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FAQ: Wine to keep for 20 years
Of all the FAQ's ("Frequently Asked Questions") that we receive, one of the most difficult is a recurring query that comes from proud new parents or happy young newlyweds, hoping for advice on a good wine that they can put aside to enjoy on their 25th wedding anniversary or to celebrate the child's 21st birthday or wedding. The difficulty stems from a dilemma: It feels cruel to dampen such optimistic enthusiasm, but the short answer is that this sentimental idea, if not impossible, is usually impractical at best.
"It's a lovely idea, but there are some challenges that make it a bit less practical than it initially seems.
"Yes, it can be done. But it's not easy, and unless you already are or have an interest in becoming the kind of serious wine enthusiast who keeps a substantial wine collection in a proper cellar, chances are it won't be worth the effort. "One possible compromise: There's a specific kind of wine called Madeira - a strong 'fortified' wine that's usually made as a sweet dessert wine but also comes in dry (unsweet) versions - that is an exception to the rule because it will last for many years even under less-than-ideal conditions. The downside is that it's not usually made with a vintage designation, so the bottle you buy won't carry the specific year of your daughter's birth. But you can certainly get Madeira in most quality wine shops, and you should be able to get a decent one within or close to your budget. "You might also consider a non-wine gift that will last, and possibly appreciate. How about something like a certificate of deposit or bond or a few shares of stock in a company with some symbolic value?"
TALK ABOUT WINE ONLINE: If you prefer to comment privately, feel free to send me E-mail at wine@wineloverspage.com. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit.
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Soellner 2004 "Wogenrain" Donauland Grüner Veltliner ($16.99)
Just about every time I uncork another Austrian Grüner Veltliner, I whack myself on the forehead and ask why I don't do this more often. Refined, complex and very food-friendly, this variety is gaining some "cult" status outside its native land in Austria, but it's still surprisingly uncommon for a whine so good. This one's typical in every sensory dimension: Clear light straw color. Pear and characteristic green-pea aromas. Crisp and citric flavor, nicely balanced, finishing with that attractive stony minerality that prompts Austrian wine makers to wax lyrical about the benefits of "drinking stones." U.S. importer: Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, Pa. (Dec. 20, 2005) FOOD MATCH: Grüner Veltliner ranks close to Riesling in its ability to match well with an amazing range of foods, and it's gaining notice as the ideal partner for spicy Southeast Asian fare. I went a little more off-the-wall, pairing it successfully with a modern take on '60s Italian-American comfort food, turkey Tetrazzini, updated with porcini mushrooms and Parmigiana. VALUE: I paid a couple of bucks above the going rate for the convenience of picking up the wine at a pricey grocery-store shop. Look for it for less, but in fairness, the middle teens is an appropriate neighborhood for a white wine of this quality. WHEN TO DRINK: It's drinking beautifully now and need not be aged. Evidence is mounting, however, that quality Grüner Veltliner will age with surprising grace. If you have good cellar conditions, it would be worth holding it for five years or longer to see where it goes.
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FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:  California Wine Club: 50% Off on This Month's Signature Series! The California Wine Club's Signature Series is a small, upper-level club featuring California's rarest and most coveted wines. Receive 50 percent off this month's three-bottle selection. You'll save $72 on three rare and radiant reds from Napa and Russian River Valley. Take a look:
Membership costs nothing and every wine is 100 percent guaranteed. Choose to receive wines monthly, every other month or quarterly. Each shipment includes two to to three bottles of highly-rated, limited-production California wine, plus detailed tasting notes and winemaker comments. Shipments average between $90 and $150. Members also receive discounts on reorders. Call 1-800-777-4443 or visit www.cawineclub.com. Mention today's Wine Advisor to receive 50 percent off your first month. Some restrictions may apply. This week on WineLoversPage.com Some highlights of recent articles on WineLoversPage.com that I hope you'll enjoy:
• Schaefer on Wine: Celebrating Santa Rita Hills
• Hot topics in our WineLovers' Community "Home schooling" for wine? Last Week's Wine Advisor Index The Wine Advisor's daily edition is usually distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (and, for those who subscribe, the FoodLetter on Thursdays). Here's the index to last week's columns:
• The many faces of Chianti (Jan. 13, 2006)
• Learn wine by tasting ... tea? (Jan. 11, 2006)
• Hospice du Rhône (Jan. 9, 2006)
• Complete 30 Second Wine Advisor archive:
• Wine Advisor FoodLetter: Italian braised beef (Jan. 12, 2006)
• Wine Advisor Foodletter archive:
SUBSCRIBE: Administrivia To subscribe or unsubscribe from The 30 Second Wine Advisor, change your E-mail address, or for any other administrative matters, please use the individualized hotlink found at the end of your E-mail edition. If this is not practical, contact me by E-mail at wine@wineloverspage.com, including the exact E-mail address that you used when you subscribed, so I can find your record. We do not use our E-mail list for any other purpose and will never give or sell your name or E-mail address to anyone. I welcome feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future columns. To contact me, please send E-mail to wine@wineloverspage.com All the wine-tasting reports posted here are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores and accept no samples, gifts or other gratuities from the wine industry.
Monday, Jan. 16, 2006
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