659417 Wed Oct 14 11:34:30 -0700 2009 24 34 Wine 0 5102802 My husband and I were given this as a gift on our wedding day from my in-laws. They purchased it the year we were born as a gift to give their son on his wedding. I don't think they realized what a great wine they were purchasing! The wine has been kept in a wine cellar all these years - dark, cool, on it's side. It's in excellent condition. As much as we would love to crack it open - we'd love to put the money toward our house also. Any suggestions on the best place or way to sell? Consignment, direct to buyer, wine shops, ebay/wine sites, etc? Thanks!! Wed Oct 14 11:34:30 -0700 2009 1116301 emmayer 1 5102846 Tons of sites out there: Winecommune, Winebid, etc. Can also look at CellarTracker.com as they now have a partnership with Vinfolio. If that were me however, I don't care what it is worth from a money perspective, and would just drink it based on the special nostalgia that this wine was purchased for. That is a special wine given for a special reason, but that is just me, and in these economic times, I can understand needing the money! I'll start the bidding at $200! ;-) Wed Oct 14 11:46:49 -0700 2009 5102802 192452 njfoodies 1 5102915 I sell on Wine Commune and really like the site. It is easy and you will get an instant quote for the average auction price if you just hit that button on WC when listing it. Careful on setting your expectations too high by way of Winesearcher or WineZap for pricing. Look at the "average" price, it is rare that anyone selling is getting the top price these days. The wine market is not so hot right now, but a Lafite will always get bids (even from a new seller). A wine shop will likely not give you much at all. I agree with emmayer though, it will make a great evening for you if you drink it!!! Wed Oct 14 12:12:00 -0700 2009 5102802 1110504 sedimental 2 5102944 We debated on drinking it.... my mother in law says sell it too! Depends .. if it ends up being a couple hundred bucks (thanks njfoodies for the bid haha), then we'll enjoy it ourselves. We love traveling more than wine however, and could help pay for an extra day or two in Europe next year also and put it in savings! We may enjoy that more. Wed Oct 14 12:17:38 -0700 2009 5102915 1116301 emmayer 3 5102955 Ooops. I meant I agree with njfoodies! Well, going to France is much better than drinking France :) Good luck!! Wed Oct 14 12:22:53 -0700 2009 5102944 1110504 sedimental 1 5102947 Thank you all for the ideas - I'll check them out. Wed Oct 14 12:17:55 -0700 2009 5102802 1116301 emmayer 1 5103155 FYI Recent Zachy's auction in LA, 10/10/09. Lot 769, 4 btls of 82 ChLR, estimates $6,500/$11,000, went for $12000 ( $3000 /btl ) Lot 873, 1 btl of 82 ChLR, estimates $1,600/$2,600, went for $3120 (20% Buyer's premium included in final price) Market value according to wine-searcher.com in the range $3000 / $5600 Wed Oct 14 13:28:48 -0700 2009 5102802 28703 RicRios 2 5108526 Christie's auction in NY 10/15/09. Lot 20, 4 btls (very top shoulder) of 82 ChLR, estimates $6,500/$10,000, went for $13,200 ( $3300 /btl ) Lot 286, 3 btls (top shoulder) of 82 ChLR, estimates $4,800/$6,000, went for $7,800 ( $2600 /btl ) (20% Buyer's premium included in final price) Fri Oct 16 12:08:54 -0700 2009 5103155 28703 RicRios 1 5104217 The problem is that you're not known as a respectable dealer. There are very few people who would be interested in buying your bottle with no storage history. It's a gamble, to say the least. Wed Oct 14 20:45:04 -0700 2009 5102802 92744 invinotheresverde 2 5104790 Yes it is ... for all they know it's been sitting on a hot window sill in the attic upright for 27 years! However fill level proves otherwise and the bottle is in perfect condition and was stored in a wine cellar all these years. I'm sure someone will be interested, it's just about getting a fair but reasonable deal to us. We aren't looking to clean someone out, just enjoy the present our mother gave us in another form. Thanks for everyone's input! Thu Oct 15 06:28:58 -0700 2009 5104217 1116301 emmayer 3 5105345 If you're intent on selling it, I'd hold onto it a little longer. Wine prices are in the toilet right now. Thu Oct 15 09:52:42 -0700 2009 5104790 92744 invinotheresverde 4 5105583 What you're saying agrees with common sense. However, recent auction prices seem to defy common sense ( see my post above ). I was probably one of the first here to post re. a dramatic decline in prices about a year ago or so, both retail & auction ( http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/547605#4149454 ) Retail doesn't seem to be back, but auction is. I know, doesn't make sense, but it is what it is. Thu Oct 15 11:07:23 -0700 2009 5105345 28703 RicRios 5 5105641 While I agree that retail is suffering more, I got some sweet deals at auction just last week. I picked up some Second Growths at a fraction of what I expected to pay. Score! Thu Oct 15 11:22:33 -0700 2009 5105583 92744 invinotheresverde 6 5106111 The only ones paying top dollar at auction right now are the nouveau-riches of the moment ( happy goldmansachsers, twentysomething oriental billionaires, you name them ), what I'd call the sheiss-set. These guys go after big names only ( as the