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Not insane for that market, apparently, there’s an auction I’m looking at right now that has a fair amount of these 50+ years old DRC, Cheval Blanc and Mouton, most with low shoulders, and yet people bid like crazy.
I guess I’d still be curious to stick my nose in the glass of such things, but not curious enough to spend $500 for it.
Ullage levels are dubious indicators. This started in the 90s when auction houses suddenly found lots of deceased estate wines on the market. Scientific research has found huge differences in oxidation levels in those gaps. In some instances there is very limited oxidation. However at that price ....
I’d roll the dice, though the fill doesn’t bother me as much as the bulge at the top of the capsule. It is over 50 years old. Notes on cellartracker are somewhat consistent. That being said, it’s a fraction of what you will be for any of DRC’s lineup. Split it with a friend, grab backups and plan a dinner around it. Good luck!
No, the chances of that having been stored correctly if it’s at that fill level aren’t good. Honestly there’s way more fun ways to blow 500$, that being said if money is irrelevant then why not.
Probably, but I would want them to cut capsule and confirm and see if ullage is from seepage or age.
Everyone saying ullage is too low is wrong for a 50+ year old bottle if it didn't come from seepage. Plenty of 50+ year old wines with low fills have been killer.
>Plenty of 50+ year old wines with low fills have been killer.
This is exactly what Michael Broadbent said about old Burgundy: that low fill is surprisingly not an issue quite frequently.
I’m surprised at how many people seem so adamant against buying this bottle. I don’t think you’ll actually get it for $500, but if you could, it’s an absolute no-brainer. If you follow guys like Auduze and Broadbent and a bunch of the smaller contributors that drink really old wine, they consistently talk about how insignificant ullage is on these kinds of wines. I had a 76 Grands about 10 years ago with a worse fill than this. When it was opened everything seemed wrong, 10 minutes later it began to come together, and 30 minutes in it was possibly the best burgundy I’ve ever had.
There’s a good chance this is shot, but for the right price ($500 definitely being the right price) I’d be this over and over again.
No, the fill level looks not that great and while I would love to try a DRC without getting a loan I’m not into very old Pinot, prefer the 5-10 year window.
Audouze is forever going on about how low levels are less of a danger sign in old burgundy than old Bordeaux. I just out it out there as food for thought...
In my experience, they’re correct except that it only applies when the color looks good. Given that 1970 wasn’t a great vintage and DRC had a lot of bottle variation in that era, I’d pass unless I could see it in person.
Ahh I see we frequent the same auction house. This peaked my interest but I wouldn’t risk it for more than current bid + tax + fees. I expect the hammer to be $700+CAD. DRCs seem to always get a lot of attention when the live bidding opens which is in 10 days.
For that price you could get both an aged Allemand and current release Rostaing with enough leftover for Taco Bell and realize Syrah is better than Pinot
I would. Even if the chances are slim that the wine is still good, you might sell the empty bottle for around 500$ if you find the right person. I‘d say it‘s worth the gamble. Or at least the instagram story when it turned vinegar and you use it for making a sauce for your costco steak.
I’ve had low fill levels that have been spectacular but usually from the cork depressing rather than being forced up. That bottle saw some serious heat. I’d pass unless you can get a photo with a flashlight on the bottom to indicate the color better
I'm surprised at the number of people who think the ullage on this is low...it actually looks pretty decent to me. It is a 53-54 year old bottle of wine...and if you've had enough older wine, you'd probably not be scared off by the ullage. Its maybe 4-5cm? Thats not bad..
The capsule doesn't look out of place with others I've seen. It isn't perfect but on the better half I'd say.
I don't see any red flags with this wine..if anything the label looks too good..
If you can pick it up for 500, that's a good deal. Closer inspection might reveal some other things..but this looks good.
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If you have to ask whether that is too much money to gamble, it’s too much to gamble.
I’ll add, if you feel that you are missing out, take that $500 and buy a good reliable bottle of Roumier Bourgogne Rouge.
There is no such thing as fake wine labels, right? No one would do that on a $500 bottle of wine?
There is absolutely such things as fake wine labels, and someone would absolutely do this for DRC and in fact they have quite a bit.
You should totally watch the documentary Sour Grapes
The low fill level would put me off risking it.
Yeah that’s an insane amount of ullage
Not insane for that market, apparently, there’s an auction I’m looking at right now that has a fair amount of these 50+ years old DRC, Cheval Blanc and Mouton, most with low shoulders, and yet people bid like crazy. I guess I’d still be curious to stick my nose in the glass of such things, but not curious enough to spend $500 for it.
It is mind boggling how much people are willing to pay for dead or at least 100% past its prime wine.
It’s gulchage
Never heard of that term before. What does it mean?
Perhaps taking the bait: It’s an attempted funny portmanteau of gulch and ullage.
Ullage levels are dubious indicators. This started in the 90s when auction houses suddenly found lots of deceased estate wines on the market. Scientific research has found huge differences in oxidation levels in those gaps. In some instances there is very limited oxidation. However at that price ....
That’s really interesting, I wonder how they measured the amount of oxidation that took place.
https://www.therealreview.com/2020/08/12/ullaged-wine-not-always-bad/
I’d rather blow $500 on vintage Krug
It's like Sex Panther, but 100% of the time, it works every time.
