Planning a Cellar: Birth-year Wines

dbeltramo — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:49:08 +0000

The tradition of setting aside a few cases or even barrels of wine from a child’s birth-year goes back a very long time and these days offers new parents a cornucopia of options. No longer are parents reliant on weather reports from Bordeaux and Oporto (oh how I wish my father had checked in 1963) to see if their newborn was from a “good year”. This tradition and its options were brought home to me in the middle of the afternoon of Decmber 3^rd and I am delighted to hear good things from several sources in California and some encouragement from Burgundy.

If you’ve had a child born between 2007 and 2010 you are assured of finding high-quality, age-worthy wines from several regions to “put away” for 20+ years. Fortunately it has become very rare that I have to fall back on the old adage that year xxxx was great for people but so-so for wine. As a bonus, since it’s so hard for these new consumers to communicate their tastes in wine, parents should feel free to focus on their favorite regions and then decide if their offspring should start their wine experience at the mountaintop. Here are a few wines, including whites and Magnums, from recent vintages that would certainly be worthy of this tradition.

2007
J.L. Chave Hermitage Blanc ($175.00)
Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino “Altero” ($79.99)
Leonetti Reserve Cabernet ($149.99)
Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet ($99.99)
Cain Five ($89.99)
Heitz “Martha’s Vineyard” Cabernet ($179.99)
Warre’s Port ($69.99)
Fonseca ($79.99)
Quinta do Noval ($74.99)

2008
Philippe Colin Chevalier Montrachet ($199.99)
Vietti Barolo Rocche ($115.00)
Giacomo Conterno Barolo “Cascina Francia” ($149.99)
Altare Barolo “Arborina” ($99.99)
Keever Cabernet “Yountville” ($89.99)
Chateau Montelena “Estate” ($109.99)
Ridge Monte Bello 1.5 Liter ($295.00)
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou ($149.99)
Chateau Montrose ($125.00)

2009
Chevillon Nuits St Georges “Les Cailles” ($115.00)
Michel Gros Vosne Romanee “Clos des Reas” ($124.99)
Pierre Gelin Fixin ($34.99)
Joseph Voillot Pommard “Les Rugiens” 1.5 Liter ($199.99)
Forman Cabernet ($84.99)
Pride Cabernet “Estate” ($67.99)
Phelps “Insignia”( $159.00)
Far Niente Cabernet 1.5 Liter ($260.00)
Ridge Monte Bello 1.5 Liter ($299.99)
Taylor Fladgate ($84.99)
Fonseca ($84.99)

2010
Christian Moreau Chablis “Valmur” ($69.99)
William Fevre Chablis “Les Preuses” ($79.99)
Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne ($149.99)
Faiveley Mercurey “Clos des Myglands” ($32.99)
Lamarche Echezeaux ($149.99)
Gros Frere Echezeaux ($129.99)
Hirsch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir “San Andreas Fault” ($59.99)
Talley Pinot Noir “Rincon” ($54.99)

Matt S., Beltramo’s Assistant Manager

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Planning a Cellar: Birth-year Wines