What is the oldest wine you have tasted?

[andrawes76]

So the question is... what is the oldest wine you have tasted that was good? Can wines from the 1800's still be good? Reason I ask is that I have a bottle of 1918 Grauad Larose that I am considering opening...

[winoweenie]

Had a vertical of old B.V. Reserves ging back to the legendaty 36 the Andre made and was probably the pinnacle of any vertical I've been involved with. WW

[hotwine]

Beats my two pair.

Back in the early '60s, had numerous wonderful bottles going back to the mid to late '40s, but those were just reaching their peak, not fugitives from a lost cellar.

Would not open a very old bottle just for fun..... would need a valid excuse, like a terrible thirst that only an ancient bottle could remedy.

[Kcwhippet]

Had a 1929 Ch Lafite Rothschild a few years ago. Judy, who likes her wines on the younger side, said "It tastes like dirt!"

[andrawes76]

wow a 29 Lafite... at least you can say you had it! was it vinegar?

[Kcwhippet]

Not at all. It had been well stored its whole life. We also had a 55 Gruaud Larose - very nice as well. The real surprise of the tasting was a 3 liter of the 1981 Ch St Jean Robert Young Chard. It was made by Dick Arrowood, and was tasting quite young and vibrant - a testament to Dick's great winemaking skills, but I'm sure the awesome fruit helped a bit.

[Innkeeper]

Haven't got the foggiest!

[TheEngineer]

Not lucky enough to go too far back, '58 lafite, 66 Ports.

[Oeno-V]

A 1975 Chappellet Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and it was phenomenal!

[winoweenie]

Hi Oeno-V and welcome to the board. The 75 Chappelet has had a warm spot in my ole' black heart for years. Donn told me that in his humble this was one of the finest early cabs he'd made. Drank literally hundreds of bottles over the years. Totally agree. WW

[TheEngineer]

Welcome on board Oeno V. Sounds like you picked a great bottle to also be the oldest that you've had!