What are verticals?

I keep seeing "vertical bottles"...what are these? I am assuming they are wine bottles that can be stored upright? Is this true and if so, what is used to top the bottle?

Maria, a vertical refers to tasting the same wine in successive year, while at the same time, a horizontal refers to tasting different wines of the same year. You ask interesting questions and we encourage that here.

I keep seeing "vertical bottles"...what are these? I am assuming they are wine bottles that can be stored upright? Is this true and if so, what is used to top the bottle?

I was soooooooooo tempted to link you to a custom blinds site, but, hey...

Robin has a pretty good online lexicon which you can reach here: Wine Lexicon.

I also use the Epicurious.com lexicon. The following link is to an article on wine tasting which explains what Bob has already so aptly explained and a little bit more. You can poke around there for hours.

There are a lot of these lexica and dictionaries on the web. Some are good; some need to be enjoyed cum grano salis.

I keep seeing "vertical bottles"...what are these? I am assuming they are wine bottles that can be stored upright? Is this true and if so, what is used to top the bottle?

Maria,

Go to a wine tasting or winery cellar event and you will discover the wonderful joy in experiencing vertical wine tasting.

Thanks Bob! I had no idea...I really thought they were referring to the bottles...LOL!

Gary -

I was soooooooooo tempted to link you to a custom blinds site, but, hey...

NOW I see the NJ side of YOU!

Tim - will do!

P.S. Gary - those links are GREAT! Thanks so much!!

Maria, a vertical refers to tasting the same wine in successive year, while at the same time, a horizontal refers to tasting different wines of the same year. You ask interesting questions and we encourage that here.

Ok Bob, let me see if I understand this correctly. If someone is selling, say for instance, a Robert Mondavi Reserve Vertical...this refers to several bottles of the same wine but in successive vintages?

And if you go to a vertical wine tasting...that would be a wine tasting of the same wine but in successive yrs?

Thanks again for all the info everyone!

....If someone is selling, say for instance, a Robert Mondavi Reserve Vertical...this refers to several bottles of the same wine but in successive vintages?...

Generally a vertical refers to a tasting and not an assembly for selling. Many collectors buy the same wines every year on futures or on release and cellar them, thus obtaining vertical collections.

Thanks Randy for the info.

Howie - I think these are confusing me:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1999-Marilyn-Monroe-Cabernet-Wine-Vertical-Merlot_W0QQitemZ140060043099QQcmdZViewItem

http://w3discountmall.stores.yahoo.net/robmonresver.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Betz-Family-3-bottle-Vertical-RARE-Bordeaux-varietals_W0QQitemZ4469336394QQcmdZViewItem

What does the word "vertical" mean?

(And no more blinds jokes GARY!)

I did say "generally". I am not experienced in wine auctions and very little with buying on-line, however, the 1999 Marilyn Monroe is either a typo or just plane wrong. The other two are indeed verticals, assembled for selling.

Thanks Howie! I haven't bought on-line ever nor have I bought at auction, but in my wine research I have seen people refer to buying verticals before, so I was trying to figure out what they were...hoping to avoid posting a stupid newbie question like "where can I buy these great vertical bottles...and do they have screwcaps?"

Maria

Words often get given new meanings (look at varietals replacement of variety), but here I think it is clear.

A vertical tasting is the same wine from different vintages -- what these sellers are doing is offering a set of the same wines of different vintages, thus I think vertical as a description is valid.

I don't understand the Marilyn on e-bay, since one of the wines shown is a Marilyn Cabernet and all the others Marilyn Merlot,so different wines and thus not a vertical.

But who expects e-bay sellers to get it correct?

Some amazing prices being payed for the Marilyn's. Is the wine any good or are people just buying it for the label? And why do they seem to be making a big point of the bottle being 'sealed'. Surely any bottle with wine in it is 'sealed'.

Given the legalities around 'unlicensed' sellers trying to sell alcoholic products, it strikes me that the terminology is designed to skirt the law if possible. So you don't sell 'wine', you sell a 'bottle'. Could be empty, of course, you know - might be autographed or something. Anyway, you're selling a glass bottle - an object - nothing illegal about that.
It just happens, in this case, that the bottle is 'sealed'. Make of that what you will - I don't know. It could even be full of wine, for instance. But it's the bottle that's being sold.

A bit like social clubs in Australia might get around the problem at a fundraising function by offering "Buy a pretzel for $5 and get a free beer..."
cheers,
Graeme

Some amazing prices being payed for the Marilyn's. Is the wine any good or are people just buying it for the label?

I think it's a self fulfilling investment, people invest in the wine intending to resell it because they've seen other people selling it.

I have two bottles on Marilyn Merlot and I know not whether to drink it or save it as an investment. However, its not sold in the UK, very few people know about the wine(other than those smart ones who have bought my book and so I doubt it would fetch anything here.