Champagne geeks: Louis Roederer - 1950's ish
Discussion
My grandfather passed away, leaving me a bottle that he had saved for years for a special occasion.
It's a Louis Roederer Extra Quality Chamagne - but I can't see any date marks on it, nor do I know exactly when it's from.
All I know it I've looked at some prices for 10 year old vintage and it's nearly £2k for a bottle.
I understand that champagne doesn't age at all, and is not any use after a while - is this right, or do I have something special in my hands?
I can supply a piccie later if needed?
It's a Louis Roederer Extra Quality Chamagne - but I can't see any date marks on it, nor do I know exactly when it's from.
All I know it I've looked at some prices for 10 year old vintage and it's nearly £2k for a bottle.
I understand that champagne doesn't age at all, and is not any use after a while - is this right, or do I have something special in my hands?
I can supply a piccie later if needed?
Don said:
neil_bolton said:
Who's the chap who's the auctioneer on here - his name escapes me - he did cigars at Sootheby's or something?
Hedders?
Are you thinking of fine wine merchant and expert Bebs?Hedders?
Bebs
Anyone got an email or number for him?
ps here's the bottle:
MonkeyMatt said:
I was very fond of my Grandad! If he had left me that I would chill it and take it out to one of my favourite spots maybe a beach or out on the downs! I would sit there and drink to my Grandad and enjoy every last drop! Thinking of the good times!
Me too, and I think of mine who passed away last year often. However he has left a legacy that has allowed me a fantastic start in life - and allowed me to indulge in a passion - an M5!However, as Don says, I'm no big fan of champers, and I agree that I'd find such a bottle best served by selling it and buying something to remember him by...
Greetings Gents and sorry for the delay.
If the Roederer is non-vintage i.e. does not have a vintage printed anywhere on the label, then I'm afraid it has very little value. Maybe £30-50 max. It would be too old and probably not drinkable (unless you like sherry) There is no market for 'collectors items' sadly, if the champagne/wine is undrinkable i.e. too old. From the photo it does look like a bottle of non-vintage.
Terribly sorry to be the bearer of bad news. In general top vintage champagnes such as Cristal, Krug, Dom Perignon etc can keep for 40-50 years but they are what we call 'big wines' to start with. High quality and made for maturation/keeping. Non vintage cuvees are lighter wines and do not keep much more than 10 years in the right conditions.
With regards to Havanas, I normally point fellow PHers to Cgarsltd.co.uk
Mitchell Orchant is the owner and is by far the largest cigar business in the UK both for recent but also vintage cigars. Feel free to email him and use my name. I hold vintage cigar auctions twice a year with him in London.
PM me if anyone needs further detailed information.
If the Roederer is non-vintage i.e. does not have a vintage printed anywhere on the label, then I'm afraid it has very little value. Maybe £30-50 max. It would be too old and probably not drinkable (unless you like sherry) There is no market for 'collectors items' sadly, if the champagne/wine is undrinkable i.e. too old. From the photo it does look like a bottle of non-vintage.
Terribly sorry to be the bearer of bad news. In general top vintage champagnes such as Cristal, Krug, Dom Perignon etc can keep for 40-50 years but they are what we call 'big wines' to start with. High quality and made for maturation/keeping. Non vintage cuvees are lighter wines and do not keep much more than 10 years in the right conditions.
With regards to Havanas, I normally point fellow PHers to Cgarsltd.co.uk
Mitchell Orchant is the owner and is by far the largest cigar business in the UK both for recent but also vintage cigars. Feel free to email him and use my name. I hold vintage cigar auctions twice a year with him in London.
PM me if anyone needs further detailed information.
You could try drinking it, then remove the label with these http://www.wineware.co.uk/The+Wine+Journal+Wine+La... and write about what you thought, maybe you could start a little log and open something nice on his birthday every year as a small nod to his memory.
neil_bolton said:
Bebs, you're ever the gent 
Just trying to decide whether the wife to be will be narked if I'm puffing on a cigar, so have to make a decision!
Re: the champers, I think I'll just put it somewhere safe and keep it as a momento
I wouldn't worry - she'll be too busy enjoying her dress etc to notice your Havana! I will certainly be puffing next July on my wedding day Just trying to decide whether the wife to be will be narked if I'm puffing on a cigar, so have to make a decision!
Re: the champers, I think I'll just put it somewhere safe and keep it as a momento
Good plan re the champagne - nice momento to keep in hommage to your grand father.
Vintage champagne can be very very nice indeed! But as Bebs says, it will have to be champagne which is created for aging, not a non-vintage which would be produced to be drunk straight away, and wouldn't be designed to keep and be drunk much more than 5 or 10 at a push (in correct cellar conditions too) let alone after 50 years.
As Bebs says, you'd probably struggle finding anyone to give you a price for it.
I agree with the poster above, unless you want to keep it as an ornament or a keepsake to remember your grandad by, it might be worth chilling then drinking it, a symbolic event itself that might be more memorable than the wine itself!
As Bebs says, you'd probably struggle finding anyone to give you a price for it.
I agree with the poster above, unless you want to keep it as an ornament or a keepsake to remember your grandad by, it might be worth chilling then drinking it, a symbolic event itself that might be more memorable than the wine itself!
neil_bolton said:
Don said:
neil_bolton said:
Who's the chap who's the auctioneer on here - his name escapes me - he did cigars at Sootheby's or something?
Hedders?
Are you thinking of fine wine merchant and expert Bebs?Hedders?
Bebs
Anyone got an email or number for him?
ps here's the bottle:
That said, my Great Uncle left me a bottle of Bollinger that must have been a similar age and I drank it in his honour (well, a glass anyway). It had virtually no fizz left. The flavour hinted at what once was, but it wasn't particularly enjoyable.
Bebs said:
Nat_H said:
how much would a bottle of Joseph Perrier Josephine 1989 Vintage Champagne be worth?
Good vintage the 1989 and Cuvee Josephine is their top cuvee. £120-150 btl on the open market. thanks
eldritch said:
Bebs said:
Nat_H said:
how much would a bottle of Joseph Perrier Josephine 1989 Vintage Champagne be worth?
Good vintage the 1989 and Cuvee Josephine is their top cuvee. £120-150 btl on the open market. I'd target restaurants and wine merchants if I were them. Its a difficult market to penetrate. Champagne is often sold on brand name and not the actual quality of the wine itself. Look at Cristal.. good champagne but way over priced. Krug Non Vintage is cheaper and better and MUCH more exclusive. Our own house champagne is also from a small producer and I sell that at £15 btl. It is far better than something like Veuve, Moet, Roederer etc but its difficult to sell exactly because of the brand association with Champagne.
This makes it extremely difficult to market a new champagne house/brand.
Remember, the big champagne houses spend Millions and Millions on PR and sponsorships/events. That's hard to compete with for a small producer/importer.
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