What is your worst too-early consumption of wine?

Mine is the 1986 Gruaud Larose. I bought a case from North Berkley in 1990 for the wonderful price of $219. and soon started to drink them. Even though RMP suggested long cellaring ("buy these for your grandchildren") I did not heed his advice soon enough. Early wines were terribly tannic and closed. I have 4-5 left now and wish I had waited until recently to start into them. They are beautiful now and will continue to be so for many years to come. Many Cal. Cabernets could qualify also but they are usually more drinkable early than the Gruaud. The 1992-1994 La Jota Anniversary Cabernets really did need a LOT more time and are probably drinking very well right now. I also went thru a 1/2 case of 1989 Beaucastel CndP by 2000 and as great as they were then, are probably euphoric now. What are your stories?

I forgot about the split case of Vincent Girardin 1988 Pommard ?? and 1988 Georges Chicotot Nuits ?? I bought and consumed way too soon and wondered why they were so highly thought of. I was wanting to try some red Burgundies consulted on by the controversial Guy Acad (sp.). I don't read anything about Chicotot nowadays. Don't know if Guy is still consulting.

Too many to count but perhaps some of the superlative 1976 German Rieslings. I was too ignorant to know how they would mature and also have the excuse that I left Germany for USA in 1981 and it would have been difficult to transport them since I didn't have a designated address at the time.

'96 Krug in 2011.

...the excuse that I left Germany for USA in 1981 and it would have been difficult to transport them since I didn't have a designated address at the time.

I did a lot of that over the past 15 years, because I was moving a lot and often had storage/transportation issues. But at the end of the day I don't get too bent out of shape, because there's always more wine! (And because I had fun drinking it)

[David M. Bueker]

'96 Krug in 2011.

Not a waste. That wine has been glorious since the day it was released.

'96 Krug in 2011.

Not a waste. That wine has been glorious since the day it was released.

It was awesome, make no mistake - but it still felt like infanticide, knowing how much greater it will become.

[David M. Bueker]

Honestly, there has only ever been one vintage Krug bottling that I thought really improved with significant age, the 1988. 1996 is a vintage that has issues. Lots and lots of vintage wines becoming very old, very fast. No reason Krug can avoid the vintage issue.

1996 is a vintage that has issues. Lots and lots of vintage wines becoming very old, very fast.

Really? Interesting. What are the issues? Just the aging faster than expected that you refer to? What about the wines is thought to be responsible?

[David M. Bueker]

Not sure what has caused it, but the wines are aging very fast. Many are already past their best.

Not sure what has caused it, but the wines are aging very fast. Many are already past their best.

Just Champagne or other regions as well? I have quite a few '96 Bordeaux, Burgundies and N.Rhônes and have been very pleased with the few which I have opened in the last year or two.

In my early days of laying down wine, I bought dozens of Cos d'Estournel, La Lagune, Talbot (IIRC) and Pichon-Lalande '66 and Ducru-B and Pontet-Canet '70. Of all these, the only ones which became superb experiences were Pichon-L 66 since about 2005 and Ducru-B 70 since 1995, before which I had drunk over half my stocks before their prime. The Cos 66 could well have turned out in a similar way if I had been more patient and if my brother-in-law, who looked after our bottles during a three year absence from Belgium, had not "lost" four bottles .

The bottles which I have kept too long are numerous, particularly whites.

[David M. Bueker]

Champagne