Poor Billionaire Bill Koch

[Jenise]

At 75, he's realized he won't get around to drinking all 43,000 bottles in his cellar so he's going to unload 20,000 of them. That leaves him just 23,000--surely, just barely enough.

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2016/03/koch-makes-room-in-his-wine-cellar

[David M. Bueker]

I showed that to Laura. Her response: "we still have too much wine."

[Jenise]

I showed that to Laura. Her response: "we still have too much wine."

What are you up to now? Once upon a time, you and I had approximately the same amount of wine and I still have about the same amount of wine. I've held steady at about 2000 inventoried plus about 100 or so "summer wines" which, regardless of season, refers to wines we don't intend to hold over a season. I suspect you've far exceeded me by now.

[David M. Bueker]

I am up to 3700. End of buying is in 5.5 years.

[Jenise]

I am up to 3700. End of buying is in 5.5 years.

Yeah, you've exceeded me!

As for "End of Buying", that's like planning to end your fascination and passion. Which of course there's no end to. I'm happy to have reached the place where I'm just replacing what we drink.

Unbelievable first day results. Almost everything going well above high estimate, with some things going for 2-3X. I understand (kinda) people paying a lot more for provencance on '45 Mouton or large format top vintage DRC. Koch culled his cellar with experts and sued Rudy, stores, and auction houses that sold him fakes. But a case of '89 Meyney went for $1500 plus vig. Probably wine I have re-bought most over the years (was my fave Meyney, think it has peaked and '86 better now) but that's basically 3X retail. I don't think there's much fake Meyney out there, so that one is a true headscratcher.

[Robin Garr]

I have actually drunk wine with that Koch brother at tasting group events in NYC, and he's a nice guy! A charter member of the Wine Century Club!

Yes, he has more money than anyone should have in a just society. But for the record, don't conflate him with Charles and David Koch, who use their money for evil. Bill's passion is more involved with wine than politics, and he loves to share.

[David M. Bueker]

Isn't Bill also the one who loves sailing?

[Jenise]

But a case of '89 Meyney went for $1500 plus vig...that's basically 3X retail. I don't think there's much fake Meyney out there, so that one is a true headscratcher.

Wow. Sounds like auction fever.

[Robin Garr]

Isn't Bill also the one who loves sailing?

That sounds familiar, but I really knew him only from Wine Century tastings.

Yes, Bill Koch's yacht won at least one America's Cup.
I think he's pretty estranged from his brothers , they sued the s#&@ out of each other for years I think

I too have met Bill, nothing wrong with him, IMHO.

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L

That's crazy money for the 89 Meyney. I drank through 18 bottles of it purchased in 1995 for $18/per, and it was truly excellent from 2003-2008. After that, it began to fade as Dale mentioned. Today, the 86, 82 and 88 (I drank a lovely bottle of this yesterday) are better.

I'm more sanguine than Patrick re '89 Meyney, still have a few and wouldn't call it fading. But it's fully mature (and I'd put over '82 or '88) and not getting better, and $150 is ludicrous.

[Robin Garr]

I'm more sanguine than Patrick re '89 Meyney, still have a few and wouldn't call it fading. But it's fully mature (and I'd put over '82 or '88) and not getting better, and $150 is ludicrous.

That's our anniversary year, and we bought a couple of cases to enjoy on anniveraries and other special occasions. Being impatient, though, and having few quick moves and no good cellar, we slurped them up over seven or eight years. I don't recall them ever going through a really dead period, though. We enjoyed them all, and not a one was corked.

89 was relatively big St Estephe year for me, Meyney, Montrose, Cos and Haut Marbuzet..No bad bottles, all gone except for an odd bottle or 2 of Montrose and Haut Marbuzet, both still drinking well...I think I paid around $12 for the Meyney