order to provide you with specific recommendations for vintage wines for your special anniversary, I will concentrate for the remainder of this article on the red wines available from two classic wine regions: Bordeaux and Italy. The reader is of course encouraged to explore further afield as experience and confidence is gained, to encompass the wonderful wines and vintages of Burgundy, Spain, California, Australia, South Africa, and so many other wonderful options. Amongst the great wines of Bordeaux and Italy there is however ample scope for the beginner to find a perfect anniversary gift, and the following options are provided as suggestions to get you going.
10th Anniversary Wines (2000 Vintage)
The red wines of 2000 will still as a rule be young, and should if possible be kept in bottle for further ageing. That is not to say that they will not be delicious if sampled now, but that even greater delights await the patient beneficiary of the gift. The year experienced good growing conditions in both Bordeaux and Italy, but of these the stand out would be Bordeaux. As a whole the wines produced from Bordeaux were powerful and concentrated, and the vintage wines produced have so far proved to be slowly evolving indicating that they will certainly benefit from decades of bottle ageing. Specific recommendations for this year would be:
€ Chateau Palmer 2000, Margaux - a full bodied wine with tastes of blackberries, roasted meats, and even hints of wood smoke
€ Chateau Canon 2000, Fronsac - medium bodied with notes of strawberries, cherries and minerals
€ Chateau Roquefort 2000 - a medium, soft wine with tastes of plums and red fruits
20th Anniversary Wines (1990 Vintage)
Bordeaux and Italian vintage reds from 1990 will as a whole be coming into their peak around now and the buyer can be confident of obtaining a beautiful wine that can be either enjoyed now or saved for a decade or two. Again, both Bordeaux and Italy as a whole experienced great vintage years with ideal growing conditions. Of the two, I would recommend Italy as the truly exceptional vintage from this year, as it was one of the greatest vintages of modern times. The vintage Italian wines are drinking well now but show every indication of continuing to develop if cellared. Specific recommendations would be:
€ Brunello di Montalcino 1990, Geografico - a fresh and juicy wine with red fruits and cherries, along with vegetable tones and smoky hints
€ Barolo Belvedere 1990 - a dry red with a sweet and fruity core, some aromas of prunes and tobacco, and a silky finish
€ Barbaresco Traversa Sori Ciabot 1990 - a fruity wine with black cherry and cassis fruits, but with oaky, tobacco tones
Silver Anniversary Wines (1985 Vintage)
Whilst it is generally true that a vintage red wine of this age will be reaching its peak condition, this is not necessarily so for the Bordeaux wines of this year. Lack of rainfall in August and September led to concentrated wines which have now generally gone past their peak. The Italian vintage was superb and consistent though, especially in Piedmont and Tuscany, and so I would recommend Italian wines both for drinking now and for further cellaring if desired. Specific recommendations would be:
€ Brunello di Montalcino 1985, Castello Banfi - a fresh wine with dark fruits, anice and leather, and an earthy, slightly floral aroma
€ Barolo Prandi 1985 - a powerful and complex wine, with slight hints of vanilla and a floral aroma
€ Barolo Patrizzi 1985 - a smooth and sweet wine with hints of tea and
Many prospective purchasers of a vintage wine gift are however discouraged by their lack of experience of vintage wines, fearful perhaps of choosing the wrong option. It is the aim of both this article and the sister article €Choosing the Perfect Anniversary Wine Gift€ to dispel any doubts that you may have by providing all the information you need to begin to explore the options available for your vintage wine anniversary gift. Whereas the companion article deals with the more general selection of an anniversary wine for any year, here we will concentrate on the specific options open to you for special anniversaries taking place in the year 2010.
Some Thoughts on Wine Styles and Vintages
Perhaps the most important thing to note as you embark on your selection of a vintage wine gift for your special anniversary is that you will rarely err, provided you pay due consideration to the tastes of your recipient. Vintage wines are, almost by definition, wines that have established a good reputation through tastings and favourable reviews and so have stood the test of time and found themselves in the cellars and inventories of discerning vintage wine merchants. The weaker and more insipid wines, and those that are simply not suited to long term storage, are generally rooted out and will not become established. So rest assured that, in settling upon a vintage wine gift, you are already firmly on the path to a memorable gift that will be treasured.
This said, it is also worth going that extra mile to ensure the gift is as well suited as possible to the tastes of the recipient. If possible, find out a little about their tastes in wine or other alcoholic beverages. Would they prefer a sweet or a dry style? Do they tend to prefer fruity and bold wines? The more you can establish at this early stage, the more likely it is that your gift will delight.
