Any one know champaigns?

[OhioJim]

I spent $125.00 for a bottle of champaign to celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary in 1972. It was a bottle of Henriot Reserve Baron Philippe de Rothschild, vintage 1971. It came beautifully packed in an impressive casket type box. My wife decided it was too expensive to drink. So she stashed it away in a closet. Can anyone suggest where I might find out how much its worth? I don't have a clue!

[Drew]

OhioJim, Welcome to the board. I can't give you a value but was able to find some info on your champagne. I think the holidays beckon you to open and celebrate.

Henriot: YEAR(S): 1971 Reserve Baron Philippe de Rothschild

A very rare vintage Reserve Champagne from Henriot. A special Cuvee made to honour Pilippe Rothschild on occasion of his visit to the Henriot vineyards. According to rumours, old man Rothschild remarked that 1971 Henriot was the best Champagne he ever tasted. In response, Henriot asked his permission to call the wine Reserve Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The wine was tasted in the summer of 1993. Deep golden color, almost Blanc de Noirs. Incredible, superpowerful nose with prodigious yeast, exotic nuts such as (macademia, hazelnut), very fine mousse combine with noble age and superb breeding to create an unimaginably rare Champagne experience. 95 Points. (LRR).

Drew



[This message has been edited by Drew (edited 12-09-2000).]

[mrdutton]

Hey Jim........ Welcome to the wine board!

I tend to think you should have cast another vote or at least asked for a recount. In other words, you should have drunk the stuff when you first got your hands on it!

Guess what cuz, it ain't worth a penny more than when you first got it....... and since it was stored in a closet instead of in a proper wine cellar, it could quite possibly be the worst vinegar you ever tasted in your life by now.

HOWEVER, if that closet was the least bit dark, humid and CHILLY, then you might still have a chance at a good taste.

You'll not have much of a chance at selling it to anyone, unless it is a private sale. Auctions and such usually go for the case lots or more, not for the single bottles.

Do you like oysters? If you do, grab some on the half shell or bake some in the oven or scallop some in a casserole and suck them down with the Champagne (however, I'd make darn sure I had a back-up bottle just in case that cork flops out instead of pops out).

[mrdutton]

Drew are we diametrically opposed here? (And yeah, I did check Webster's for the sp!)

[Drew]

Diametrically opposed as to the drinkability? Not at all....I think it's a crap shoot with not good odds, like you said, but who knows....it just might be fantabulous. I just found some info on the wine to make OhioJim feel bad for not drinking it years ago! Just kidding OhioJim. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Drew

[Botafogo]

What I want to know is how he bought a 1971 vintage Champagne in 1972, a full four years ahead of the (then) legal age for release???

[Richard C]

Hi Jim.

Being in Ohio, there is a brand called Mon Ami. It was originally made in Catawba, Ohio on Lake Erie. They have a Brutt and a Burgandy that is exceptional. Not expensive either. I think they are owned by Paramont, the ones who own the winery where all those people were killed this last summer at Lonz's Winery. They bought all the local wineries but kepted their local recipies. You might be surpriced how nice this Ohio Champaine is.

Rich