Wine Expert Required
Discussion
I have some bottles of wine that have been stored at my mothers house for a few years now. They are either individual bottles or in pairs. I cannot provide any history of where and how they've been stored but here's a list. Are they valuable?
Please forgive me if I have spelt some of the names incorrectly, I am copying from a list that my mother wrote out & her hand writing isn't what it used to be.
2 x Du Hart In Roschlio 1976 Paullac
3 x Cheval Blanc St emillion I Grande Cru Classic
1 x LaTour Paullac Grande Cru 1976
2 x Mouion Roschio Pallac 1976 (57 Vintage)
2 x Brane Cantenac Margany 1976
2 x Hauchat Fronsac 1983
1 x Los Destrourovel Stephanie 1975
1 x Mon Bousquet St Emilion 1974 no: 631519A
1 x De Luge Montagne St Emilion Latour A Pomeral 1976
2 x Du Hart In Roshillo Paul 1976
1 x Brame L'art Marg 1976
2 x M. Rosch Paulliac 1974
1 x Cheval Blanc St Emillion 1979
As I said, I have probably spelt some of these VERY wrongly but I hope you get the gist of what I've got.
Please forgive me if I have spelt some of the names incorrectly, I am copying from a list that my mother wrote out & her hand writing isn't what it used to be.
2 x Du Hart In Roschlio 1976 Paullac
3 x Cheval Blanc St emillion I Grande Cru Classic
1 x LaTour Paullac Grande Cru 1976
2 x Mouion Roschio Pallac 1976 (57 Vintage)
2 x Brane Cantenac Margany 1976
2 x Hauchat Fronsac 1983
1 x Los Destrourovel Stephanie 1975
1 x Mon Bousquet St Emilion 1974 no: 631519A
1 x De Luge Montagne St Emilion Latour A Pomeral 1976
2 x Du Hart In Roshillo Paul 1976
1 x Brame L'art Marg 1976
2 x M. Rosch Paulliac 1974
1 x Cheval Blanc St Emillion 1979
As I said, I have probably spelt some of these VERY wrongly but I hope you get the gist of what I've got.
Some very big names there - not the greatest vintages mind (but not the worst either).
In terms of value, without knowing how they've been stored, it'll be pretty low I'm afraid. 35 years is a long time in which they could have been abused so someone buying them will basically be taking a gamble that they're drinkable (and they won't know that until they open them).
The wines that make strong money at this age have usually got a solid paper trail behind them and have usually been professionally stored.
The key thing anyone buying any of these will look for is the level of wines left in each bottle. Whilst far from a perfect indication it can help provide a rough indication of storage conditions. See this for a brief guide: http://www.cadmanfinewines.co.uk/ullage_fill_level...
Hope this helps.
PS - this is what I think you've got (some I can't make out):
2 x Duhart Milon 1976 Pauillac
3 x Cheval Blanc St emillion I Grande Cru Classic
1 x Latour Paullac Grande Cru 1976
2 x Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1976 (57 Vintage) - not sure why you have 2 vintages?
2 x Brane Cantenac Margaux 1976
2 x Hauchat Fronsac 1983
1 x Los Destrourovel Stephanie 1975 ????
1 x Ch Monbousquet St Emilion 1974 no: 631519A
1 x De Luge Montagne St Emilion Latour A Pomerol 1976 ???
2 x Duhart Milon Pauillac 1976
1 x Brane Cantenac ???? 1976
2 x Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1974
1 x Cheval Blanc St Emilion 1979
In terms of value, without knowing how they've been stored, it'll be pretty low I'm afraid. 35 years is a long time in which they could have been abused so someone buying them will basically be taking a gamble that they're drinkable (and they won't know that until they open them).
The wines that make strong money at this age have usually got a solid paper trail behind them and have usually been professionally stored.
The key thing anyone buying any of these will look for is the level of wines left in each bottle. Whilst far from a perfect indication it can help provide a rough indication of storage conditions. See this for a brief guide: http://www.cadmanfinewines.co.uk/ullage_fill_level...
