A Vino query From the Vicar
Chefmeister...i have a question.
I have a humble understanding of wines, I know I love the ones I love. I have loved like a wine floosie.
But, do you know if a particular wine i have in my possession is any good, or rather, is it now dead as a dodo. The label reads-
1966
Rioja
Berberana
Carta de Oro (i think)
Bodegas Berberana, S.A.
Ollauri
My closest friends gave it to me when their father passed on. I will never sell it, I just need to know when to toast a great man. All i know is he purchased it when England won the world cup. But it was the last of the case that survived the celebrations. If you have any idea, I would be eternally gratefull.
cheers
Vicar
Well Vicar,
I have to first state that I have a fondness in my heart for Riojas. The tempranillo (pronounced Temp-RAH-NEE-OH) grape is one of my favorite varietals. It is a lush, full-bodied and sometimes spicy red that can be trancendent when it has good extraction and ripeness of fruit.
On to your bottle.
1966 was a great year in Spain for Riojas. And Bodegas Berberana was no exception. That being said tempranillo can be a tricky bottle to keep for any great length of time. If your bottle was reasonably well treated and stored there is a chance that it will be still drinkable. Granted it is in fact past its "peak" and may very well be dead in the bottle.
I would think, all things being equal, that it could be vinegar or an ok bottle of wine. There is an outside chance that it is a stellar bottle of wine. My personal belief is that straight out of the bottle, it will be thin, flabby and weak. Maybe a few hours decanting time will improve that if it was not ill-treated.
But I think at best it will be thin and unremarkable at this point. Don't wait for a special occasion to drink.
If it turns out to be a stellar wine. Whenever you open one is a special enough occasion. I've found that hoarding great wines for the right occasion never get consumed.
My advice:
Drink it.
And go, if you have the means, and buy a bordeaux from the same vintage and drink that in honour of a great man.
Cheers
en vino veritas
Chefinator
posted by Chef @ 2/12/2006 06:58:00 PM
1 Comments:
It was my pleasure. Always enjoy talking about grape juice.
I know how you feel. Everytime I open a bottle of Charles Heisdick Millisemi 1990 brut (bout once a year) I always love the wine but am a little sad at the loss of yet another of the great 1990 vintage.
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