So…my first born child should be imminently arriving
Now the pram, cot, car seat and dozens of other miscellaneous items have been purchased, I’m thinking of buying some wine to celebrate their arrival.
Obviously there is no telling yet what the 2019 vintage will actually be like, so I’m after your tales on what, if anything, the esteemed members of TWS community did?
This is definitely a gift rather than an investment, so I’m steering away from Red Bordeaux, probably because I had no interest in Claret when I was 18! I’m thinking perhaps Sauternes, or maybe Champagne. So I’m all ears as to what (if anything) you lovely lot did!
Or even any general tips on maintaining sleep patters would be appreciated
firstly - congrats and I hope all goes well for the arrival
secondly - keep your fingers crossed that 2019 is declared a vintage year in port…its longevity means you don’t have to worry about it being in window for 18th !
for my son (2010) we purchased Lafite, Latour, Grand Puy Lacoste, Gruaud-Larose - we have visited (with my son) two of the properties and he knows he has wines from these Ch.
We have also accumulated various 2010 bottles from travels - Bdx, Loire, Champagne and even a few auction purchases…these are as much for the adults at Birthday celebrations as they are for him !
We also have a few of these 1928 Maury - they will be “100” when he is 18 - we also visited the regional’s this year so he knows about the wInes.
What a great question, and yes, many congratulations, but forget sleep patterns for at least the next 18 years Our daughter was born in 2009, I took the stance of buying the best I could that was ageworthy, and getting a good range of different styles \ types of wine (in fact I’m still buying 2009 wines to lay down now). The various EP purchases were Bordeaux (Leoville- Barton, GPL, Calon-Segur etc), Burgundy (Roussea Clos St Jacques, Cazetiers & Charmes as these were still just about affordable then…), Sauternes (Climens & Guiraurd), Port, Cote Rotie, Cornas, Hermitage and CnDP. Sounds like a lot, but a half case of each should provide loads of drinking pleasure in the future. Since then also Ch Musar, Rioja and some Australian Shiraz along with various bottles as they come online, such as the 2009 Albarino last year, its a great excuse to buy fine wine…‘but its for the little one…’. The secret is to make sure you buy wine you will love drinking yourself, the bairn may turn out teetotal Hope it all goes well!
Last year saw the arrival of my first Grandchild. The vintage reports and critics assessments of Bordeaux were so good that I decided to invest…on behalf of the Grandson of course.
I’ve bought EP Cos D’Estournel, Vieux Chateau Certan, Calon Segur, Langoa Barton and a few others… The drinking window is perfect for this vintage. I agree about 18 year olds and claret.
I hope I’m around to drink some of it…if not, his Mum and Dad have a pleasant problem to solve…
I went for magnums of Ridge Monte Bello Cab Sauv. on the basis that I wanted something to drink with them, rather than sell. Seemed to be the right quality/price/prestige ratio. If it had been a first growth claret or equivalent burgundy (a) I would still be paying it off and (b) it would probably end up being sold rather than drunk, which rather takes the fun out of it! I have also got some port and German sweeties for nephews, nieces etc, choosing wines/regions based on the quality of the local vintage that year.
The other thing I would say is that you don’t necessarily need to buy in advance. If it isn’t Burgundy (or possibly Rhone), you will probably be able to find things on the market a couple of years later. I’ve bought top Bandol, Barolo, Alsace, Rioja etc on actual release rather then as a future.
I had a slightly different experience with mine (vintages 2005 and 2007) in that I didn’t buy any cases EP at those times as I wanted to wait and see what vintages/regions turned out to be good. It is still easy to pick up wines from those years, so rather than cases of individual wines I’ve gone done the path of buying a selection of bottles from different areas and grapes etc. Effectively both kids will end up with a custom built mixed case with wines from their birth year and each one will definitely have some champagne from their specific vintage.
My kids are 2014 and 2017. The best introduction to wine I can give them is to studiously avoid buying them any wine from the three classic regions from their birth years. I have just acquired the new Pewsey Eden Valley Riesling cuvee from 2017 which, under screwcap, will reliably outlive any red wine from that year I could throw money into - if I can leave it alone until then.
Mine is 2017 so a bit of a tricky one.
Was going to give it a miss until Port was declared.
Opted for the mixed case in the recent EP on the thinking that when he is 18 we can “share” a bottle per Christmas over 6 years. Cos while it’s all about him, my wife did all the hard work so should be able to enjoy the spoils as well.
At @Jcbl you have just reminded me of that Pewsey. Might have to get some.
When a daughter is born in Piedmont her father must buy a bottle of Barolo from the vintage of her birth year which she must keep and drink at her wedding. (Or, as I was told by a local, until she gets fed up looking for the right man to share it with and drinks it all herself.)
Well do be careful how you store. My niece was born 1991 and dad bought Bollinger la Grande Annee 1990 . Alas the parents relationship faired slightly worse than the wine. My sister unearthed the bottle last year a little past any 18th or 21st and not stored in optimal conditions. Well 1990 was a good year but I did advise it may be best drinking now given it’s lack of optimal cellaring. Well what an experience that was. A deep golden colour with aromas of stewed apple and figs. An extremely light but fine mousse and a taste like calvados. The niece has just graduated with a PhD and is probably as interesting as the wine but hopefully will continue to mature for much longer.
I bought wine for both my sons.
93 was a good burgundy year - I got a mixed case en primeur - all gone now. The last bottle was drunk last year and it was a 93 Clos de la Roche from Dujac! Those were the days.
95 was a good claret year. We drink a bottle on his birthday or Christmas and have half a case left of Cos D’Estournel.
You’ll have to wait until we know where 2019 will be a good vintage and buy accordingly. Some Loire chenins and white Rhone age well too.
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Our daughter was born in 2009, I took the stance of buying the best I could that was ageworthy, and getting a good range of different styles \ types of wine (in fact I’m still buying 2009 wines to lay down now). The various EP purchases were Bordeaux (Leoville- Barton, GPL, Calon-Segur etc), Burgundy (Roussea Clos St Jacques, Cazetiers & Charmes as these were still just about affordable then…), Sauternes (Climens & Guiraurd), Port, Cote Rotie, Cornas, Hermitage and CnDP. Sounds like a lot, but a half case of each should provide loads of drinking pleasure in the future. Since then also Ch Musar, Rioja and some Australian Shiraz along with various bottles as they come online, such as the 2009 Albarino last year, its a great excuse to buy fine wine…‘but its for the little one…’. The secret is to make sure you buy wine you will love drinking yourself, the bairn may turn out teetotal 
Hope it all goes well!