Hope this helps.
PS - this is what I think you've got (some I can't make out):
2 x Duhart Milon 1976 Pauillac
3 x Cheval Blanc St emillion I Grande Cru Classic
1 x Latour Paullac Grande Cru 1976
2 x Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1976 (57 Vintage) - not sure why you have 2 vintages?
2 x Brane Cantenac Margaux 1976
2 x Hauchat Fronsac 1983
1 x Los Destrourovel Stephanie 1975 ????
1 x Ch Monbousquet St Emilion 1974 no: 631519A
1 x De Luge Montagne St Emilion Latour A Pomerol 1976 ???
2 x Duhart Milon Pauillac 1976
1 x Brane Cantenac ???? 1976
2 x Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1974
1 x Cheval Blanc St Emilion 1979
Wow, thanks for that Chris, I have no idea what to do with them now....EBay? 
I presume a wine specialist won't touch them, maybe I should just open them and drink them!
I've tried searching on this website, seems some are worth a few quid!
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
I presume a wine specialist won't touch them, maybe I should just open them and drink them!I've tried searching on this website, seems some are worth a few quid!
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
No problem mate - happy to help.
Wine-searcher prices are accurate - BUT bear in mind they're retail/wholesale prices where the buyer has comeback against the seller if the wine turns out to not be up to expectations - and yes, some of the wines you have there would be worth a good few quid with decent provenance. For sale with no provenance you're sadly looking a small fraction of that.
You're right that specialists won't touch them for resale - some smaller auction houses might, but again you're in to people taking a punt territory and the brokers don't tend to deal in that market.
Ebay have a thing about selling wine (but not I understand "collectible bottles with incidental contents" if you get my drift) - believe it or not, some labels/corks/capsules sell on there basically as ringing kits! You could try bidforwine, but there's not much action on there.
Another angle could be to see if a local wine tasting group wants to buy a job lot off you - 3/4/5 wines for £100, say? If they get one good one they'll be ecstatic, if they're all dead then individually they won't feel too aggrieved.
Personally, I'd probably open one or two to see what they're like - expect them to be paler than modern wines with a very different flavour profile (but obviously if they resemble vinegar then they're shot!).
If you do decide to open them just be aware there are two schools of thought when it comes to opening wines of that sort of age - one that says open and drink almost immediately and another that reckons they can improve by "slow oxygenation" (have a google).
Wine-searcher prices are accurate - BUT bear in mind they're retail/wholesale prices where the buyer has comeback against the seller if the wine turns out to not be up to expectations - and yes, some of the wines you have there would be worth a good few quid with decent provenance. For sale with no provenance you're sadly looking a small fraction of that.
You're right that specialists won't touch them for resale - some smaller auction houses might, but again you're in to people taking a punt territory and the brokers don't tend to deal in that market.
Ebay have a thing about selling wine (but not I understand "collectible bottles with incidental contents" if you get my drift) - believe it or not, some labels/corks/capsules sell on there basically as ringing kits! You could try bidforwine, but there's not much action on there.
Another angle could be to see if a local wine tasting group wants to buy a job lot off you - 3/4/5 wines for £100, say? If they get one good one they'll be ecstatic, if they're all dead then individually they won't feel too aggrieved.
Personally, I'd probably open one or two to see what they're like - expect them to be paler than modern wines with a very different flavour profile (but obviously if they resemble vinegar then they're shot!).
If you do decide to open them just be aware there are two schools of thought when it comes to opening wines of that sort of age - one that says open and drink almost immediately and another that reckons they can improve by "slow oxygenation" (have a google).
JABB said:
As no one has asked, have these been stored on their sides in a dark, cool environment all their lives at your Mums? You say no history. Has she had them since "new"?
They've been stored in a dark, cool garage all the time they've been at my mums, before that I cant comment, she hasn't had them since new. She was given them in 'payment' for something (Not what you think! 
