Cheers to That
Back in 1993, we had wine guru Anthony Gismondi choose a handful of wines that he thought were good bets, investment-wise, and darned if he didn’t end up beating the S&P 500 by 90 points. Fast-forward to today, and the fermented grape juice landscape has changed (a bottle of Lafite Rothschild will now set you back $3,000), but we’ve asked Gismondi and Wine associate Treve Ring to suss out a new crop of investment-grade bottles.
1 Domaine Jamet 2013 Côte Rôtie, N. Rhône, France, $140
Aordable still from what is considered by many to be the pinnacle of Northern Rhône syrah. Tightly knit and highly structural, concentrated yet finessed, with heaps of savoury stoniness that will take years to yield.
2 Château Beychevelle 2014 St. Julien, Bordeaux, France, $170
Epitomizing the smooth and ripe fruit St. Julien is known for, this vintage is especially perfumed and expressive, with density and amplitude that allow this regal medium-bodied Bordeaux to age impressively.
3 Champagne Jacquesson NV Extra Brut Cuvee No. 739, Champagne, France, $86.86
A mature, lightly toasty and creamy wine, with a backbone based on the leaner, erratic 2011 vintage and all the best fruit went into this bottle. Native ferment, one-third reserve wines and aging in large wooden casks add detailing and support to carry this long haul with character and grace.
4 Tenuta Poggione 2012 Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, $80
Fantastic value for this confidently quiet brunello, one of the stars of Montalcino. Richly saturated with dark fruit, but with a rush of vibrant acidity to the bright, tight finish. Will reveal in time.
5 Ridge 2014 Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, U.S., $300
Understated, humble and authentic are not words that come to mind when thinking California cabernet blends, but the prestige and respect for Ridge’s Monte Bello is deserved. Inherently complex yet refined, with graphite, dark chocolate and cassis streaming the long length of this graceful wine.