menu
Member Sign In
  • IWFS Homepage
  • Blog Home
  • Forums Home
  • Global Forum
  • Contact Us
Close
  • IWFS Homepage
  • Blog Home
  • Forums Home
  • Global Forum
  • Contact Us
    Member Sign In
  • Blog Home
  • Forum Home
  • Global Forum
FOLOW US

Recent Posts

  • Ask Sid: A new popular white grape wine to try?
  • OLDER RHONE HERMITAGE WINES SHOW FULL FLAVOURED TERROIR SIGNATURE
  • Ask Sid: What is “replis” in wine making?
  • THREE WINES THIS WEEK DELIVER SURPRISING HIGHEST QUALITY DELIGHTFUL COMPLEXITY!
  • Ask Sid: Is the Gros Manseng grape being used in Bordeaux wines?

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

10 Memorable Older Wines in 2014

January 5th, 2015 by Sidney Cross

10 Memorable Older Wines in 2014

Cherish looking back on so many wonderful food and wine events from 2014. Certainly exciting that there is now so much young delicious fermented grape juice from all regions of the world out there in the marketplace for our earlier enjoyment. However, I still have a soft spot for the extra complexity and joy I get from experiencing a clean authentic more mature bottle of fine wine. Thought I might briefly highlight ten of these treasures that had at least 20 years of bottle age:

1991 CHABLIS LES CLOS FRANCOIS RAVENEAU displayed pure terroir from probably the greatest Grand Cru site in Chablis. Vibrant yet maturely rich. Their 1er cru 2005 Montee de Tonnerre also is excellent and more forwardly but these whites really can age forever.

1974 MAYACAMAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON is a masterpiece of intense old style mountain fruit especially in magnum. Still fresh and young. Other 1974 cabs at 30 years I respected included minty Heitz Martha’s Vineyard, classy Mondavi Reserve , solid Caymus, and concentrated Mount Eden Santa Cruz Mountains.

1961 LE CORTON BOUCHARD PERE was a surprise. A better collector vintage in Bordeaux but this really sang mineral bouquet & smooth entry finishing with long pinot noir silk. Great shape at over 50 years for this under rated region for aging the only Grand Cru red in the Cote de Beaune.

1986 CHATEAU GRUAUD LAROSE ST. JULIEN is always outstanding and is still a value. I promoted in the past 1986 Mouton Pauillac but this too shows depth and big cedar fruit still developing.

1986 OKFENER BOCKSTEIN RIESLING AUSLESE BLUE LABEL ST. URBANS-HOF shows this high acid year in the steep Saar slate vineyards (like 2002) but now so fresh, refined smoke with mineral balance at only 8.5 alcohol. Proprietor vintner Nik Weis told me he just had the 1952 which also is still fresh. Their 2002 Eiswein at 6.5 alcohol is also amazing!

1978 HERMITAGE LA CHAPELLE JABOULET is their best vintage together with 1961 and 1990 and shows it on a beautiful plateau of ripe mature blackberry syrah.

1989 BOLLINGER VIEILLES VIGNES FRANCAISES from their pre phylloxera layered low yielding pinot noir vines in Ay is a rare and brilliant Champagne. So delicious even though from a usually softer more forwardly warmer vintage.

1985 CLOS DE TART GRAND CRU is a special plot monopole of Mommessin in Morey St. Denis now showing mature elegant flowers with earthy vibrancy. Like drinking Burgundy from that vintage presently as the Bonnes Mares Louis Jadot also shows outstanding and was the first inclusion of the fruit from the Clair Dau estate they purchased.

1982 CHATEAU LA MISSION HAUT BRION but could have been so many other 1982 Bordeaux all showing so great now when they have been well stored. Cheval Blanc, Mouton, Latour, Lafite, Margaux, Petrus and others like Grand Puy Lacoste are all excellent.

1914 CHATEAU COUTET BARSAC was such a treat to try this Sauternes at 100 years. High fill and supplied directly from the chateau property for an auction to celebrate the millennium showing ethereal bouquet still alive yet with sweet quince prunes and caramel crème brulee. So complex and stays on the palate a really long time. Also enjoyed 1967 & 1928 Chateau d’Yquem among others but a century is truly memorable!


You might also like:

Have you tried any of the wines on this list?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
January 5th, 2015 by Sidney Cross
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

The object of the Society is to bring together and serve all who believe that a right understanding of good food and wine is an essential part of personal contentment and health and that an intelligent approach to the pleasures and problems of the table offers far greater rewards than the mere satisfaction of appetite.
Andre Simon Wine & Food Society Founder (1933)
© 2025 The International Wine & Food Society (IW&FS) IW&FS
Credits | Privacy | Accessibility