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Your last-wish wine?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:38 am
by ChaimShraga
A colleague posed the following question:

If you could choose drink the final bottle of wine that you'd drink in your life, which would it be?

Psychologically, it's different than the desert island question. One bottle, the bottle you want to contemplate on while awaiting your demise. I also thought of a few variations:

1. One bottle from your collection.
2. A line up from your collection.
3. Choose any wine it would be reasonably possible to purchase.

Re: Last Wish Wine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:48 am
by Jim Grow
I'd choose a German TBA from a great producer and recent good year. Since my demise is hopefully 20+ years away, this bottle should be in great condition and ready to drink then. Maybe a Robert Weil or Vollrads.

Re: Last Wish Wine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 2:19 pm
by Jenise
Once upon a time I did not care for pinot noir, but signed up for a special wine tasting featuring eleven 1990 Burgundies (all poured and laid out in front of me at the same time in proper stemware), and which lineup included two DRC's and a Leroy. I did not expect to love the wines--I'd never had burgundy before, only Cali pinots--but signed up anyway considering it essential to my wine education. But love I did. I had never smelled anything so darned grand, not even close. Never before had wine contemplation made me want to become tiny so that I could swim in the bowl: smelling it, tasting it wasn't enough, I wanted immersion. The Leroy was my favorite.

Probably because it was the first time and maybe the only time I've ever been presented with the luxury I came to understand that evening was, I've never had another experience so profound. And though it may require a certain virgin state to have the same impact that it once did, if I could have another bottle of a young Leroy Auxey Durress from a rich, ripe year on the very last day of my life in which I was to taste wine, it might just convince me that if there were no heaven waiting beyond then that glass of heaven right here on earth is the next best thing.

Re: Last Wish Wine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 3:25 pm
by ChaimShraga
Well written, Jenise. Here's to born again wine virginity in the after-life!

Re: Last Wish Wine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 3:27 pm
by SteveEdmunds
2011 Clos des Briords from Domaine La PepiƩre. That wine fills me with light.

Re: Last Wish Wine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 3:33 pm
by Rahsaan
It's kind of a grim question, but assuming the departure is of a fairly humane nature (i.e. not awaiting execution in a prison cell, where I might want something more fabulous to transport me away), I'm thinking something sentimental would be called for. Some of the wines that I first enjoyed as a winelover, maybe Foillard Morgon, Breton Chinon/Bourgueil, or zesty German riesling from any number of producers.

Re: Last Wish Wine

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 3:45 pm
by ChaimShraga
Myself, I'd go for a DRC, because it's something I just have to drink before I die.

If the point was to relive a wine epiphany, I suppose I'd choose a Krug or a Haut-Brion.

Re: Your last-wish wine?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 6:43 pm
by David M. Bueker
2001 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese

There was a thread about last meals in the FLDG a while back. Might have to dig it up.

Re: Your last-wish wine?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:10 pm
by Glenn Mackles
Your question brings to mind the famous last words of the great economist John Maynard Keynes. When asked on his deathbed if he had any regrets, he replied that "I wish I'd drunk more champagne." I personally am working diligently toward not having that regret. So in answer to your question, it would be the best bottle of champagne i had.

Best to all.
Glenn

Re: Your last-wish wine?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 12:46 am
by JC (NC)
How about a wine from the fountain of youth?

Seriously, it would probably be an exceptional red Burgundy for me. Maybe a Musigny or La Tache. I've never had either of these Grand Cru wines so I am assuming that I would love them with the proper producer, vintage and cellaring.

Re: Your last-wish wine?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 11:43 pm
by Ted Richards
It's a tossup between a 20-30-year-old J-L Chave Hermitage from a good to great year, for the ethereal flavours, or a 40-50-year-old Taylor vintage port for the richness and fruit.

My two favourite tastings of all time were a vertical of Chave Hermitage (http://www.winetasters.ca/SemNotes/Chave.html) and one of Taylor's vintage port (http://www.winetasters.ca/SemNotes/taylor.html) that I ran for the Toronto Winetasters club.