Another Desert Island Question

You're going to be stranded on a desert Island until 2020. You can bring any number of bottles but here's the catch. They must all be from the same vintage. Which vintage would you choose?

Personally, my choice is 2001, as it's good to very good to excellent across many of my favorite regions (I think Champagne would be the only dud) and most of the wines would be drinking well until 2020.

I guess the choice would be different if the exile would have gone for a longer period.

2005! Reason? - It is the only recent vintage that was very good in every wine growing region of the world. I would have my pick of wines from anywhere.

2005! Reason? - It is the only recent vintage that was very good in every wine growing region of the world. I would have my pick of wines from anywhere.

Yes, but which ones do you plan on drinking before 2020? Most of them won't be ready until well after that!!

Tempted to go for 01 on the basis of awesome Austrian and German Rieslings, but I'd lean towards 2002 - still a great German selection and some outstanding Austrian Rieslings/Gruners, plus much more to choose from from the Loire, Burgundy and Champagne. A few nice lighter/value Bordeaux (and I hope some might actually be drinking well by 2020), and if I feel like new world items there are some good Cali Cabs and Aussies.

actually, when I initially read,I was thinking older- lots of solid possibilities 1985-1990 with plenty of room to age. But even though there was plenty of Chenins and Rieslings etc that could go the distance, I'd loose out on lots of fresh whites. So I'd go for 2009, though there is no sign it would be my "favorite" vintage. I figure the Bordeaux will mostly not be ready to drink, but plenty of Huet, Cotat,ESJ, Baudry, various Beaujolais and German Rieslings, etc would ease the pain. Some lower end Burgundies should drink nicely.
Though I drink more older wines than many here, I don't want to drink exclusively 20+ year old wines/

As usual, I would not have to look any further than Champagne to stay happy on this island so the vintage would naturally come from there. The problem is that, due to natural scarcity, I'm not familar with many of the older vintages! 'In other words, I doubt I've tasted the "best" vintage. You just don't come across many 1928's at your favorite wine merchant anymore.

But don't I wish...

I'd say the greatest number of favorite "modern" champagnes I've tasted over the last ten years have come from 1990 or 1988. There is an element of smoothness and a delicious honeyed "transparency" to bottles I've had from those years that really appeals to my taste and how I think of champagne (at least for those that only had modest bottle age at the time). But how older/legendary vintages compare to that pleasure is left to wonder.

A 1988 Dom Perignon Rose my love and I shared was beyond special and still makes me sigh with weakness.

But I guess I'd gather up all the 1990's (especially at this 20+ year window) and take them along.

I know, life is so difficult...

Jeff

I like Salil's logic for 2002 from Germany/Austria/Loire/Burgundy/Beaujolais. Which is pretty much what I drink these days, so I'm fine with that.

It might be nice to find a way for fitting in the Northern Rhone or something from Italy. But we can't have everything. We're on a desert island afterall! And we want plenty of good white wine for the sashimi/ceviche.

I'll trust Chave and Allemand in 02. And 02 isn't *that* bad a vintage in the Northern Rhone - not a total washout unlike the south.

I'll put in a vote for '96, which produced good, if tight, wines in Burgundy and Bordeaux, and is also great in the Loire and the Piedmont. I'd be willing to see how selected Cru Beaujolais are doing and take the hit in the N Rhone (not so bad). Germany was also pretty good in that year, no?

Mark Lipton

ETA: I just won't pack any White Burgundy or Chablis -- quel dommage!

2005! Reason? - It is the only recent vintage that was very good in every wine growing region of the world. I would have my pick of wines from anywhere.

Yes, but which ones do you plan on drinking before 2020? Most of them won't be ready until well after that!!

I would have to hope that even the young or developing wines would be wonderful from this year.

I'll put in a vote for '96, which produced good, if tight, wines in Burgundy and Bordeaux, and is also great in the Loire and the Piedmont. I'd be willing to see how selected Cru Beaujolais are doing and take the hit in the N Rhone (not so bad). Germany was also pretty good in that year, no?

You're more optimistic re Beaujolais aging that me. I've had a few good 20+ year CBs (mostly Morgons), but they tend to lose their gamayness. I tend to like more at 8-12 years.
I think Germany was pretty good, but high acids. Which I like, but could get monotonous

ETA: I just won't pack any White Burgundy or Chablis -- quel dommage!

But he said you could take unlimited bottles, so just triple the amount and enjoy the good bottles of 96 white Burg! And/or mostly Raveneau, Leflaive, Coche who all seem to have escaped the curse.

I'll stick with 2009 (or 2008 or 2010)- not as best vintage, but giving me more options.