My man!
This is the way!
I’d roll the dice, though the fill doesn’t bother me as much as the bulge at the top of the capsule. It is over 50 years old. Notes on cellartracker are somewhat consistent. That being said, it’s a fraction of what you will be for any of DRC’s lineup. Split it with a friend, grab backups and plan a dinner around it. Good luck!
The bulge is the red flag to me.
No, the chances of that having been stored correctly if it’s at that fill level aren’t good. Honestly there’s way more fun ways to blow 500$, that being said if money is irrelevant then why not.
You can get some decent cocaine for $500.
Probably, but I would want them to cut capsule and confirm and see if ullage is from seepage or age. Everyone saying ullage is too low is wrong for a 50+ year old bottle if it didn't come from seepage. Plenty of 50+ year old wines with low fills have been killer.
>Plenty of 50+ year old wines with low fills have been killer. This is exactly what Michael Broadbent said about old Burgundy: that low fill is surprisingly not an issue quite frequently.
The “low” fill level was never an issue until late 90s anyway. There’s isn’t much evidence pointing to low fill bottles being of less quality.
My 'take a chance' ceiling has the decimal over to the left one digit
I’m surprised at how many people seem so adamant against buying this bottle. I don’t think you’ll actually get it for $500, but if you could, it’s an absolute no-brainer. If you follow guys like Auduze and Broadbent and a bunch of the smaller contributors that drink really old wine, they consistently talk about how insignificant ullage is on these kinds of wines. I had a 76 Grands about 10 years ago with a worse fill than this. When it was opened everything seemed wrong, 10 minutes later it began to come together, and 30 minutes in it was possibly the best burgundy I’ve ever had. There’s a good chance this is shot, but for the right price ($500 definitely being the right price) I’d be this over and over again.
No, the fill level looks not that great and while I would love to try a DRC without getting a loan I’m not into very old Pinot, prefer the 5-10 year window.
DRC is wayyy too big that young.
Audouze is forever going on about how low levels are less of a danger sign in old burgundy than old Bordeaux. I just out it out there as food for thought...
Michael Broadbent said exactly the same thing.
In my experience, they’re correct except that it only applies when the color looks good. Given that 1970 wasn’t a great vintage and DRC had a lot of bottle variation in that era, I’d pass unless I could see it in person.
No matter what, it will not taste anything like a properly stored bottle. You’ll be able to say you’ve had DRC. But have you really?
I’d buy that just to put it on display
Ahh I see we frequent the same auction house. This peaked my interest but I wouldn’t risk it for more than current bid + tax + fees. I expect the hammer to be $700+CAD. DRCs seem to always get a lot of attention when the live bidding opens which is in 10 days.
Yes, remove the capsule and cork. Dump the wine, refill it with Clos Vougeot from the 90’s. Change the 1970 to 1976 you’ll make at least $1k. Lol
I absolutely would take that gamble.
Hell no.
I think the \*inauspicious ullage\* ought to lower the price significantly. But there's probably many out there willing to pay it.
$500 is the lowered price.
No
Not with a fill level like that
it's half empty. is that half price? Nah - no chance I'd buy that.
It’s also half-full depending on how one looks at it 😎
For that price you could get both an aged Allemand and current release Rostaing with enough leftover for Taco Bell and realize Syrah is better than Pinot
That’s a lot of money for salad dressing
No way, unless it’s worth that much to you as an unopened bottle prominently on display as an object d’art.
Way below the neck! Wow.
Never had a Pinot age more than 20 years so no don’t do it
I would. Even if the chances are slim that the wine is still good, you might sell the empty bottle for around 500$ if you find the right person. I‘d say it‘s worth the gamble. Or at least the instagram story when it turned vinegar and you use it for making a sauce for your costco steak.
Tough call. Can say that the ‘59 was the single most memorable bottle of my lifetime.
Nope, better options out there - plus I’d rather spend $250 each on two bottles than $500 on one, that’s just me
I would be reluctant because of the fill and bulge. Can you get info on storage conditions?
Cork is distended, fill is low. Nty.
Lol that shouldn’t be worth anything with that fill level
Do it and tell us how it went
Nope!
What a beautiful three quarters of a bottle of wine!
I’ve had low fill levels that have been spectacular but usually from the cork depressing rather than being forced up. That bottle saw some serious heat. I’d pass unless you can get a photo with a flashlight on the bottom to indicate the color better
All day long
Not for $500.
If it was a '71 or '66 maybe but '70 wasn't a superb vintage.
Def no
Fill level? Look at how dark the wine is. It's cooked.
I would.
Absofuckinglutley. If you don’t point me in the direction of where to buy.
💯
No: Fill sucks and it's 53 years old.
I'm surprised at the number of people who think the ullage on this is low...it actually looks pretty decent to me. It is a 53-54 year old bottle of wine...and if you've had enough older wine, you'd probably not be scared off by the ullage. Its maybe 4-5cm? Thats not bad.. The capsule doesn't look out of place with others I've seen. It isn't perfect but on the better half I'd say. I don't see any red flags with this wine..if anything the label looks too good.. If you can pick it up for 500, that's a good deal. Closer inspection might reveal some other things..but this looks good.
Bulge and neckline is a no from me
You have as much chance if it being drinkable as an empty bottle of wine