Question 1

How do I know if a vintage wine is still drinkable?

Accepted Answer

Fill level is the single best external indicator. For Bordeaux-style bottles, wine should be in the neck or upper shoulder. A wine at mid-shoulder or below has likely oxidized. Cork condition matters: a protruding or depressed cork suggests storage problems. Color provides clues: hold the bottle against a white surface. Red wines that have turned brown at the rim have significant aging (normal for pre-1980 wines, concerning for younger ones). White wines that have turned amber or brown may be oxidized. Even properly stored wines have a drinking window: most Bordeaux peaks at 20 to 40 years; Burgundy at 15 to 30 years; vintage Port at 30 to 60 years. Provenance is critical: a wine stored in a temperature-controlled cellar at 55 degrees Fahrenheit is more likely drinkable than one kept in a warm attic.

Question 2

What Bordeaux vintages are considered the greatest?

Accepted Answer

The consensus legendary vintages are 1945 (post-war, tiny production, extraordinary concentration), 1961 (frost-reduced yields, intense wines), 1982 (the Parker vintage that transformed Bordeaux's reputation), 2000 (millennial quality across all appellations), 2005 (structured, long-lived wines), 2009 and 2010 (often considered the greatest modern pairing of consecutive vintages), and 2016 (acclaimed as the complete vintage). A case of first-growth 1982 Bordeaux (Lafite, Margaux, etc.) now sells for 10,000 to 30,000 dollars. Older legendary vintages are increasingly rare: 1945 Mouton Rothschild has sold for over 100,000 dollars per bottle. The 2019 and 2020 en primeur releases were also highly rated and represent the current 'future collectible' opportunity.

Question 3

Why have Japanese whiskies become so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Japanese whisky experienced explosive global demand after Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 was named World Whisky of the Year by Jim Murray's Whisky Bible in 2015. Distilleries including Yamazaki, Hakushu, Nikka (Yoichi and Miyagikyo), and Chichibu had limited aged stock because they had produced modest quantities before the boom. A bottle of Yamazaki 18 Year Old, which retailed for approximately 120 dollars in 2014, now sells for 500 to 800 dollars. Limited releases like Yamazaki 25 reach 5,000 to 15,000 dollars. The 'Karuizawa' distillery (closed in 2000) has become the most valuable Japanese whisky brand: single cask bottlings regularly sell for 10,000 to over 100,000 dollars because no new stock will ever be produced.

Question 4

How do I start a wine collection for drinking and collecting?

Accepted Answer

Allocate approximately 60 percent of your budget to drinking wines (consumed within 5 to 10 years) and 40 percent to investment-grade bottles (held 10 to 30 years). For Bordeaux, buy en primeur (futures) from reputable merchants like Berry Bros. & Rudd, Farr Vintners, or Millesima during strong vintages. For Burgundy, establish relationships with importers who allocate wines from small producers. Storage is critical: invest in a wine fridge (500 to 3,000 dollars for 50 to 200 bottles) or professional storage (8 to 15 dollars per case per year) at 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 percent humidity. Track your collection using CellarTracker (free) or Vivino. Insurance through Chubb or specialized wine policies costs approximately 0.5 to 1 percent of value annually.

Question 5

What makes a whisky cask investment risky or worthwhile?

Accepted Answer

Cask investment (buying entire casks of maturing whisky) has become popular but carries real risks. Legitimate opportunities exist through distilleries and brokers (Whisky Hammer, Rare Whisky 101). A cask of new-make Scotch single malt costs 3,000 to 10,000 dollars depending on the distillery. As the whisky ages, value increases: a 10-year-old cask from a respected distillery might be worth 15,000 to 30,000 dollars. Risks include: storage fees (200 to 400 dollars per year), the 'angel's share' (2 to 4 percent evaporation annually), insurance costs, and the illiquid nature of the asset. Scams have proliferated, with fraudulent companies selling fictitious casks. Always verify cask ownership registration with the distillery directly and use established brokers with audited inventory.

Question 6

How do I spot counterfeit wine?

Accepted Answer

Counterfeiting has become sophisticated, particularly for high-value Bordeaux and Burgundy. Check label printing quality: pre-1980 labels were letterpress-printed (feel for impression in the paper), while modern labels use offset lithography. Capsule condition should match the wine's age. Cork printing should use fonts and ink consistent with the era. Fill level should be appropriate for the age. The most reliable defense is purchasing from established auction houses (Christie's, Sotheby's, Hart Davis Hart, Acker Merrall & Condit) or directly from producer cellars. For wines above 500 dollars, services like Chai Consulting and Domaine Authenticate provide bottle-level authentication. The Rudy Kurniawan case (convicted in 2013 for selling over 30 million dollars in counterfeit wine) demonstrated that even experienced collectors can be deceived.

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Frequently asked questions about wine & spirits