) from someone who new his wine!boobles said:
PM me with a price if you like & I will see what I can do......
Ha, now, there's a question. I really don't know what they're worth. I have looked on www.wine-searcher.com which prices some of them at over £250 a bottle but because I have no 'paper trail' on any of the bottles I'd imagine they're going to be hard to price! 
.You could try selling them on here
http://www.bidforwine.co.uk/
Trouble is provenance i.e. will if be drinkable ?!?! That will have an impact on the price.
Does the temperature vary much in the garage ? If gets very cold in the winter and hot in the summer the wine could be done for.....within reason it's more important that the wine is kept at a relatively constant temperature than the actual temperature. At least that's what I've read in the past.
http://www.bidforwine.co.uk/
Trouble is provenance i.e. will if be drinkable ?!?! That will have an impact on the price.
Does the temperature vary much in the garage ? If gets very cold in the winter and hot in the summer the wine could be done for.....within reason it's more important that the wine is kept at a relatively constant temperature than the actual temperature. At least that's what I've read in the past.
Lordbenny said:
JABB said:
As no one has asked, have these been stored on their sides in a dark, cool environment all their lives at your Mums? You say no history. Has she had them since "new"?
They've been stored in a dark, cool garage all the time they've been at my mums, before that I cant comment, she hasn't had them since new. She was given them in 'payment' for something (Not what you think! ) from someone who new his wine!Beardy10 said:
Does the temperature vary much in the garage ? If gets very cold in the winter and hot in the summer the wine could be done for.....within reason it's more important that the wine is kept at a relatively constant temperature than the actual temperature. At least that's what I've read in the past.
My concern with garage stored wine wouldn't be the summer <-> winter variation, it would be the day <-> night variation that you might see in any 24hr period. Wines generally don't seem to like constant temperature cycling and some garages seem to fluctuate by a significant amount, whereas others are probably fine.Problem is that it's all a big unknown for any potential purchaser...
I think Digger has nailed it there. Track down the original owner and you could be looking at a new car!
Failing that, a lot of the bigger dealers will bid you for odd bottles, or even introduce you to good clients to make your own arrangements. Berry Brothers and Rudd, Farr etc. would certainly be worth contacting. Also some of the smaller independants may be a better places to approach. Raffles wine {http://www.raffles-wine.com/} is an small place I've bought from before and they seem very good. A broker may even show you a good bid for the lot. By the sounds of it, while the names are certainly first class, any purchaser would effectively be taking a punt. Good luck and would love to know the results!
Failing that, a lot of the bigger dealers will bid you for odd bottles, or even introduce you to good clients to make your own arrangements. Berry Brothers and Rudd, Farr etc. would certainly be worth contacting. Also some of the smaller independants may be a better places to approach. Raffles wine {http://www.raffles-wine.com/} is an small place I've bought from before and they seem very good. A broker may even show you a good bid for the lot. By the sounds of it, while the names are certainly first class, any purchaser would effectively be taking a punt. Good luck and would love to know the results!
LooneyTunes said:
My concern with garage stored wine wouldn't be the summer <-> winter variation, it would be the day <-> night variation that you might see in any 24hr period. Wines generally don't seem to like constant temperature cycling and some garages seem to fluctuate by a significant amount, whereas others are probably fine.
^^^^^^Absolutely this. I had a particularly expensive case of Margeaux go 'South' on me a few years back - Led me to invest in a wine cabinet which maintains a constant 12c
TOM500 said:
Failing that, a lot of the bigger dealers will bid you for odd bottles, or even introduce you to good clients to make your own arrangements. Berry Brothers and Rudd, Farr etc.
Personally I wouldn't bother - unless you have a long standing relationship with them they'll only take wines that are still "in bond".The reason being that their own clients expect to be sold wines only with impeccable provenance and, being blunt, if they don't know someone from Adam they won't risk their reputations for the sake of shifting a few odd bottles.
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