You will note that here I have not emphasised a choice between red and white wines. This is because, as a general rule, white wines are not suited to long term ageing and are generally past their best after 2 to 5 years in bottle. There can be exceptions, such as some sweet desert wines of Sauternes for instance, but for the beginner to vintage wines looking for a wine at least 10 years old and usually much older, white wines are best avoided.
There then comes the matter of vintage. It is likely that, in keeping with the special nature of your anniversary, you will want the wine gift to be rooted in a vintage year that is noted for its overall excellence. Whilst there is undoubtedly a certain mystique attached to those years in which the vintage wines are recognised as exceptional as a whole, please remember that there will always be quality wines available from even the poorest years. The quality of an overall vintage year for a wine growing region is only part of the story, and there are many other factors that result in the development of an excellent wine.
A very important factor indeed is the extent to which the wine selected will benefit from in-bottle ageing. Whilst the overall standard of the vintage of origin may be good, wines will vary greatly in their response to ageing. Most wines that are produced as standard table wines will typically only be suited to 2 or 3 years of storage before they begin to deteriorate, whatever the standard of the vintage as a whole. Those wines that are selected as vintage wines to be cellared for the long term are chosen on the basis of their known affinity for in-bottle ageing. A carefully aged vintage wine is amongst the greatest wines you will ever experience, and is worth seeking out, but it is not an exact science and so only the test of time itself will determine the quality on opening.
In order to provide you with specific recommendations for vintage wines for your special anniversary, I will concentrate for the remainder of this article on the red wines available from two classic wine regions: Bordeaux and Italy. The reader is of course encouraged to explore further afield as experience and confidence is gained, to encompass the wonderful wines and vintages of Burgundy, Spain, California, Australia, South Africa, and so many other wonderful options. Amongst the great wines of Bordeaux and Italy there is however ample scope for the beginner to find a perfect anniversary gift, and the following options are provided as suggestions to get you going.
10th Anniversary Wines (2000 Vintage)
The red wines of 2000 will still as a rule be young, and should if possible be kept in bottle for further ageing. That is not to say that they will not be delicious if sampled now, but that even greater delights await the patient beneficiary of the gift. The year experienced good growing conditions in both Bordeaux and Italy, but of these the stand out would be Bordeaux. As a whole the wines produced from Bordeaux were powerful and concentrated, and the vintage wines produced have so far proved to be slowly evolving indicating that they will certainly benefit from decades of bottle ageing. Specific recommendations for this year would be:
€ Chateau Palmer 2000, Margaux - a full bodied wine with tastes of blackberries, roasted meats, and even hints of wood smoke
€ Chateau Canon 2000, Fronsac - medium bodied with notes of strawberries, cherries and minerals
€ Chateau Roquefort 2000 - a medium, soft wine with tastes of plums and red fruits
20th Anniversary Wines (1990 Vintage)
Bordeaux and Italian vintage reds from 1990 will as a whole be coming into their peak around now and the buyer can be confident of obtaining a beautiful wine that can be either enjoyed now or saved for a decade or two. Again, both Bordeaux and Italy as a whole experienced great vintage years with ideal growing conditions. Of the two, I would recommend Italy as the truly exceptional vintage from this year, as it was one of the greatest vintages of modern times. The vintage Italian wines are drinking well now but show every indication of continuing to develop if cellared. Specific recommendations would be:
€ Brunello di Montalcino 1990, Geografico - a fresh and juicy wine with red fruits and cherries, along with vegetable tones and smoky hints
€ Barolo Belvedere 1990 - a dry red with a sweet and fruity core, some aromas of prunes and tobacco, and a silky finish
€ Barbaresco Traversa Sori Ciabot 1990 - a fruity wine with black cherry and cassis fruits, but with oaky, tobacco tones
Silver Anniversary Wines (1985 Vintage)
Whilst it is generally true that a vintage red wine of this age will be reaching its peak condition, this is not necessarily so for the Bordeaux wines of this year. Lack of rainfall in August and September led to concentrated wines which have now generally gone past their peak. The Italian vintage was superb and consistent though, especially in Piedmont and Tuscany, and so I would recommend Italian wines both for drinking now and for further cellaring if desired. Specific recommendations would be:
€ Brunello di Montalcino 1985, Castello Banfi - a fresh wine with dark fruits, anice and leather, and an earthy, slightly floral aroma
€ Barolo Prandi 1985 - a powerful and complex wine, with slight hints of vanilla and a floral aroma
€ Barolo Patrizzi 1985 - a smooth and sweet wine with hints of tea and
SHARE