one proposed by the OP ). Schnorers as yours truly look after La Grange des Pères, fifth grows, whatever goes under the radar. These ones can still be had for a song. But going back to the OP, if I were in her place I'd take my bottle to Zachys in a blink. Thu Oct 15 13:44:40 -0700 2009 5105641 28703 RicRios 4 5108139 Really...cases of 82 lafite have sold for nearly 40000 in the last four weeks...97 Harlan is selling for 1400/bottle...schrader just sold 600000 worth of wine, many for north of 400/bottle... Wine prices are extremely strong right now...for quality wines. Not sure where you are getting your information? To the OP, I would contact local stores and ask them if they are interested...I don't think you'll get full price...but certain you should get 1500-2000...assuming the bottle looks good. Fri Oct 16 10:03:22 -0700 2009 5105345 12132 manku 5 5108297 Getting my information through my own personal experience at auction. I agree with Ric about the super rich still buying the big guns, but, as mentioned above, I paid about 40% less than I anticipated for some Montrose, Cos d'Estornel, Leoville Las-Cases and Gruaud-Larose. I'm not complaining. Fri Oct 16 10:50:26 -0700 2009 5108139 92744 invinotheresverde 6 5108365 I agree that it's the high end that is strong, however I haven't seen much true weakness in the off vintages/seconds...what have you bought? thx. Fri Oct 16 11:12:49 -0700 2009 5108297 12132 manku 7 5108959 "...what have you bought?" "...I paid about 40% less than I anticipated for some Montrose, Cos d'Estornel, Leoville Las-Cases and Gruaud-Larose." They were all '05 vintages. Fri Oct 16 14:36:01 -0700 2009 5108365 92744 invinotheresverde 8 5110212 sorry...what i meant to say, is how much did you pay...with buyers commission for these wines...saying 40% less than you anticipated is like when i ask my wife how much something cost, and she replies that it was "on sale"! Sat Oct 17 08:58:59 -0700 2009 5108959 12132 manku 9 5111502 Your wife is smart. ;) Gruaud: $53 L.L.C: $233 Cos: $140 Montrose: $77 Forty percent may have been a slight exageration, but these wines were much cheaper than I thought they'd be, especially the L.L.C., considering the Spectator status. Sat Oct 17 21:09:37 -0700 2009 5110212 92744 invinotheresverde 1 5107624 You might want to keep an eye on this auction which includes a bottle of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. http://www.piasa.auction.fr/pdf/20091208_uk.pdf Fri Oct 16 07:22:57 -0700 2009 5102802 65804 grampart 1 5127538 Has anyone here been able to recently taste this beauty? In a seemingly previous(and more prosperous!) life I was able to buy one bottle but have been uncertain as to when to let the cork fly. I remember reading the tasting notes in one of Parker's Wine Buyer's Guides(fourth edition from '95) where he had this close to ten times....all with great but yet somewhat "inconsistent" results across the tastings. Mind you, he included this among the many 'Great Bordeaux Wines Of This Century' so it's safe to say it will be extraordinary but I would hate to open this if it is in one of its "closed down" stages. Any suggestions? Sat Oct 24 10:07:54 -0700 2009 5102802 1085943 noreservations 2 5128849 I recently opened one (in July). It was fabulous. I thought I would sell some if it was "under fabulous".... I decided to keep them. I think the inconsistencies have more to do with storage than anything else. In my experience, most classic cru's over 20 years old are rarely "closed". It could also be that my palate can't detect the minor variances that might be there or that you might notice if you were at a formal "tasting". Robert Parker, I am not....I let the cork fly when the feeling moves me! Sat Oct 24 23:26:49 -0700 2009 5127538 1110504 sedimental 3 5129162 Thanks for your post, the response is most appreciated. I hope the wine is as unique as your User ID...nicely done! Point taken with most 20+ year old classic crus not being "closed". I rarely hesitate to enjoy any bottling but with some of the super special First Growths(which I will most likely never be able to purchase again), I'm admittedly unsure of when to most fully enjoy some of the single bottles of my collecting past....thus the reading of tasting notes or input from those fortunate enough to have multiple bottles. The "points-police" followers in wine leave me wondering at times but at least there's descriptive tasting notes available to glean useful insight from reviews that perhaps can better inform me of the "best" opportunity for a wine to display its full potential. I'll now look forward to enjoying this Lafite sooner than I thought. Sun Oct 25 07:48:36 -0700 2009 5128849 1085943 noreservations 2 5132087 I have had this wine on several occasions. While uniformly excellent, the bottle variation was indeed greater than expected. If I were a scoring type, I would say that the experiences have had a variance between a low of 94 and high of 100. If it were me, I would drink the wine, not sell it. From an unexperienced, I doubt the OP will get the premiums that a Christie's auction would bring. Whereas drinking it can easily be a once (or twice) in a lifetime experience. Mon Oct 26 11:34:21 -0700 2009 5127538 10385 woojink